Change of ref for Stoke game

[CosmicHotspur]

Makes sense. The Premier League has removed referee Kevin Friend from our game at Stoke City on Monday because he supports Leicester.

There would certainly be controversy over some of his decisions and no official should be used at any game where there is an affiliation towards one of the teams. however fair and unbiased they may claim to be.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Huh. Decent move.

Do refs have to disclose 'their team', if they have one?

 

[Gbspurs]

Interesting. I didn't think Referees were supposed to openly support any team. I suspect someone will be going through every PL game Friend has ever referreed to see if any decisions he has made have ever helped Leicester.

 

[Chilli]

Refs shouldn't have to disclose thier team full stop. Someone's fucked up today plain and simple.
Although I'm glad of the change now the information is out in the public domian, it should not of become public knowledge.

Because of this decision today it will change a lot in future games/ refs.

Also; the answer isn't to simply say "refs shouldn't support a team" or "only hire refs that don't support a team". That would make for poor refs, we need football people doing a football job.

We either trust refs to make the right decisions or we don't.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Mike Dean is from the Wirral and doesnt ref the Merseyside teams games as far as im aware.

Heard Ray Wilkins this morning saying Andre Marriner is a Villa fan - God love him.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Kevin Friend will not take charge of Monday's crucial clash between Stoke versus Tottenham due to his affiliation with Leicester.

Instead, Neil Swarbrick will be the man in the middle at the Britannia Stadium, while Friend will referee Newcastle against Manchester City on Saturday.

Friend is a Bristol City fan but lives in Leicestershire and has attended Foxes matches with friends.

Source

 

[CosmicHotspur]

There's enough corruption in the game without having officials with even a tiny hint of affiliation or bias towards a specific team.

 

[Dougal]

It's just because football fans tend to clutch at straws and make mountains out of molehills.

They're also fond of metaphors.

 

[Danners9]

Aw, friend! football friend! Kevin Friend!

 

[mark87]

Too right n all.

 

[worcestersauce]

I don't believe he would have been biased but once it was pointed out he had to be replaced, not least because it might affect him the other way where he might feel the pressure to give Spurs the benefit of doubt for fear of accusations of bias.
Surprised he got the gig in the first place.
Apparently Clattenberg declared his support for Newcastle from the start so won't do them or Sunderland, not that that will be a problem next year.

 

[LondonOllie]

Makes sense. The Premier League has removed referee Kevin Friend from our game at Stoke City on Monday because he supports Leicester.

There would certainly be controversy over some of his decisions and no official should be used at any game where there is an affiliation towards one of the teams. however fair and unbiased they may claim to be.

Also, no ref who comes from Leciester, with six toes and obvious inbreeding should be officiating a Spurs match.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Kevin Friend will not take charge of Monday's crucial clash between Stoke versus Tottenham due to his affiliation with Leicester.

Instead, Neil Swarbrick will be the man in the middle at the Britannia Stadium, while Friend will referee Newcastle against Manchester City on Saturday.

Friend is a Bristol City fan but lives in Leicestershire and has attended Foxes matches with friends.

Source

Fackin' gloryhunter!

 

[CosmicHotspur]

It's just because football fans tend to clutch at straws and make mountains out of molehills.

They're also fond of metaphors.

Also, no ref who comes from Leciester, with six toes and obvious inbreeding should be officiating a Spurs match.

You got that confused with refs who support Norwich.

 

[LondonOllie]

You got that confused with refs who support Norwich.

North of Watford Gap?

 

[Damian99]

Huh. Decent move.

Do refs have to disclose 'their team', if they have one?

I wonder how that works - How the hell do they no if you're telling the truth lol

 

[gp13tot]

He knows a mate of mine who refs in leicester and staffs local leagues, and has definitely been to city with him at least once. Right decision for me, hes too close to other city fans to be 100% impartial

 

[Lighty64]

weird we have won 2 games this season, 1 being away to Norwich which we won 3-0 which put us 3rd and 5pts behind them

he is now going to ref Newcastle v Man C, now don't get me wrong but Man C aren't mathematically out of it yet

 

[yankspurs]

Do people really think it matters though? Much ado about nothing, IMO. Leicester have essentially already won the title. If it was only a 2-4 point deficit then i could see this being a problem. But its a 7 point lead ffs. We have to win every game remaining and we'll still probably lose out on the title.

Not only that, Leicester is playing every game 12 on 11 with every ref being extremely careful about not calling potential game changing decisions against them when its warranted because they dont wanna be seen as the one who lost it for them. That is what something needs to be done about. I'd respect what Leicester are doing alot more if the refs were being balanced but they arent.

 

[Beni]

I think it does matter, particularly on 50/50 decisions, it's human nature to side on what your preference is.

Take me for example if I was to be a ref, and disclosed to be a Spurs fan, I wouldn't be able to ref Spurs games, but Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham games I could, and it would be second nature to give 50/50 decisions to teams that are playing against these sides