Wenger slams Tottenham ref change

[Geyzer Soze]

I disagree with most here, and think it's the correct decision.

You're all assuming this is because the FA don't trust him. I believe it's so there can't be a media/Tottenham shit storm should he make an incorrect and potentially decisive call during the match.

His impartiality isn't in question at all, it's just that the FA would rather not deal with months of questions should something debatable happen.

Yeah, although I agree with you it's just opened them up to a much bigger precedent. Managers are going to be asking for changes left right & center now

 

[Timberwolf]

I don't see why anyone has a problem with this. It's nothing new. All refs have to declare their support/affiliation for a team and then aren't allowed to ref those games. Friend hasn't been reffing Leicester games all season and this is just an extension of that. Makes perfect sense - why take the risk of him having some underlying bias - or even perceived bias. Imagine the fallout if he gave a dodgy pen even if he genuinely thought it was the correct decision.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I disagree with most here, and think it's the correct decision.

You're all assuming this is because the FA don't trust him. I believe it's so there can't be a media/Tottenham shit storm should he make an incorrect and potentially decisive call during the match.

His impartiality isn't in question at all, it's just that the FA would rather not deal with months of questions should something debatable happen.

But I think that in itself is setting a bad precedent.

If we have a ref we don't like, should we just raise a fuss to get him removed from the game? It would certainly be easy to create the same potential media shit-storm.

If fans can effectively dictate who they want reffing their games then it's going to get a bit silly.

 

[Shadydan]

I don't see why anyone has a problem with this. It's nothing new. All refs have to declare their support/affiliation for a team and then aren't allowed to ref those games. Friend hasn't been reffing Leicester games all season and this is just an extension of that. Makes perfect sense - why take the risk of him having some underlying bias - or even perceived bias. Imagine the fallout if he gave a dodgy pen even if he genuinely thought it was the correct decision.

If he has been reffing Leicester games all season then he shouldn't have been really if we're going by the PL's decision to drop him from the Spurs match. In those matches he could have shown bias towards them and handed them favorable decisions which could have assisted them to where they are now.

 

[Riandor]

If he has been reffing Leicester games all season then he shouldn't have been really if we're going by the PL's decision to drop him from the Spurs match. In those matches he could have shown bias towards them and handed them favorable decisions which could have assisted them to where they are now.

He said "hasn't"

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Wenger should mind his own business. If the Gooners were playing a team where the ref was known to have even a tenuous affiliation to the opposition, he'd be the first to protest.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

I disagree with most here, and think it's the correct decision.

You're all assuming this is because the FA don't trust him. I believe it's so there can't be a media/Tottenham shit storm should he make an incorrect and potentially decisive call during the match.

His impartiality isn't in question at all, it's just that the FA would rather not deal with months of questions should something debatable happen.

No, people have been saying just what you're saying.

It's still a mistake though. They should be insisting that their professional referees always behave professionally.

 

[jonnyrotten]

Bad decision. Friend technically shouldn't ref Spurs, Leicester or Arsenal games until the end of the season now. That is 3/10 matchdays. What if clubs started applying the same logic now that a precedent has been set. We are going to need a lot more refs, and at a time when referee quality is already heavily scrutinised then I think its bad for the game as a whole.

Personally I think we need to trust referees to perform their job fairly, and also place trust that there is sufficient scrutiny from the association to ensure any concerns are dealt with.

 

[hughy]

But I think that in itself is setting a bad precedent.

If we have a ref we don't like, should we just raise a fuss to get him removed from the game? It would certainly be easy to create the same potential media shit-storm.

If fans can effectively dictate who they want reffing their games then it's going to get a bit silly.

Fair enough, I suppose there are multiple ways of looking at it in a positive/negative light.

 

[hughy]

No, people have been saying just what you're saying.

It's still a mistake though. They should be insisting that their professional referees always behave professionally.

Someone suggested they're question his impartiality. That to me is questioning his trust!

 

[Shirtfront]

Dare I say that I think I agree with him? The referees are either professional and impartial, or they are not. To change the ref suggests the latter, which opens up a whole shit storm of questions, not least whether the referee in question should be allowed to officiate any game.

I see it slightly differently. A referee that is truly impartial has the judgment and common sense not to publicly announce his...impartiality? I worry at the state of mind and judgment of a professional referee, who must know that impartiality is the bedrock of his position, and then makes a public statement in support of a particular team.

It is blindingly obvious that a referee should not be on social media expressing his views on football teams/matters.

If this referee was stupid enough to do that, then he should not be officiating our game.

That leaves aside the very good point that referees must not only be impartial, they must be seen to be impartial.

 

[Shadydan]

He said "hasn't"

*Backs off into bush*

 

[Shirtfront]

But I think that in itself is setting a bad precedent.

If we have a ref we don't like, should we just raise a fuss to get him removed from the game? It would certainly be easy to create the same potential media shit-storm.

If fans can effectively dictate who they want reffing their games then it's going to get a bit silly.

Its got nothing to do with who you like or don't like. It is to do with a referee going on the record with a preference for a particular team.

I know it is social media, but it is still media. Imagine if he was interviewed on Sky just before kick off, and told Jamie Redknapp how he hoped Leicester went on to win the league....and then ran onto the pitch to blow the kick off whistle. How would you feel then?

 

[Dennism]

Crawl back in your hole Wenger. Even Arsenal fans hate you!

 

[talkshowhost86]

Its got nothing to do with who you like or don't like. It is to do with a referee going on the record with a preference for a particular team.

I know it is social media, but it is still media. Imagine if he was interviewed on Sky just before kick off, and told Jamie Redknapp how he hoped Leicester went on to win the league....and then ran onto the pitch to blow the kick off whistle. How would you feel then?

He's not even a Leicester fan!

 

[Spurs 1961]

Wow how come Wenger even noticed this? Everything usually passes him by

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

Someone suggested they're question his impartiality. That to me is questioning his trust!

Yes, some have said that. But not everyone, which is what I thought you were suggesting in your earlier message.

 

[spursbhoy67]

When refs join the EPL list they are interviewed and must declare if they have ever supported a team, held a season ticket, etc. They check into the background and refs are routinely blocked from officiating the team they support(ed).

There are refs on the current list who cannot officiate specific teams. This is standard protocol and AW would know that.

The EPL is trying to avoid a situation that occurred a few years back in the SPL when a linesman who was a season ticket holder disallowed a goal against his team's greatest rivals costing them the title. It also eliminates the possibility of betting irregularities, etc.

I don't think Kevin Friend would be anything but professional in our game against Stoke City. However, what if he made a decision or two similar to those made late in Atleti v Barca in the CL? Best to avoid all doubt.

 

[guiltyparty]

So will Mike Dean be banned from Spurs games now because of his little hop, skip and celebration when we scored?

It's a stupid call. The ref is either a professional or he isn't, and is either able to referee matches or he isn't. Really bad precedent, as it accepts that not all refs are completely impartial. So Friend can referee other games that will influence the league around Leicester?

I'm sure most refs admire Leicester and secretly want them to win the league if their side isn't in the running. But just because they keep their mouth shut, they're not to be suspected? Really murky.

 

[mil1lion]

I don't see why we even have a ref. The players are grown up enough to play a fair game of football for 90 minutes.