And while we’re on that subject, did someone forget to tell Mascherano? Great player, but just learn to keep your trap shut, Javier. Hurrah for a more robust approach from Premiership referees and here’s to more consistent support from the FA.
FA to throw book at Mascherano (Guardian)
I’m not sure whether Rafa Benitez is just loyally protecting his player or whether he didn’t see the incidents properly, but it was pretty clear from the TV coverage that Mascherano urged the referee to “fuck off” on at least two occasions… after his initial booking and later in the game. His decision then to appoint himself as spokesman for Torres was obviously the last straw for Steve Bennett :-)
I wrote a long post here but it got eaten because apparently I misread your arithmetic question (and the back button, shamefully, doesn’t preserve the post). I will just repeat, then, that footballers who barrack the ref are idiots (he is never going to change his mind, the *best* possible outcome is simply not being disciplined) and that they should take a leaf from rugby’s book and make it a punishable offence for anybody other than the captain even to speak to (let alone confront) an official, other than to apologise for committing and infringement.
Yeah, it never ceases to amaze me how players will argue the toss over a decision… I’ve *never* seen a ref change his mind after consulting with anyone apart from a linesman or 4th official.
I mean, I’m reluctant for this whole debate to become tied up with a recent “too much swearing at football matches” issue that came up on the Today programme recently. I certainly have no problem with footballers saying “fuck” on the pitch a lot. Even a bit of banter with the ref doesn’t do any harm, but this was an aggressive, finger-pointing way of saying “fuck off”, not banter, and that should always be punished.
Good that you reminded me about the captain, too… as a club, Liverpool must take some responsibility for the fact that Mascherano wasn’t (a) better controlled by Steven Gerrard, or (b) substituted after the first booking, as is perfectly normal when a player has clearly got out of bed the wrong side!