The 2012/2013 Champions League Thread

[Anfield Kopite]

I'd like to point people to the last WC when people quite rightly berated Howard Webb for being a pcunt.

[10539.4 Miles Away]

I have only seen very brief highlights of what happened but what I don't get is why Nani was lying on the floor holding his side after the challenge and why he got treatment?

Surely if it was completely accidental the natural reaction would have been to get straight up and apologise.

[sandman]

When he showed the red and sent him off I thought it was harsh but when you see it from the referee's angle and hear the rule being read out then I don't think he had much option. I'm shocked that a few on here think that a high boot to the chest is ''never, ever a red''.

not never, ever. But this one shouldn't have been. It's called "football". He's got every right to try to play the ball. Just like World Class Wooney tried to do when he skied hs shot.

Hate to go all Roy Keane but we've already established that his intent was to play the ball. Once he misses the ball the ref has to make a decision from his angle, the straightening of Nani's leg and the rules which, just to reiterate do not involve intent, and he has to decide on whether it endangered Arbeloa. The Ref has made the decision and he didn't take it lightly judging by the length of time he took. Imo the judgement he made was perfectly understandable.

[Schards#2]

Utterly classless in defeat, should be some bans imposed for next season

[frimmers3]

the decision by ferguson to shun the media post match was cowardly.

[Handsome Man]

the decision by ferguson to shun the media post match was cowardly.

It was wise

[Royal Rother]

In reality it was a terrible decision, totally unjust. Apart from anything else there was zero intent. Nani tried to back out of it when he saw the player there - he did not follow through which was why he was flipped round in the challenge.

But that's with the benefit of slow motion. The obviously thought he saw something else. End of, get on with it. Shame for the game though.

But what the fcuk was Roy Keane babbling on about?

[Silver Fox]

Most importantly, unless there's a monumental turn around here - the Soton game will be moving to Monday 8th April.

Or not, United going through was what was going to move it, so this was the best result for me

FWIW my two penn'th is it was a red, some might not have given it but I really don't think the ref got it wrong. Where he did get it wrong was in not awarding a penalty and sending off Rafael for his goalline save shortly afterwards. As someone up there alluded to, if the roles had been reversed there is absolutely no way our media would be complaining that the ref had ruined the game by harshly sending off a Real player.

[soggy biscuit]

My initial reaction is based on what I think football should be like rather than what the laws of the game actually are. I wish that sort of thing didn't result in a red as it just edges football more and more towards being a non contact sport but by the laws of the game intent doesn't matter, it was deemed dangerous/reckless and so was a red. fair enough.

If it was the other way around the Man Utd players would have been crowding around the ref waving imaginary cards so I have no sympathy whatsoever with them. Rafael also handballed it on the line and they got away with it.

Decades worth of bullying refs, diving, cheating etc leaves you feeling little sympathy for Man Utd

[jd82]

My initial reaction is based on what I think football should be like rather than what the laws of the game actually are. I wish that sort of thing didn't result in a red as it just edges football more and more towards being a non contact sport but by the laws of the game intent doesn't matter, it was deemed dangerous/reckless and so was a red. fair enough.

If it was the other way around the Man Utd players would have been crowding around the ref waving imaginary cards so I have no sympathy whatsoever with them. Rafael also handballed it on the line and they got away with it.

Decades worth of bullying refs, diving, cheating etc leaves you feeling little sympathy for Man Utd

Saw this on Twitter last night -



seems reckless is a yellow, and a red is only issued for excessive force. Why the pundits don't know/have access to this, prefering to guess, is beyond me.

[southbank1871]

'Greed. That's exactly what I thought.

Edit: In response to Seb.

[6ft Kerplunk]

The only other comment I have to make on last night is, from all of his media interaction, comments, and body language, Mourinho REALLY REALLY wants the United job.

^^^ This, said the same to Mrs K when he shook Fergie's hand and walked off without celebrating before the final whistle. Interview afterwards just confirmed it, he's desperate to win the Champions League but still somehow force Madrid to sack him.

Andy Townsend's summary on the later programme was brilliant, "As a referee you can't just read the rule book every week and go out and apply the rules".

[soggy biscuit]

The only other comment I have to make on last night is, from all of his media interaction, comments, and body language, Mourinho REALLY REALLY wants the United job.

Find Mourinho's constant backside kissing of the English public and english media quite cringeworthy. I heard this morning that his comments to foreign media were quite different.

[Hoop Blah]

In reality it was a terrible decision, totally unjust. Apart from anything else there was zero intent. Nani tried to back out of it when he saw the player there - he did not follow through which was why he was flipped round in the challenge.

But that's with the benefit of slow motion. The obviously thought he saw something else. End of, get on with it. Shame for the game though.

But what the fcuk was Roy Keane babbling on about?

From some angles it looks more like Nani flicks out with his leg as he extends it.

Overall I think it was a harsh sending off but there's certainly an argument that it kicking out like that at head height know that it's likely Arbeloa is coming (he glances and knows he's only 20 yards away) is reckless or dangerous. I'd be interesting in hearing the refs take on it, as I think there may be a case that he's sent him off for kicking out with that little late flick of his leg you seem to be unable to see RR.

Weren't there a few sending offs earlier in the Premier League season for something similar?

[Hoop Blah]

I actually think he would be the perfect successor to Ferguson and could see him doing a ten year stint there.

I can't see him staying anywhere that long, it's not how he works and his confrontational style means he makes too many enemies to last.

I can't see the brand aware United willing to take him on. Either way, whoever takes over after Fergie is probably on a hiding to nothing in the same way as whoever took over Coppells Reading side, or Busby's United for that matter. I'm pretty sure Fergie will leave United in a better position than either of those did though.

[soggy biscuit]

Was Nani ok after the incident? He deffo seemed to be hurt as he rolled around on the floor for quite a while.

[Hoop Blah]

My initial reaction is based on what I think football should be like rather than what the laws of the game actually are. I wish that sort of thing didn't result in a red as it just edges football more and more towards being a non contact sport but by the laws of the game intent doesn't matter, it was deemed dangerous/reckless and so was a red. fair enough.

If it was the other way around the Man Utd players would have been crowding around the ref waving imaginary cards so I have no sympathy whatsoever with them. Rafael also handballed it on the line and they got away with it.

Decades worth of bullying refs, diving, cheating etc leaves you feeling little sympathy for Man Utd

Saw this on Twitter last night -



seems reckless is a yellow, and a red is only issued for excessive force. Why the pundits don't know/have access to this, prefering to guess, is beyond me.

And this is a perfect response to someone like Dixon who brings up the old 'referees don't know the game' and we 'need ex players in charge who know what's going on on the pitch'. Far too often they know what they're trying to get away with but they don't actually know the rules!

I'd say the majority of players, and a smaller majority of fans, say it shouldn't be a red card. I'd probably agree with that BUT I can see justification for what the ref did under the current interpretation of the rules and the way the game is going (like others I'd rather that wasn't the direction it's heading).

[retro_royal]

Based on the above it seems like the challenge was careless. Nothing more than a high foot that you get.

Bad decisions went both ways as is the norm but we still had enough chances to win the game. Got to take your chances.

[Royal Rother]

I think there may be a case that he's sent him off for kicking out with that little late flick of his leg you seem to be unable to see RR.

I can't see something that's only in your imagination.

[soggy biscuit]

i can also see it