I have only just seen an interview with Graham Poll saying that a current referee before making his professional debut said to the former official turned columnist for a national paper, “I hope United score early and coast to a 3-0 win so it’s an easy day at the office for me.” HOORAH! Potentially no more bias!
Now I know that the entire establishment that is Manchester United is daunting enough and the bad thing is, I can totally understand why, I’d be the exact same! Imagine making your refereeing debut as Old Trafford, a boiling cauldron of Mancunians who have been counting down every waking moment until their beloved Red Devils kick off, and they expect to win, but not only win but to win comprehensively, that coupled with a bid old angry Scotsman who will blast your performance in the press for weeks upon weeks if you give a ominous call against Ferguson’s team, I’d be petrified to be in the position of a referee in a game involving Ferguson and Old Trafford. I know Ferguson is protecting his players and reaffirming the Manchester dominance, i don’t think in the slightest he would condone the bias of referees as he comes across as someone who loves the game more than himself.
The fact the story itself has figuratively been underplayed and gone under the radar, I only heard about it through Nik Postinger on Twitter and does that mean it is generally accepted that Ferguson could get away with berating the officials who do the best job they can, and for a manager who demands both consistency AND common sense, which is impossible in my eyes, you either want someone who does the same thing over and over again or someone who can adapt to the occasion, but surely can’t referee an occasion, you have to referee the match itself, surely!? I can’t get my head round it at all. But with it now the post Ferguson era, will you see match officials refereeing without the added sense of a noose potentially looming above their head if it doesn’t go United’s way. I understand they have replaced him with another Glaswegian who could potentially have temperament problems, but no aura that surrounded his predecessor. With no penalties given against United at Old Trafford the season just gone, it could be the end of Fergie time AND the “too hard to call one way or another” type fouls and indiscretions being more shifted to the visiting team next year. Let’s see shall we? I hope it does and Arsenal nick a smash and grab win at Old Trafford, it has been far too long.
