Biased Refereeing, bad luck or just an excuse?

When referee Mark Halsey sent Jonjo Shelvey off, for his ‘two footed’ lunge at Manchester United‘s Johnny Evans, at Anfield on Sunday, there must have be a similar sentiment echoing across every football fan and supporter’s mind – that of referees being ‘biased’ toward United.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez and Fulham’s Martin Jol have expressed displeasure over referees being ‘favourable’ to Alex Ferguson’s side, recently. Their fiercest critic has been former Arsenal great, Patrick Viera, who was recently embroiled in a war of words with Ferguson, for United getting ‘preferable’ treatment from referees.

Even Barcelona, face the same accusitions in the La liga, for major refereeing decisions going in favour of the Catalan club, almost every time.

So, going by yesterdays sending off of Shelvey (who gave Ferguson a mouthful on his way out!), the question arises, whether ‘wrong’ refereeing decisions alter the outcome of a game?

Liverpool’s Shelvey has a word with Ferguson after his sending off in the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday

Now, despite Shelvey’s sending off , Liverpool managed to score first with ten-men (a Steven Gerrard beauty) and did dominate much of the first half.

Though television replays showed that Shelvey’s challenge was not as harsh as Halsey considered it to be, the writer is of the opinion that it only merited a yellow card.

But, football is a game of uncertainties and despite the many criticisms made against referees of being ‘biased’ towards a particular club, a referee definitely does not play a football game. Football is a sport played by 11 men on each team, and I am of the opinion that referees are there on the pitch to ensure players follow the rules of the sport and play within the spirit of the game.

There have also been many incidents of teams, reduced to 10 or 9 men, bouncing back to win the contest (Remember 10 man Italy’s spirited win over a strong Dutch side in their Euro 2000 semifinal, with the Dutch missing two penalties in regulation time and losing in the shootouts!)

Despite having Gianluca Zambrotta sent off, Italy beat Holland in a thrilling penalty shootout in their Euro 2000 semifinal;Francesco Toldo, Italy’s hero, is here seen celebrating

While hardcore supporters may contradict the writer’s opinion of refereeing decisions playing a major part in football (or for that matter in any sport), the writer feels all that matters at the end of a sporting contest is about a particular team playing to its strengths and winning the contest, bad refereeing or not.

Of course, there have and will always be incidents of referees or match officials getting it horribly wrong, (Francesco Totti and his ‘dive’ against Australia in their 2006 World Cup knockout match was one such decision which I definitely feel was bad refereeing) for they are human too!

Blaming a Howard Webb or a Graham Poll, is not going to help Liverpool (this coming from a hardcore Liverpool supporter) or for that matter of fact, any team win a game or a championship, as winning a game or a league title means playing to your strengths, the season throughout, despite the many odds stacked against you.

United and Barcelona (even Chelsea and Manchester City), have done what it takes to become a title winning outfit in their respective leagues, and Liverpool, along with the rest, have to follow suit, by getting back to the drawing board and working on whatever it takes to regain their place as a top Football club.

Or else, I feel Liverpool and the rest of the ‘wrong decision referee hating’ teams will just remain chasing a United or Barcelona in the coming years, and stay in the depths of mediocrity!