The Referee Thread

[dom9]

Let's start with Andre Marriner.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26699009

Referee Andre Marriner apologises for Kieran Gibbs red card error

Referee Andre Marriner has apologised for sending off Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs by mistake during the Gunners' 6-0 defeat by league leaders Chelsea.
A penalty was awarded after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tipped Eden Hazard's shot around a post with his hand but Gibbs was shown the red card.
Oxlade-Chamberlain seemed to tell Marriner that he was the culprit but the original decision stood.

Referees' body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited said in the statement: "Incidents of mistaken identity are very rare and are often the result of a number of different technical factors.

"Whilst this was a difficult decision, Andre is disappointed that he failed to identify the correct player.

"He expressed his disappointment to Arsenal when he was made aware of the issue."

Left-back Gibbs seemed confused at receiving the red card, protesting his innocence, along with his team-mates, before leaving the field.

Hazard's shot was heading inches wide of goal before Oxlade-Chamberlain dived to his left to divert the ball with his fingertips.

Former top-level British and World Cup referee Clive Thomas, who said in 2012 he had lost faith in modern officials, believes the four in charge of Saturday's game should be banned for the rest of the season.

Marriner was handling the Stamford Bridge clash alongside assistant referees Scott Ledger and Marc Perry, with Anthony Taylor as fourth official.

"It's the most disgusting, shocking decision I've seen. In my opinion these four wouldn't officiate another Premier League game this season," the 77-year-old Welshman told BBC Radio 5 live.

Thomas officiated at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany and the tournament in Argentina four years later, where he is remembered for disallowing a Zico headed goal for Brazil in a group game against Sweden by blowing for full-time while a corner ball was still in mid-air.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher defended Marriner: "Andre made a genuine mistake and that's all it was," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme.

"Unless one of his officials can call him over and say you got the wrong player, which did not happen, he has to go on what he thought was correct.

"You cannot rely on players then trying to say 'I did this'. He made the decision in good faith and should not be stood down - he is one of the leading referees in Europe and his confidence would be shattered. Whenever he goes back the focus will inevitably be on him."

"The ball went out and I think it's Chamberlain who touched the ball," said Wenger. "I don't know who gave indication to the referee that it was handball but he has certainly not seen it."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, added: "It is the kind of situation where if you have a TV, the fourth official could see it was not Gibbs. Unfortunately the wrong boy came off."

Marriner appeared to consult one of his assistants before awarding the penalty.

The Football Association tweeted clubs "can appeal mistaken identity, although the FA can pro-actively review also".

In November, Preston had the wrong man sent off against Port Vale in League One.

Striker Joe Garner was suspended retrospectively for three games despite midfielder Neil Kilkenny being shown the red card during the match.

[TheElephantMan]

It didn't make any difference fortunately, but it could have done. I feel some sympathy for Marriner, the players do look similar. Gibbs could have protested more than he did, but it suited Arsenal to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain on the field. Perhaps a bit more criticism should be directed towards the Arsenal players?

[RedReet]

It didn't make any difference fortunately, but it could have done. I feel some sympathy for Marriner, the players do look similar. Gibbs could have protested more than he did, but it suited Arsenal to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain on the field. Perhaps a bit more criticism should be directed towards the Arsenal players?

Did you watch the game? Arsenal players told the ref that he got it wrong and had to waste a sub shortly after to bring a defender on.

The ref ****ed up big style, no two ways about it.

[TheElephantMan]

I didn't watch the whole game, but I saw the incident. Oxlade-Chamberlain told Marriner that he'd committed the offence. Gibbs appeared to just walk without much of a protest.

The ref might have ****ed up, but I can see why he made that mistake. He didn't seem to get much help from anybody else. At the end of the day Marriner is a PL referee and should be one of the top officials in the country. He made a cock-up and it had little impact on the game.

[Roboklopp]

It didn't make any difference fortunately, but it could have done. I feel some sympathy for Marriner, the players do look similar. Gibbs could have protested more than he did, but it suited Arsenal to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain on the field. Perhaps a bit more criticism should be directed towards the Arsenal players?

Racist.

[vlahka]

"You cannot rely on players then trying to say 'I did this'. He made the decision in good faith and should not be stood down - he is one of the leading referees in Europe and his confidence would be shattered. Whenever he goes back the focus will inevitably be on him."

Yes stop being mean and forgive the poor ref for a mistake, hes only human and under a lot of stress. Only players can be punished for mistakes. Especially if they're foreign.

[RedReet]

I didn't watch the whole game, but I saw the incident. Oxlade-Chamberlain told Marriner that he'd committed the offence. Gibbs appeared to just walk without much of a protest.

The ref might have ****ed up, but I can see why he made that mistake. He didn't seem to get much help from anybody else. At the end of the day Marriner is a PL referee and should be one of the top officials in the country. He made a cock-up and it had little impact on the game.

Can you? Does anyone know yet how he came to the decision? He didn't see the hand ball, so what made him give the pen and decide who to send off? Has anything come out yet?

Gibbs did protest, but to be fair if I was an Arsenal player I'd be looking any excuse to get off the pitch too, so maybe that's why he didn't put up too much of a fight.

[ChesterDave]

I reckon the Swedes think there is a more disgusting decision by a referee... Massive over reaction.

Not even as bad as the one when our guy got assaulted by the corner flag 1 yard from the lino. It was a poor error. It changed the game. They don't look a like but he spent so long making the decision by the time he awarded the pen the players were stood next to each other. Not excusable and should have clocked the number but he didn't. Poor, but far from the worse ever decision!

[dom9]

I reckon the Swedes think there is a more disgusting decision by a referee... Massive over reaction.

Not even as bad as the one when our guy got assaulted by the corner flag 1 yard from the lino. It was a poor error. It changed the game. They don't look a like but he spent so long making the decision by the time he awarded the pen the players were stood next to each other. Not excusable and should have clocked the number but he didn't. Poor, but far from the worse ever decision!

I've read this five times and I still don't understand it.

[Catrin]

I've read this five times and I still don't understand it.

Glad I'm not the only one!

[Roboklopp]

I've read this five times and I still don't understand it.

Haha- saved me from reading it a second time at least.

[ChesterDave]

The comment about the Swedes was a reference to Clive Thomas himself blowing for full time just as they were about to score v Brazil.

The rest is fairly straight forward. The mistake was nowhere as poor as when the Chelsea player planted his foot on a Liverpool players back 1 yard from the lino and no foul was given.

The error (mistaken identity) was poor.
It changed the game.
They (the players don't look alike).
He (Marriner) spent so long making the decision that by the time he did they were stood next to each other so could have easily been confused as to who actually was responsible.
Had he clocked the number of the offender (or even read the name on the shirt) he could have avoided the mistake.
The players been stood next to each other is not a great excuse.
Poor, but not the worst decision ever.

[dom9]

Clear as.

[Roboklopp]

The comment about the Swedes was a reference to Clive Thomas himself blowing for full time just as they were about to score v Brazil.

The rest is fairly straight forward. The mistake was nowhere as poor as when the Chelsea player planted his foot on a Liverpool players back 1 yard from the lino and no foul was given.

The error (mistaken identity) was poor.
It changed the game.
They (the players don't look alike).
He (Marriner) spent so long making the decision that by the time he did they were stood next to each other so could have easily been confused as to who actually was responsible.
Had he clocked the number of the offender (or even read the name on the shirt) he could have avoided the mistake.
The players been stood next to each other is not a great excuse.
Poor, but not the worst decision ever.

I've lost the will to live now tbh.

[Boogs]

Andrew Marriner has been given a game this weekend to ref as the FA think he needs to get straight back into making more **** ups