WELL, according to the FA (which I’m increasingly convinced is an abbreviation for something else) questioning whether placing a referee from Greater Manchester in charge of a potentially title-deciding fixture between Manchester City and Liverpool on Boxing Day is a much greater offence than a display of blatant anti-Semitism.
In the first moments following Liverpool’s controversial defeat to City on December 26th, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers questioned the fairness of using a referee who was ‘local’ in such a huge game.
His comments were seen by some as being a very valid point, to others the reaction of a manager who felt his team had been cheated out of a draw, possibly even a win.
The FA seemed to take the latter view and Rodgers has since been charged for his comments. Not surprising, but in light of the fact that this isn’t the first time the issue has been raised by a Premier League manager.
Man City’s city rival, Manchester United’s former manager Alex Ferguson once had the match official changed after discovering he was a ‘local’. However, at the time, not much in the way of an objection was raised in the press to Ferguson’s characteristically childish demands but Rodgers was apparently out of line in making similar claims which somehow kept the press in topics for discussion until the Reds were cheated out of even more decisions days later against Chelsea.
Then during the Christmas period, an incident occurred concerning former Reds striker Nicolas Anelka, making a gesture following his goal which had racist overtones. The quenelle gesture from the French striker is considered to be a ‘reverse Nazi salute’, popularized by French ‘comedian’ Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala.
The press coverage wasn’t as harsh as you might’ve thought. Particularly in light of the absolute mauling Luis Suarez received, and his club later issued a statement insisting that the player would never repeat the gesture.
Anelka’s anti-Semitic sentiments were put across – similarly to Luis Suarez’s ‘negrito’ comment – as merely being a misunderstanding on the part of the player. He accepted what he did was wrong – again, like Suarez – and that in his country the gesture was not racial.
The sad fact is that anti-Semitism is on the rise again in football and when supposed ‘role models’ like Anelka join in it can set things back years. Unfortunately, it appears that only certain types of racism are considered worthy of swift, decisive action to both punish and prevent future occurrences and as we’ve seen from the FA’s pathetic handling of similar incidents in recent years, they have a track-record of selective punishment.
In the days to come, Anelka may well receive a ban, but given than almost two weeks have passed since both incidents occurred over the Christmas break (and only Rodgers has been ‘dealt with’) it’s also possible that the so-called Football Association will allow further time still to pass in order to let the situation diffuse on it’s own (as in the case of John Terry last season), so that when they present the striker with a fine or small ban, the uproar will not be as intense.
The fact that the FA felt that Rodgers’ ‘transgression’ should be dealt with first either means that they’re hoping the above is the case, or that they believe that questioning a Premier League referee’s integrity is a greater offence.
The sad fact is that at no point during his post-match interview did the Reds manager directly question the referee. Sure, he insinuated, but he didn’t say it outright which means that the FA have once again chosen to interpret comments as they see fit (where have we seen that before?).
Whereas, Anelka’s gesture is cut and dried: the French comic in question is known to have originated this quenelle and has also been charged several times for racial elements in his shows and for inciting racial hatred, so there is no insinuation or alternative interpretation. The striker made a racist gesture and the FA are simply dragging their feet about it, in the hope that we all forget about it.
There is no doubt that Rodgers should at least have been spoken to regarding his future conduct, but is likely to receive a few games worth touchline ban and a fair-sized fine, whilst I wouldn’t be in the slightest bit surprised if Anelka was let of with a fine and a warning about not engaging in such activities in future because it’s rather naughty.
Such is the hypocrisy of the FA in it’s current state and why incidents of both kinds will continue to occur until there is some kind of consistency regarding the doling out of punishments.
Until fans can protest against it, it will always occur. There’s too much money in football now too many regulations and a higher call for “physical evidence,” I mean it’s a double standard as Rodgers rightly suggested that Lee Mason would be the match official. It’s against FA’s own policies so it kind of negates the “he’s officiated matches where City have lost!” Argument considering by the FA’s own rules he shouldn’t have even been there.
Great article the FA still have Hillsborough to answer to, they are paper tigers and operate with double standards, all football league clubs should get together and form a new association these guys think they are untouchable.
Cannot believe video evidence is still not being used, you have to question why and who benefits from these bad decisions I am sure if you polled the refs they would be in favour as it would take the pressure off them?
Anelka’s goal celebration was not anti-semitic it was anti-zionist and there is a world of difference. I don’t know if you have noticed but Anelka is a Muslim and the vast majority of semites are Arabs that speak Arabic (the most widely spoken semitic language) so you want us to believe he is anti arab as he continues to profess he is Muslim? Yeah sure…..not. Please stop misleading people by repeating lies without examination.
Arabic is the most widely spoken of all the semitic languages by far. Semitic is a language group and NOT a religious, nationalist or ethnic group. Please pay attention. Jews and Arabs lived in peace for centuries trading and baby sitting for each other before the century old secular, terroristic and genocidal political nationalism of Zionism. The Zionism Anelka is showing he loathes is the greatest cause of antisemitism in the world but you need to know who the semites really are, and they are overwhelmingly Arab – get it? It’s a lie and a misuse of language on the ignorant. End of Zionism = peace.
The FA is a dictatorship and will never be a fair and transparent organisation. Also Refs should be made to explain there decisions
I am certainly not questioning the integrity of refs involved in the incidents alluded to above, but as a general principle, it always seems strange to me that whenever “match-fixing” is raised in any sport, it seems to be players, not officials, who are investigated. Surely match-fixers would find it easier, and possibly more effective, to bribe, bully, blackmail, or whatever their tactics are, a ref or umpire rather than a team player, whose individual influence on a match outcome is not as great. Are there any safeguarding procedures in place, or are any checks made, in any of the popular sports which involve betting, after blatantly incorrect decisions are made? This is an innocent question, certainly not an accusation of any kind.
Article makes valid points, undermined though by irritatingly bad grammar. David, ‘it’s’ should ONLY be used when shortening ‘it is’ or ‘ it has’. Under all other circumstances use ‘its’ sans apostrophe. Other than that, totally agree the F.A. is a right shower…
ask steve clarke a ref cost him is job that one decision to give chelsea a penalty that was not a penalty those, 2 extra points and an away win to chelsea would of give him more time to turn the season round
When is someone of substance in our game, going to be brave enough to demand that these faceless buffoons who run our game,stand in front of a tv camera when they make their statement. and lets see what they look like, instead of hiding behind the` F A spokesman ` *.! Who are these people ,what do they look like,and what are their names?
all comment is perfect. I think FA belief they are untouchable if I should be a player on the field with stupid and horodeous decision as Rodgers called it I could have kill ref on the field or anywhere we see each other
David Tyrer u are one of the hypocrites and also a journalist,infact u are a spy wanting to know the mind of some of lfc fans,ok then hear mine.Cos U criticise Suarez at any given chance and then protect Anelka.Chelsea players have dived 3 times in two weeks and u journals keep quiet waiting 4 Suarez.Even if u are an lfc fan,u are a journa then raise those issues and others will follow in otherwords u are a SABOTEUR
lfc shud hve gone to court of abbtratn for sport………ipocrite fa………to hell with all of u……. FA
…much ado about nothing.
Rodgers broke the rules , he should accept whatever punishment comes ..ie pathetic fine (big deal) and move on.
Who are the people constituting the FA? Are they not people from manchester fans ? Check out for the number of refrees in premier league predominantly they are manU fans.What do you expect from them rather than match fixing? Honestly majority of the world populance dislike EPL officiating on many grounds.check out for other league officiating and their rules.there are rooms for comment,opinion,speech freedom,and complaint.But in England,it is a crime to do that . Rules are made to protect the refrees to commit evil without questioning not to guide the game.The evil of refrees in EPL are obvious to the entire world.So it is not new