Hey, it’s Sunday.
There’s not a lot happening from an Arsenal perspective, however I see our outdated good friend Michael Oliver is as much as his nonsense once more.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 facet of the pinnacle together with his studs. Video right here – it’s not fairly.
The Palace striker wanted oxygen, and subsequently was taken to hospital the place his harm – ‘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 possibly can see from the header picture, his view wasn’t in any means obscured.
A VAR intervention led to the proper resolution, a crimson card for Roberts, however what if this had occurred within the final spherical when that know-how was not used? Critical questions must be requested of this man now. At greatest, he has a severe problem together with his eyesight, at worst his resolution making is inexplicable and in yesterday’s situation he 100% shirked his accountability to make sure the protection of the gamers, Mateta particularly.
With out desirous to make this about Arsenal, it’s very tough for me to know how the identical referee can see Myles Lewis-Skelly journey up Matt Doherty and problem a straight crimson card for ‘severe foul play’, but sees this problem yesterday and by some means view it as much less severe than that in actual time. That can’t be proper, or acceptable in any means.
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 severe foul play and violent challenges which might severely injure gamers. I believe 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 completed – with steel studs going head top, eye top, straight right into a participant – is much extra severe than that.
For me, challenges like this – whereas fortunately uncommon – are a product of an surroundings 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 extremely unhealthy resolution, and it’s exhausting to reconcile the thought he wished to exit and kick somebody within the head. However within the Premier League and under, referees have – beneath the administration of Howard Webb – unquestionably been instructed that there must be a really excessive bar for what is taken into account violent conduct or severe foul play (except you’re an 18 12 months outdated child enjoying for Arsenal). Roberts made a horrible resolution and can get a 3 match ban (it must be extra), however Oliver additionally made a horrible resolution and can seemingly officiate a top-flight sport subsequent week.
Once you see stuff like this, the place the so-called ‘greatest referee in England’ doesn’t react to an appalling incident, it’s a must to name it out and say it’s simply not ok. The very 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 problem a nook if a goalkeeper holds onto the ball for greater than 8 seconds, felt considerably acceptable too. This deal with minor infractions on the expense of getting extra necessary selections proper is infuriating, however they like it. It offers them a simple means alternative to display their ‘authority’, when one of the simplest ways to do it could be good at your job on a constant foundation.
You may be fairly certain PGMOL referees shall be itching to be the primary to crack down a keeper holding the ball for half a second too lengthy, however on the identical 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 enough punishment. ‘Kicking the ball away’, delaying the restart, solely the captain can speak to the ref, no matter bullshit new rule they introduce at the beginning of the season after which neglect about after a few months.
I get that refereeing is a tough job, and split-second selections are exhausting to make precisely on a regular basis, however a few of them are very easy and this was one in every of 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 under no circumstances unreasonable that individuals ask questions of your resolution making. And there must 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 excellent Sunday people.
