I've never been quick to criticise a referee. I know they do an extremely difficult job. That said, the standard of refereeing has gone downhill in recent years. There have been some truly awful decisions over the last 24 months but I'd rather not go into details here. Whether a referee has made a correct decision, the true test of a team and their fans is how they react to that decision.
I'll get to tonight's action in a bit but I'd like to draw your attention to Arsenal v Barcelona recently at the Nou Camp. Robin van Persie is on a yellow card. He is released down the right hand side of the pitch. A little late, the flag goes up for offside. RVP then kicks the ball, rather petulantly I'll admit, off the pitch. It wasn't malicious, it wasn't spiteful. It was not, in anyway, meant to change the course of play whatsoever. The referee gives him a second yellow card, followed by a red, and Barcelona go on to win the match.
Yes, I feel that was the wrong decision. Any decent ref would have given him a final warning. It was a decision that changed the game. It was an ambiguous decision and it could have gone either way. It happened, and I'm proud of the players and the way they responded. And I'm proud of the fans and the fact that the majority thought we were lucky to go to the Nou Camp with anything in the first place.
Moving on, or back actually, to Nigel De Jong. Now there can be no bones about it. Howard Webb should have sent him off in the World Cup Final. He didn't. He endangered the safety of another player by putting his foot through him.
And, just to prove that I'm not biased, I've just seen a video of Emmanuel Eboué challenging for the ball against none other than Nani himself, studs up, and getting sent off. Correct decision. Absolutely correct. It was made at 3-0 down so did not change the game but it annoys me that he though he could do something like that. He's no longer at Arsenal.
So I'll finish with what you came here to read about. Yes, I thought it was a game-changing moment. A game-changing moment of madness that Nani cost his team, which I think is better than the 1999 club, of a shot at the treble. It cost Sir Alex Ferguson his chance of becoming the undisputed greatest manager of all time. And it showed just how petulant such a great club can be when they don't always get it their own way.
First of all, it was a red. No ifs, no buts. Studs up challenge, endangering the safety of another player. Red card. Let's not have any of this 'by the letter of the law' nonsense. Red card. Deal with it. And as such, would you consider the reactions of the United players to be of the standard expected if them? No. They lost and blamed the referee. Blame Nani, he's the one that got sent off!
I truly hope that Rio Ferdinand gets a chance to watch himself clap in the referee's face after the final whistle. I also hope that someone at UEFA sees it and bans him like they did to Drogba a few years ago. It was awful. And kids look up to this moron? Great role model you are.
Onto Sir Alex Ferguson and not attending the press conference. That's awful. In all my life I'd never thought I'd be describing him as a coward. But that's what he is. Just that. If that had been anyone else, the media would have kicked up a shitstorm. The club and it's fans really showed their true colours today and it's a shame for such a great club.
I would love to finish off with something like 'The Old Guard let the club down' but that would be detracting from Ryan Giggs who played in his 1,000th game for United. He looked every bit like he was playing in his 1st game. What a player he has been. Incredible. At least I can finish on a happier note.
Until next time!
Follow me on Twitter: @obmij1
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