August 28 2003

Crystal Palace

Our game against Sheffield U on Tues evening (Aug 26) highlighted quite a few refereeing points that have intrigued Jamesey for some years now

I am sure Mr S W Mathieson is a God-fearing individual who loves his wife and children, is kind to animals and always donates generously into the church collection box at Evensong.

But after his officiating at the Palace/Blades duel earlier this week, one has to wonder what planet he is really on.

First, let's be honest. Despite the poor sportsmanship shown by Neil Warnock's Blades, one has to admit that certain levels of behaviour - diving for a free kick, feigning injury to get an opponent yellow-carded, lobbying the ref for decisions - are almost commonplace now, by ourselves as much as anyone else.

And, as has been already pointed out by many members, a team at home that misses a penalty, can't even create chances against a rookie outfield substitute goalkeeper, and can't take advantage of a 10-man opposition, doesn't have much of a cause for complaint. We had a bad evening at the office but we will come back and play much better, I am convinced.

Despite all the odd decisions that Mr Mathieson made during the game - and I haven't even got room here to catalogue them - two important points emerge from last Tuesday's shambles.

Let me start with the penalty decisions. Mr Mathieson was surrounded and followed all over the field by Sheff U players jabbing him in the chest, gesticulating, arguing and behaving like demented barbarians.

At a time when players are sent off for two harmless fouls or given yellow for kicking the ball away or one overheard word of abuse, how could the senior official accept all that nonsense without any action whatsoever?

Surely, one yellow card, then another, then another, would have soon dispersed the ravening pack? It was outrageous that they got away with it without any sanctions whatsoever.

My second bone of contention is the supposed rule forbidding over-the-top goal celebrations which could encourage bad behaviour.

After the Sheff U goals at least five or six Blade players ran over to the away pen and leapt about and celebrated like little girls at a Brownies picnic. Was any action taken by Mr Mathieson? Not a bit of it.

So, I am at a loss to understand why referees don't run the game to the letter of the law. The incompetence of that referee could have inflamed and encouraged all sorts of behaviour that we hoped were a thing of the past.

Verdict: A disgraceful and inept performance from an extremely bad official

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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