Football in Finland Europe and the World

[Ace]

Don't mind me, Olly, it's just a hobby-horse I have. it's not really about "decisions", more about the ref not having eyes in the back of his head. I've read one too many times that "the referee didn't see it", and I've seen one too many times that the players KNEW the referee couldn't see it, and I've become quite disgusted with all the s-h1te that goes down off the ball and out of sight and out of mind in the professional game.

Well the assistants are supposed to be the referee's "eyes in the back of his head" but of course its not always easy, especially if a defence is playing the offside trap constantly, that diverts most of the assistants attention.

At the Finland Italy game in Helsinki (a great example of poor refereeing). There was an incident that perfectly illustrates this point. The referee was facing the corner flag where the action was taking place (an Italian player trying to beat the full back to put the cross in). The linesman was running full pelt trying to keep up and probably concentrating on any possibility of offside (his priority).

Meanwhile in the Finland penalty box the Italian striker pushes his marker over (definite yellow card). The cross comes in to the Italian player (who is obviously completely unmarked as the Finnish players eating soil). And he Pops the ball in the net.

Now I would say thats the refs fault as it was in the penalty box. A lot of refs I work with tell me that the penalty box is theirs and I should only clock the offsides, throw ins, corners, goal kicks and nearby infringements, when im working as a linesman. Personally I dont like that though and think the linesman should flag any infringement he see's in the box too. And at that level the linesman should be doing just that.

It's a good example of the blind spot you talk about, and again if the refs completely unaware of the infringement in the first place how can he call on the assistance of a 5th official with video replay?

I wished I'd had video evidence this evening twice the team put the ball in the net and twice I ruled it out for offside. I counted under 10 decisions that looked like 5th official material. But to be fair it was a pretty timid game

[ajdias]

I don't know if you guys have discussed this game and Postiga's impression of Diego Armando.. I saw the game and was pretty ashamed, maybe because I felt satisfied and sort of relieved with this goal

09/09/2003. Portugal beat England 2-1 at Villa Park on Tuesday evening and on route to clinch a playoff birth thanks to Helder Postiga's best Diego Maradona impression. The game finished 2-1 to the Portuguese and ended England's chances of qualifying for the European Championships.

But manager David Platt was left fuming, and his players distraught, when TV replays on the giant screen in one corner of the ground clearly showed that Postiga had used his hand to steer Hugo Viana's free-kick out of the reach of deputy goalkeeper Lee Grant and into the net.

The TV replays merely confirmed what many England players had spotted in real time. They had surrounded the referee to protest, but to no avail.

Greek referee Briakos and his assistant refused to watch the pictures that showed they had made a glaring error. After the match, Postiga did not admit to using his arm but pointing out that mistakes made by officials are part of the game.

Last paragraph's boldface is mine. So what would have happened had the ref watched the pictures? I don't think he'd be allowed to change his decision, but then I'm no expert.. And shouldn't the replay of images be disallowed during the game? It can seriously influence the teams, the ref and the audience. And don't forget that the home team "controls" the images that are replayed, right?


Ps: And Olly, who's Mark walters? I heard that C. Ronaldo is being criticised for his outstanding diving skills

[Ace]

Ps: And Olly, who's Mark walters? I heard that C. Ronaldo is being criticised for his outstanding diving skills

Actually the joke was rather poor really . Mark Walters is an ex liverpool player famous for his one trick. The same stepover that young Ronaldo is so fond of. But thats where the comparisons stop . Ronaldo's a big hit at United already. Here's a snippet of one fans opinion on the United Fanzine Forum:

Christiano Ronaldo

Credit where it is due, he is the new boy, only 18 years old, fast as @#$%, the new wonder..etc etc etc...

But what has impressed me more than any of the above is the guys attitude. He gets kicked all over the park, he just gets up and gets on with it. He loses possesion, he will track back and try and win it back. And most of all yesterday when confronted by that !"#¤% Ashley Cole, he stood up and was counted.

It would have been easy for him to have avoided any confrontation yesterday, but he was in amongst the thick of the action.

Credit where it is due, and I think in his case it is.

To be honest ajdias with all the controversy of the Man Utd Arsenal game I completely missed the U21's story. Thanks for bringing it to my attention (BTW that Greek ref, he's not from Faliraki by any chance is he )

[Ace]

Eight charged after bust-up

Funny to see those City fans dressed up as blue seats again 29,067 Biggest team in Manchester you know

[simon]

Olly i fear this one is for you

http://www.arsenalshorts.com/rvncheat/

visit the rest of the website, very funny

PS
We showed them Luton boys how to play football.....not

[Hank W.]

How bout a missing team?
http://www.helsinki-hs.net/news.asp?id=20030923IE21

Actually, I roomed with John K in Porvoo for a while. Cool guy. I can just imagine him speaking.

[Ace]

Man you can't blame them. I used to chill with a couple of Sierra Leoneons back in the UK and I know a couple here at Arcada. Lifes tough there with the British Army fighting the West Side Boys for control of the diamond mines and the Nigerean peace keepers tend to shoot first and ask questions later allegedly.

[Hank W.]

Well, the people that collected them the money and sent them over might have a few other terms, like "ungrateful sods".

[Slothrop]

Should we attach any significance to the fact that three of them in the picture are not holding their hands on their hearts? Are the others swearing that they'll run away if they don't beat the Koreans? Or are they attempting to cover the de Beers "Star of Sierra Leone" ad on their shirts? I think we should be told.

[Ace]

Olly i fear this one is for you

http://www.arsenalshorts.com/rvncheat/

visit the rest of the website, very funny

http://www.sit.fi/~fodeno/@#$%.jpe

PS We showed them Luton boys how to play football.....not

Bloody hell I missed all that

[Ace]

Well, the people that collected them the money and sent them over might have a few other terms, like "ungrateful sods".

Charity begins at home H More fool the collecters and donators

[Ace]

lol@lids








Simon will be happy about that, doubt WLM will though

[ajdias]

Enough of Premiership, time for La froonce:

Finally, Pauleta scored again. We was having some problem, I feared that his confidence could be lost. And that should not happen, not next July Pity that we did not do it to a stronger team than PSG

[simon]

Did you see Lisbie's 3rd goal
got goal of the week on BBC

Great result

Sorry old Leeds

[Ace]

Did you see Lisbie's 3rd goal

Yep Check this out. What do you reckon?