Hey, it’s Sunday.
There’s not a lot occurring from an Arsenal perspective, however I see our outdated pal Michael Oliver is as much as his nonsense once more. Within the FA Cup tie between Crystal Palace and Milwall, Liam Roberts (Milwall’s keeper) got here out to problem Jean-Philippe Mateta, and caught the striker on the aspect of the pinnacle along with his studs. Video right here – it’s not fairly.
The Palace striker wanted oxygen, and subsequently was taken to hospital the place his damage – ‘a extreme laceration to his left ear’ – required 25 stitches. He’s clearly going to be out of motion for a while. And when the incident occurred, Michael Oliver did nothing. He performed on. And as you may see from the header picture, his view wasn’t in any method obscured.
A VAR intervention led to the proper choice, a crimson card for Roberts, however what if this had occurred within the final spherical when that know-how was not used? Critical questions need to be requested of this man now. At greatest, he has a critical subject along with his eyesight, at worst his choice making is inexplicable and in yesterday’s state of affairs he 100% shirked his accountability to make sure the security of the gamers, Mateta particularly.
With out desirous to make this about Arsenal, it’s very tough for me to grasp how the identical referee can see Myles Lewis-Skelly journey up Matt Doherty and subject a straight crimson card for ‘critical foul play’, but sees this problem yesterday and someway view it as much less critical than that in actual time. That can not be proper, or acceptable in any method.
I’ve misplaced rely of the occasions I’ve written on this weblog how this present crop of PGMOL referees flip a blind eye to critical foul play and violent challenges which might significantly injure gamers. I feel Mateta, regardless of having 25 stitches, is fairly fortunate that’s all he suffered. It’s to not downplay it, however the potential injury that problem might have accomplished – with metallic studs going head peak, eye peak, straight right into a participant – is much extra critical than that.
For me, challenges like this – whereas fortunately uncommon – are a product of an atmosphere by which gamers know that they’ll push the boundaries of acceptable physicality in video games of soccer, and get away with stuff. It was, most likely, a rush of blood second for Liam Roberts, a very dangerous choice, and it’s laborious to reconcile the thought he needed to exit and kick somebody within the head. However within the Premier League and beneath, referees have – beneath the administration of Howard Webb – unquestionably been instructed that there ought to be a really excessive bar for what is taken into account violent conduct or critical foul play (until you’re an 18 yr outdated child enjoying for Arsenal). Roberts made a horrible choice and can get a 3 match ban (it ought to be extra), however Oliver additionally made a horrible choice and can seemingly officiate a top-flight sport subsequent week.
Whenever you see stuff like this, the place the so-called ‘greatest referee in England’ doesn’t react to an appalling incident, it’s important to name it out and say it’s simply not adequate. The actual fact a problem like this got here on the identical day we discovered of a brand new edict from IFAB, the place a referee can subject a nook if a goalkeeper holds onto the ball for greater than 8 seconds, felt considerably applicable too. This deal with minor infractions on the expense of getting extra essential selections proper is infuriating, however they like it. It offers them a simple method alternative to display their ‘authority’, when one of the simplest ways to do it might be good at your job on a constant foundation.
You may be fairly certain PGMOL referees will likely be itching to be the primary to crack down a keeper holding the ball for half a second too lengthy, however on the similar time will flip a blind eye to somebody raking their studs down an opponent’s Achilles, or numerous variations of nasty, harmful tackles that go with out adequate punishment. ‘Kicking the ball away’, delaying the restart, solely the captain can speak to the ref, no matter bullshit new rule they introduce in the beginning of the season after which overlook about after a few months.
I get that refereeing is a tough job, and split-second selections are laborious to make precisely on a regular basis, however a few of them are very easy and this was one in all them. If, as a referee, you’re keen to present a crimson card for a visit, however unwilling to do the identical for a problem like this, then it’s in no way unreasonable that folks ask questions of your choice making. And there ought to be loads of questions for Michael Oliver, and Howard Webb, within the wake of this incident.
Finest needs to Mateta, I hope he makes a speedy restoration. Have an amazing Sunday people.
