Andre Marriner, the Birmingham-born official who drew Sir Alex Ferguson’s ire during United’s defeat at Liverpool Sunday, stands accused of gross-incompetence. While Ferguson will receive an FA ban for questioning a referee’s fitness, Marriner will not face any punishment despite a series of inexplicable decisions during the Anfield match.
Mr. Marriner, Rant accuses you of being guilty of the following charges:
- Count 1: failing to send off Jamie Carragher
- Count 2: incorrectly showing Nemanja Vidic red
- Count 3: failing to award a penalty to Michael Carrick
- Count 4: ignoring the spot kick claims of Ryan Giggs
- Count 5: being soft on Lucas.
Count 1.
The Evidence: 87th minute, Michael Owen, set free with a clear run on goal, was deliberately hacked down by ‘Dipper Jamie Carragher. With no covering defenders, Owen would surely have been able to shoot undeterred.
The Verdict: Guilty. The rules say that denying a clear goalscoring opportunity is a crime punishable by red, so why didn’t Carragher see crimson? Former referee Graham poll says Owen didn’t have the ball under control but a striker of Owen’s class and pace doesn’t need to ball at his feet for control of the situation.
The consequences: The game finished in the 97th minute – that’s 10 crucial minutes United should have gained a man advantage.
Count 2.
The Evidence: Vidic saw red for a second bookable offence deep into injury time, hauling down an opposition attacker on the half way line. His first yellow, shown earlier, gained for tackling Fernando Torres, twice.
The verdict: Guilty. There is little argument about the Serbian’s second yellow, with only 60-yards distance between the player and a straight red for a professional foul. But Vidic only saw yellow first time out because he didn’t hear the whistle. That he took the ball cleanly only mitigates the crime.
The consequences: Vidic will miss United’s match with Blackburn Rovers in a week’s time.
Count 3.
The Evidence: Carragher tackled Michael Carrick inside the area, got a toe to the ball but clattered the player in the same movement.
The verdict: Guilty. It has long been a tenet of football’s laws that if a player takes the man with the ball a foul is given; unless it’s at Anfield’s Kop end. Commentators and – even – ex-referees have said the defender made contact with the ball. Factually this is correct but it makes little difference to the decision Marriner should have made.
The consequences: A successful United penalty with the game all-square could have completely changed the game.
Count 4.
The Evidence: Ryan Giggs, running into the area, received a shove in the back causing the Welsh winger to hit the deck.
The verdict: 50/50. It was a foul but a soft penalty, if given. Not a black and white decision for Marriner, who can be given the benefit of the doubt.
The consequences: A penalty might have been tough on Liverpool but who cares?
Count 5.
The evidence: Lucas Leiva commited nine fouls during the match; three in succession early in the first half.
The verdict: Under the totting up procedure Lucas should have seen at least one yellow card in the first period. That’s to say nothing of the merits individual fouls, which could have brought added yellow cards. More than that, Lucas’s treatment is the flag-bearer for Marriner’s general attitude on the day.
The consequences: Liverpool’s aggressive stance affected United’s play on a day when the visiting side failed to include a combative midfielder. Marriner’s lenient decision-making played into the home side’s hands.
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All fair enough points, but, should we really be relying on a ref to ensure we can beat a poor Liverpool?
Also the argument about Vidics’ sending off might carry a bit more weigth if this wasn’t the second match in succession against liverpool that he has been completeley exposed defending too high up the pitch and then being caught flat footed by a simple through ball.
Just a thouhgt
Agree but listen to this week’s podcast. United lost first because, let’s be honest, the team was shit. Ref didn’t help but wasn’t causal. Still a fair point to make, though.
All SEMI-valid charges. Carra got the ball FIRST and THEN caught the player. The rules say this is not a foul-never has been.
as for the carr-owen incident, the player’s SKILL is not part of the judgement of whether it was a clear goal scoring opportunity; he was too far out and not in full control of the ball or properly balanced.
You write as if you know the facts, when you don’t Dooks. I challenge you to read FIFA’s laws of the game – I have – and tell me where your interpretation comes from. Actually the law says “kicking an opponent” is a foul.
So this is not a foul then, eh Dooks?
just to reply on the point of carragher getting the ball ist before the man. Did any one see the carling cup game last night with barnsley? The exact same situation with Gary Neville’s red card, he got the ball substantially before hittin the man, yet he got sent off. SAF only said he thought the ref was right in that case cos he didnt want to say anything to make his situation with the FA worse.
I think you’re clutching at straws, fella. The ref could have been stronger but he hardly had a shocker. Lucas was lucky not to have been booked, but the same ‘totting-up’ would have had Vidic off even earlier – he spent the whole first half kicking Torres, who he’s terrified of. Carragher’s challenge on Owen was cynical but par for the course. Yellow was the safe decision in a high profile game. You can argue that the ref bottled it, but then most of the United team had done that already – apparently, Scholes was on the pitch? How the mighty have fallen. United were missing Fletcher very badly, I’d say.
We need to re-visit Vidic / Rio pairing. Rio is often the cause of the lad’s misfortune becayse he never supports him as expected. Tak a look at Torres’s goal, Jonny will never never allow that goal. Please …….give Vidic a break, Rio, Carrick and Nani aint good enough for United, should be history.
The only fault we can have with the ref, was the constant fouls by Lucas and him not getting booked. Garcia got away with the same at Anfield a couple of years back against United).
It was not a penalty, Carragher played the ball, the Utd players reaction around the ncident will show you that.
Carraghers foul on Owen was not a red card offence, the ball was going away from goal and two Liverpool players were moving into the defensive area, so no “Clear” goal scoring opportunity as denied.
No foul on Giggs and correctly no penalty.
Vidics one match ban was last night against Barnsley, not against Blackburn.
Although the ref probably had a Liverpool shirt underneath his ref’s jersey, we should blame ourselves more than anybody for Sunday’s defeat. We hardly created anything upfront and our defending this season has been poor.
We will probably get similar treatment from the referees in the future, especially away from home, so I hope we start winning matches long before a ref can influence it like he did on Sunday.
Definitely a Scouse fan. Pathetic refereeing tonight. Ward’s challenge was not a patch on some of what Gerrard got away with.