[jambutty]

Originally Posted by shakermaker

I do agree that the majority of criticism aimed at referees is biased rubbish. However I contest that the trend of unfairness at Old Trafford is based entirely upon spectator opinion, as camera footage we see after the game makes hard facts. This is especially true in Manchester United's case, as they are lucky enough to have their every action analysed by the Andy Grays of this world. Once camera footage clears the situation up we know whether the referee got the decision right or wrong. The facts make the trend.

Also, there isn't really a case for the referees having a different angle anymore, as modern cameras and CG replays can imitate their view with precision. This was shown on the most recent episode of MoTD, to see whether the linesman made the right call.

Like all people who continue to perpetuate this myth of refs tending to favour Man U at Old Trafford, you still cling to TV replays to prove the point. And of course you all conveniently forget that the ref does not have the benefit of replays and has to make his decision instantly on what he sees at the time. And that is the crux of the matter – what the ref sees. Not one single person in the stadium can tell you what the ref can see. The best that they can do is to tell you what they THINK the ref SHOULD HAVE SEEN and that is usually biased depending on which team you support.

You, on the terraces, might see the defender tug at the opposing player’s shirt but if the ref’s view is obscured by one of the players involved and he cannot see it, he cannot blow for a foul.

Refs will make mistakes because they are human and humans make mistakes. However the number of times that the refs make a mistake is far outweighed by the number of times they got it right.

Heck, there are times when the two TV pundits don’t agree after numerous replays, so what chance has the much maligned referee got?

The facts, as you call them, are not as the ref sees things but as the spectator sees things and those are totally different facts.

Clever as it is the GC replays are only of a snapshot in time. Even then it doesn’t show what the ref might have seen. To do that the camera would have to on the ref’s head. One day it may show the whole incident in real time from a different angle. But that day is not here yet.

By the way it isn’t just Man U who has the match analysed by the TV pundits. Every match that is televised has TV pundits spouting their piece.