Referees

[Lofthouse Lower]

OWEN Coyle says his request for feedback from referee’s chief Mike Riley has fallen on deaf ears.

Back at the start of January the Wanderers boss compiled a DVD of 14 major decisions to go against his side, sending it to Riley at his own request.

But 35 days later, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) has not been back in contact with the Scot, who felt himself once again hard done by after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Describing referee Mark Clattenburg’s performance as “beyond belief,” Coyle was frustrated that Riley had not seen fit to discuss the evidence he presented.

“I spoke to Mike Riley the day after we played Liverpool and sent him the DVD,” he told The Bolton News. “He’s a nice enough man and he said he would have a look at it and ring me back.

“I still haven’t heard from him. He’s in charge of refs and he hasn’t phoned me back since Liverpool.”

Coyle was further infuriated by Clattenburg on Saturday after he twice refused to see him after the game.

Under Premier League rules, referees must consult with managers after a 30-minute ‘cooling down’ period following the final whistle.

The Bolton News understands that Clattenburg did eventually acquiesce, but while the content of their conversation will remain behind closed doors, Coyle left the media in no doubt that he was displeased with the Tyne and Wear official’s performance.

Clattenburg awarded two penalties for Tottenham in the first eight minutes, forcing one to be retaken.

But he later turned down an appeal by Gary Cahill after he had seemingly been fouled by Steven Pienaar, rubbing salt into the wounds by booking the Wanderers man for diving. “I complied the DVD in January with 14 incidents that had gone against us, now I think we’re in the 20s after that game,” the manager said.

“As much as we can laugh about it, you have to feel sorry for the players and fans. We have made progress as a football club it isn’t through quality that it has been taken away from us.

“If we had been given a penalty at 1-1, we would have been well placed to go and win the game.

“We can all be biased but anyone who knows football will see the lad has left in, and that Gary stepped over it to get a shot away.

“But then to suggest that he has simulated, that I just find incredible.”

[thebish]

“We can all be biased but anyone who knows football will see the lad has left in, and that Gary stepped over it to get a shot away.

“But then to suggest that he has simulated, that I just find incredible.”

Oh my very dear!!!

[Raven]

Can't someone tell Coyle what we already know...that Riley is a cnut.

[TANGODANCER]

Shows the mind-set of the R.A. They take one of the most controverial and hated of their bunch and put him in charge of proceedings.

[Bruno3]

Shows the mind-set of the R.A. They take one of the most controverial and hated of their bunch and put him in charge of proceedings.

Could be worse - could be Barry Knight!

[spikeykev]

On a serious note, it makes you wonder what Riley's job actually entails. Being provided footage surely warrants a reply, while failing to do so merely increases the chances of inept refereeing continuing, as Clatterberg, Foy and the like know damn well they can get away with such awful performances. As far as I can see, the ref's association or whatever they like to call themselves, are simply a complete joke. It''s sadly obvious that when Clattenberg is made ref for one of our games we already know we will get screwed over, and again this is what has happened at Spurs, Coyle recognises this and sadly the most he can do is make a tape and send it to the 'appropriate' person. The standard of ref'ing on the Premier League is seriously poor, but at the end of the day there is little that can be done.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Well when Old Mother Riley was appointed Head of Referees then you knew full well that at some point we were going to get a massive referee-shaped dildo up our collective arseholes.

It's like your worst enemy at work being promoted to being in charge of your yearly review.

[Tombwfc]

Can somebody tell me what Coyle was hoping Riley to do?

Unless he's insinuating that there's a multi-ref conspiracy against us and only us, I don't see what his DVD is meant to prove.

Human beings can't see things as good as multiple super slo-mo Sky replays can?

[William the White]

Can somebody tell me what Coyle was hoping Riley to do?

Unless he's insinuating that there's a multi-ref conspiracy against us and only us, I don't see what his DVD is meant to prove.

Human beings can't see things as good as multiple super slo-mo Sky replays can?

There may be some paranoid souls believing that, but not many.

You don't need a conspiracy. And I don't know whether there's anything in it. But a series of serious refereeing errors should not be without value to anyone looking to improve the quality of the profession. And a serious, season-long research project (not Coyle's DVD) might reveal whether there is any truth in the notion of unconscious bias in favour of the rich and powerful, whether there is such a thing as a 'homer' or unjustified prejudice against particular teams. It might have to be a longer term project than one season. And may not be a priority.

[Tombwfc]

But if you do find that sub-conciously, referee's are more inclined to give a 50/50 call to the home team/bigger team, what do you do with that information? Send them to 'Don't favour big club' couselling?

I just don't get the point, they assess the games, they are aware when mistakes are made. Without any technological aide, I don't see how Riley or anyone could improve things.

[TANGODANCER]

The referees need help from a higher authority, technology. Not stopping the game every two minutes, but for bad tackles, penalties and whether a ball has crossed the line or not. It's 2011, we have technology, other sports use it on controversial decisions, why not football. An old moan, but more relevant as time marches on.

[Lord Kangana]

Referees will clearly favour those with more influence on their jobs. Like it or not. The bigger clubs exert a greater authority over football in this county. Like it or not. Its fairly straightforward, and it isn't a level playing field.

[William the White]

But if you do find that sub-conciously, referee's are more inclined to give a 50/50 call to the home team/bigger team, what do you do with that information? Send them to 'Don't favour big club' couselling?

I just don't get the point, they assess the games, they are aware when mistakes are made. Without any technological aide, I don't see how Riley or anyone could improve things.

At the moment they deny it. If it was 'proven' by serious research they would not have that option. And would have to address it! Don't do vaguely dismissive things about 'counselling'. If a flaw is seriously found (as opposed to losing managers and fans moaning) it would, and could, be addressed. And every good ref would be looking to correct that flaw. anything wrong with that?

If it's not proven we could all stop our paranoid ramblings.

Not that we would...

[lovethesmellofnapalm]

what happened to the respect campaign? every game still has clear footage of foul mouthed rants at refs and linesmen.
our refs make some shocking decisions but the inordinate on-field pressure might have something to do with it.

[as]

Referees will clearly favour those with more influence on their jobs. Like it or not. The bigger clubs exert a greater authority over football in this county. Like it or not. Its fairly straightforward, and it isn't a level playing field.

Nail....head.

A multi-billion pound league, watched all over the world, and we still have referee's sh*t scared of giving a penalty against Man Utd at Old Trafford, and who still give Drogba a free kick against the 'lesser' teams, when it's obvious the cheating c*nt has fallen over again.

[Tombwfc]

Referees will clearly favour those with more influence on their jobs. Like it or not. The bigger clubs exert a greater authority over football in this county. Like it or not. Its fairly straightforward, and it isn't a level playing field.

True or not, it's not a problem that'll be addressed by Coyle's DVD. So again, what's the point?

At the moment they deny it. If it was 'proven' by serious research they would not have that option. And would have to address it! Don't do vaguely dismissive things about 'counselling'. If a flaw is seriously found (as opposed to losing managers and fans moaning) it would, and could, be addressed. And every good ref would be looking to correct that flaw. anything wrong with that?

Such information would be interesting, if only to fuel paranoid ramblings, but how would it be addressed?

If it were proven that human beings were completely incapable of officiating a football match without having their decisions influenced in any way, where would that leave us?

[RusholmeRuffian]

If it were proven that human beings were completely incapable of officiating a football match without having their decisions influenced in any way, where would that leave us?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_hqosNvv5E

?

[boltonboris]

Referees will clearly favour those with more influence on their jobs. Like it or not. The bigger clubs exert a greater authority over football in this county. Like it or not. Its fairly straightforward, and it isn't a level playing field.

True or not, it's not a problem that'll be addressed by Coyle's DVD. So again, what's the point?

At the moment they deny it. If it was 'proven' by serious research they would not have that option. And would have to address it! Don't do vaguely dismissive things about 'counselling'. If a flaw is seriously found (as opposed to losing managers and fans moaning) it would, and could, be addressed. And every good ref would be looking to correct that flaw. anything wrong with that?

Such information would be interesting, if only to fuel paranoid ramblings, but how would it be addressed?

If it were proven that human beings were completely incapable of officiating a football match without having their decisions influenced in any way, where would that leave us?

If a sympathetic or weak ref give us a dodgy penalty in the last minute on Sunday to secure all 3 points, I'd say job done..

He isn't so much questioning the officials' integrity, more saying "If you're going to give shite decisions, give us some shite decisions"

[Tombwfc]

Referees will clearly favour those with more influence on their jobs. Like it or not. The bigger clubs exert a greater authority over football in this county. Like it or not. Its fairly straightforward, and it isn't a level playing field.

True or not, it's not a problem that'll be addressed by Coyle's DVD. So again, what's the point?

At the moment they deny it. If it was 'proven' by serious research they would not have that option. And would have to address it! Don't do vaguely dismissive things about 'counselling'. If a flaw is seriously found (as opposed to losing managers and fans moaning) it would, and could, be addressed. And every good ref would be looking to correct that flaw. anything wrong with that?

Such information would be interesting, if only to fuel paranoid ramblings, but how would it be addressed?

If it were proven that human beings were completely incapable of officiating a football match without having their decisions influenced in any way, where would that leave us?

If a sympathetic or weak ref give us a dodgy penalty in the last minute on Sunday to secure all 3 points, I'd say job done..

He isn't so much questioning the officials' integrity, more saying "If you're going to give shite decisions, give us some shite decisions"

If Coyle believes his DVD will make referee's think "Oh, better start giving some shit decisions in Bolton's favour", surely that is questioning their integrity?

Either way, lets hope it works..

[Owen_Coyle]

A BIG pet subject of mine this.
I think the referees have an impossible task these days and I firmly believe that their job won't get any easier until the players' honesty returns. I fear that will never happen as diving, cheating and dishonesty in all it's forms is now part and parcel of the game.
I saw Brian Moore (the ex Rugby Union player) on Celebrity Mastermind the other day, and he was incensed by the "cancer" that the players had brought into football with their dishonesty, and that they (the Football authorities) couldn't see that was ruining the game. And this had totally affected his enjoyment of a game he used to love.
I totally agree with that view.