An extremely compelling argument that referees/FA have been biased toward Man U

[Albumen]

DUnno how much of this is true but it's compelling reading and highlights the bias in the Premier League towards United. Hopefully we'll get to taste that soon!

 

[Buzzer]

It's obviously primarily about home refereeing. That is where the vast majority of these problems occur (which I'm not defending BTW, just stating a fact). Sounds like a bitter rant from a Liverpool fan to me. Still, where would we be without the daily anti-Man Utd rant from a load of fans who will be creaming themselves if they ever get to go there in the league...

Been there.

 

[GOM]

It's obviously primarily about home refereeing. That is where the vast majority of these problems occur (which I'm not defending BTW, just stating a fact). .

All 4 examples used in the article were when Man Utd were AWAY. Also there were no problems, only the consequences of what happened after.

I'm not saying that I believe in the theory, just that when you read it, it is quite interesting.

 

[Commander]

Have you actually watched them play this season?

The idea that they're so far above every other team in the Premier League right now is hilarious and even with all the help they get I'd be very surprised to see them end this season with a trophy. Perhaps the league cup or maybe the FA, but they're not good enough for a title.

Why do you feel the need to defend them? Football fans have every right to hate them for their greed, their arrogance, their moronic fans, their pathetic moaning old manager and the fact that they regularly get favourable treatment from the authorities and media. Furthermore, on a personal note, may I remind you that Manchester United are the only team to have beaten our beloved club in an FA Cup final, which for me is just another reason to dislike them.

I can only assume you're defending them for the sake of being controversial. Did you read the article? I find Manchester United sympathisers unbelievably dull, particularly on a forum for a lower league team such as Brighton, who have gone through so much more heartbreak, agony and passion in the last fifteen years than the big red moneymaking machine.

Anyway, regarding the blog post, there's some quite startling evidence in there and to be honest it doesn't surprise me in the slightest

I don't really see how they are any more greedy or arrogant than Chelsea or Man City, or most other top clubs these days. And their pathetic moaning old manager is probably the greatest manager that has ever lived. I don't like them either, but I don't really see them as that different to any of the other top clubs in England, apart from the fact that they are more successful.

 

[W.C.]

I don't really see how they are any more greedy or arrogant than Chelsea or Man City, or most other top clubs these days. And their pathetic moaning old manager is probably the greatest manager that has ever lived. I don't like them either, but I don't really see them as that different to any of the other top clubs in England, apart from the fact that they are more successful.

You're right, although I'm giving Man City a year or two before they really start to grate, but I always take the mature and sensible view on Manchester United;

They started it.

 

[Triggaaar]

I came across this blog entry tonight from someone who has analysed the referees for Man U games over the years and decisions that have gone for and against them and the subsequent careers of the refs involved.

Corruption and Influence Peddling in the English Game - The Dim in Beirut

Wow, that is a spectacularly poorly written 'analysis'.

 

[GOM]

1) However, the article (yes, I did read it) ... I'm not sure what your point is.

2) I'm not defending them. I'm pointing out a reason for the record they enjoy at OT

You still haven't read it have you ?

It's not about PKs at OT at all.

 

[Hove Seagull]

I would like to become a premier league referee, just so I could send off as many Man Utd players off as I could, and give lots of penalties against them.
I would particularly enjoy finding any little reason to send that horrible little scottish Karl Maldon look-alike to the stands.

 

[Justice]

Anyone remember Blackpool's home game with Man Utd, disgraceful refereeing.

 

[Hotchilidog]

The problem with that article is that it is highly selective in it's choice of evidence, and it provides no comparative data regarding other clubs and the fate befalling the refs in those matches. Man Utd are a big club and as such as are more likely to benefit from a dodgy decision or two, that is jet the way it is. Also every decision involving United is subjected a higher level of scrutiny than other clubs clubs and will therefore generate more comment.

The main problem for teams at OT is that they go there expecting to lose and are already intimidated before the game kicks off. I'm no apologist for Man Utd but this blog seems to be more a collection of incidents in search of a story rather than any actual hard hitting investigation.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Let's be honest, it's a total load of bollocks a from bitter Scouser with far too much time on his hands.

Does anyone seriously believe there is a corruption issue among referees/the FA similar to those in Italy etc?

Of course there isn't.

Do referees get influenced unconsciously into giving decisions to the big-name clubs/players/managers, especially at home? Without a doubt. But that isn't the same thing at all.

And the decision of who referees which match is influenced by all sorts of things. The law of averages alone says you should only ref a team once every 19 games or whatever, so it could easily be double that.

Must admit, though, I too was interested in the appointment of that West Midlands ref for our Birmingham game. Even though he is a known Villa fan, that still puts him under pressure to be 'fairer' to Birmingham (arguably at our expense).

 

[Colossal Squid]

1) I've watched them as much as I can this season, and they're shit. Really poor by their standards. I am not even 100% convinced they will finish in the top four this season, although I think fourth is their most likely position so they will probably just squeeze in the UCL again. However, the article (yes, I did read it) doesn't have much to do with this season. It's referring mainly to matches that were two seasons ago, when they were still quite good so, with respect, I'm not sure what your point is.

2) I'm not defending them. I'm pointing out a reason for the record they enjoy at OT that is FAR more likely than suggesting the country is full of corrupt referees or that the FA is pro-United. Even if I did want to defend them, I have as much right to do so as you do to attack them. I find it really pathetic that people claim to "hate" United, when the reality is they're just jealous of their success. It's not like they've broken the rules to get where they are. And as for 1983, holding a grudge over a team winning a football match for 30 years is ridiculous and childish.

3) I'm not trying to be controversial. I believe they get more PKs because over the last 10/15 years there can't be a team in the country that has consistently dominated teams at home as much as United do. That's the reason they get so many PKs and why other teams will have players sent off against them. As I said, I did read it, and it seemed like the work of an illiterate moron with nothing better to do than massage a few fairly irrelevant stats into an anti-United 'article'.

Fair enough. The point I was making re performances was in relation to your claim that Manchester United consistently dominate other teams at Old Trafford, when evidence so far this season suggests that's not the case right now. However I do take your point that this blog post is referring to games gone by, not from this season per se.

Also I agree that a team who put in consistently good performances will generally be awarded more penalty decisions in their favour, however this isn't really the gist of the post.

As for being jealous of Manchester United's success, far from it. No doubt there are haters who hate for this reason but my own reasons are far more personal. What I can't stand in football, above bad refereeing, above cheating, above even the inflated price of games, are the so-called Manchester United "fans" who know nothing about football beyond the team they've CHOSEN to support based on nothing other than their fame and success. And I'm fully aware this has been going on long before Manchester United's glory years BUT in my lifetime it is this team who have had the most gloryhunters and when I was in school I was mocked for my support of struggling Albion whilst the bigger boys came in with their MU shirts and poked fun at other teams they'd never heard of. Perhaps this is childish and pathetic, but I don't care. Shit sticks.

I simply CANNOT fathom the idea of football from the perspective of somebody who CHOOSES a team to support, regardless of their geographic location, purely on the grounds of their success. It is an alien concept to me. I have supported my team wholeheartedly when they have been TOTAL shit. And there have been times when they were so shit it was painful, but I stuck by it because for me, there's no upping and switching to another team, that just doesn't work. I love my club, I actually LOVE it, even when Nicky Rust was haplessly flapping about picking ball after ball out of his net on the way to another humiliating defeat in the basement division. Didn't matter. It was heartbreaking, but that's because it meant something to me. Just like the success we are currently enjoying (last two games withstanding) is like cloud nine to me. It would mean a f*** of a lot less if I'd just picked Albion out of a hat to start supporting now they've got a nice ground and play enjoyable football.

I'm not trying to play my dick is bigger than yours, everyone is entitled to enjoy football however they please. But these are my reasons for disliking the big red scum of the north.

I don't know many Albion fans who aren't from Sussex. I don't know ANY Manchester United fans who are from Lancashire.

And yes, that's the FANS, not the TEAM. But it still makes me hate them. And hate them I always will

 

[Bold Seagull]

Anyone remember Blackpool's home game with Man Utd, disgraceful refereeing.

Yes, everyone on this Brighton forum remembers MU away to Blackpool which must be at least 2 years ago....

 

[Mellotron]

They get more PKs because over the last 10/15 years there can't be a team in the country that has consistently dominated teams at home as much as United do. That's the reason they get so many PKs and why other teams will have players sent off against them.

Correct. This same article will come up about Man City in 20 years time, or Chelsea, or anyone who dominates to the extent that Man Utd have over the last 20 years.

If anti-Man Utd fans were born 20 years earlier, it would be exactly the same, just replace the word United with Liverpool.

All a bit childish really.

 

[Mellotron]

What I can't stand in football, above bad refereeing, above cheating, above even the inflated price of games, are the so-called Manchester United "fans" who know nothing about football beyond the team they've CHOSEN to support based on nothing other than their fame and success. And I'm fully aware this has been going on long before Manchester United's glory years BUT in my lifetime it is this team who have had the most gloryhunters and when I was in school I was mocked for my support of struggling Albion whilst the bigger boys came in with their MU shirts and poked fun at other teams they'd never heard of. Perhaps this is childish and pathetic, but I don't care. Shit sticks.

I simply CANNOT fathom the idea of football from the perspective of somebody who CHOOSES a team to support, regardless of their geographic location, purely on the grounds of their success. It is an alien concept to me. I have supported my team wholeheartedly when they have been TOTAL shit. And there have been times when they were so shit it was painful, but I stuck by it because for me, there's no upping and switching to another team, that just doesn't work. I love my club, I actually LOVE it, even when Nicky Rust was haplessly flapping about picking ball after ball out of his net on the way to another humiliating defeat in the basement division. Didn't matter. It was heartbreaking, but that's because it meant something to me. Just like the success we are currently enjoying (last two games withstanding) is like cloud nine to me. It would mean a f*** of a lot less if I'd just picked Albion out of a hat to start supporting now they've got a nice ground and play enjoyable football.

I'm not trying to play my dick is bigger than yours, everyone is entitled to enjoy football however they please. But these are my reasons for disliking the big red scum of the north.

I don't know many Albion fans who aren't from Sussex. I don't know ANY Manchester United fans who are from Lancashire.

And yes, that's the FANS, not the TEAM. But it still makes me hate them. And hate them I always will

No different to Liverpool though is it? I meet just as many Liverpool plastics, if not more.

 

[Colossal Squid]

No different to Liverpool though is it? I meet just as many Liverpool plastics, if not more.

That's the point I was making. If I were older no doubt it would be Liverpool I felt this hatred towards. But I was born in the 80s, struggling through school in the 90s when MU were the success story. The Liverpool fans I know are all too young to remember when they were winning titles

 

[Tooting Gull]

Correct. This same article will come up about Man City in 20 years time, or Chelsea, or anyone who dominates to the extent that Man Utd have over the last 20 years.

If anti-Man Utd fans were born 20 years earlier, it would be exactly the same, just replace the word United with Liverpool.

All a bit childish really.

While I basically agree with you, I don't remember Liverpool being quite AS hated as Man Utd in the 70s and 80s. People got sick of it them always being them on the TV, winning everything, nicking the best players etc, but I don't think there was the same opinion of the club as a whole, and there certainly wasn't the same hatred for the managers.

 

[Mellotron]

That's the point I was making. If I were older no doubt it would be Liverpool I felt this hatred towards. But I was born in the 80s, struggling through school in the 90s when MU were the success story. The Liverpool fans I know are all too young to remember when they were winning titles

Which surely shows that it's all just a bit silly, and that it is about being envious of whoever it is that's successful, not Man United specifically. I don't hate them anymore than Liverpool, although I understand your point about plastics, I HATE those plastics, but that doesn't seem to transfer onto the club itself that much.