Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish attempted to further agitate the debate regarding the protection of Premiership referees from criticism following the club’s defeat by Tottenham at the weekend. Howard Webb awarded a seemingly unfair penalty to Spurs, but instead of choosing to lambast the referee for his decision, Dalglish claimed that officials get away ‘scot-free’ for not having to explain their decisions. But, in a league where referees’ decisions are increasingly visible and open to the scrutiny of TV cameras, is Dalglish right to question their silence?
Several managers have incurred the wrath of the FA for criticising match officials this season. Most notably, Sir Alex Ferguson received a two-match ban in November and, more recently, a five-game ban for his criticism of Martin Atkinson in the aftermath of the defeat by Chelsea in March. Ferguson clearly felt aggrieved by these refereeing decisions but at no point did the officials in question have to respond and justify their actions. So is this a case of the FA wrapping officials in cotton wool and should they be more open to criticism from managers and clubs alike?
With the advancement of TV coverage, referees decisions are assessed more and more to the extent that the vast majority of decisions are questioned and undermined. With levels of respect for match officials seemingly at an all-time low, therefore, it is important the FA does what it can to protect referees and linesmen. The sight of players mobbing and berating referees on the pitch is disgraceful enough as it is and managers must set a good example if we are to eliminate this horrible sight from the game.
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yes sir i have seen your message concerning the refrees but what webb howard did in the match between liverpool and Totenhum was not his fist time to do that. he did the same penalty when liverpool was playing man u at old traford.To me i see that the team howard webb hate in His life is liverpool. in order to keep the heart of the players and the manager, webb should not be put as match official in any liverpool game.
I was at the Liverpool game on Sunday vs Tottenham and Howard webb, who is supposedly Englands best referee was an absolute disgrace, as were his linesmem.
He clearly has a hatred towards Liverpool and therefore he should be removed from having anything to do with any of there games in future.
He should be ashamed to call himself an official of the game.
He never made one call right on Sunday, endless times Cudicini kicked the ball from his hands and on each occasion he was releasing the ball outside of the box. Then there is the penalty decision which Stevie wonder could have called better. The endless time wasting by Tottenham players and Webbs failure to stamp his authority on it. The numerous play acting by Tottenham players and again refusing to take anything to do with it.
The guy is an absolute disgrace and its because of refs like him that they get given such bad reps.
They should be made to explain there decisions post match just as managers have to.
Webb is far from being rated as the best Ref in England, more like ‘The best Referee in MANCHESTER’, totally, totally, BIASED, and it’s there for all to see.!!!. If anyone got the time to research Webb’s record in the Liverpool games, than that should read very interesting!.
Webb as far as i know has officiated 4 times with LFC games and we have lost every one. He has officiated the same number of games with the manc’s, guess what, yep they have won every one, need we say anymore.
There you go JOHNJO, he needs to be seriously looked at. Top Referee in England……my AR*E.
Some people are obviously mistaken him, for COLLINA?, cause of the same egghead?, but that is as far as, comparison goes!!!.