"You get none of this shit in rugby" as if keeping our sport as far away from that Tory nonsense isnt a good thing
Michael Oliver
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I missed the game. Another CL epic! I read various reports this morning, trying to find out, was it a penalty? Was there enough in the contact to blow up? Just looking at RTÉ footage on my phone it looked soft?
For me, it's a penalty and he made the right call. Didn't see the game so I can't comment for the rest of his performance. Still despite the fact I agree with him giving the penalty an sending Buffon off, I'm still enjoying the criticism he's getting because he's a knobhead. 
Reading back through the thread I'm surprised so many people are giving Oliver stick.
I don't particularly like him as a referee but I thought he had a good game last night and both big decisions at the end were correct too. People can argue it was soft or whatever but it was a penalty, and Buffon is a legend of the game but he behaved very poorly and the red card was correct too.
I can understand folk giving Oliver stick for games in the past where he has been poor but I can't see why for last night.
I don't particularly like him as a referee but I thought he had a good game last night and both big decisions at the end were correct too. People can argue it was soft or whatever but it was a penalty, and Buffon is a legend of the game but he behaved very poorly and the red card was correct too.
I can understand folk giving Oliver stick for games in the past where he has been poor but I can't see why for last night.
Completely agree. There are two arguments people use which I cannot understand, which shows their very emotional and immature reaction. All in all, people should learn the rules properly before spilling out nonsense - just like with the non-offside on Sane on Tuesday, as well as Young on Aguero this weekend.
1) It does not matter if the penalty is "soft" or not, it's a clear penalty. Yes it's not a wack in 100mph, but he does come from behind and push a player ready to score in front of goal - denying an obvious scoring opportunity, in fact, the most obvious kind. Look at the push in the back before trying to get his leg around the player, that's the offense, that's why it's called. Furthermore, had he touched the ball with his leg (not sure he did), it's still a penalty because of the push.
2) It does not matter if it's in the 93rd minute, the 60th minutes or the 1st minute. People say Oliver wants to be in the center of attention, I think they are very wrong. No way in hell does he want that to happen so late in the game, but he dares to make the call that he sees, or the linesman or whatever - who knows. Someone says "that's a penalty" - and Oliver makes the call. That takes huge balls in my opinion, the easier choice would be to waive it off and that would be an even bigger controversy and mistake. If referees are ever guilty of something, it's letting things go in the beginning of a match - but there should not be any difference between a tackle in the first minute and the last one.
By the book, Oliver did everything correct here. Then we all know referees (just like cops) have the opportunity to police within reason, you don't always get a speeding ticket, you know certain games have a higher pace and more aggression, but this is pretty difficult to discuss on a forum where everyone has different opinions on how tough things should be.
Totally agreed. Take all emotion out of it and review the injury time footage again and it's clear that both decisions are correct.
1) Yup, it's a penalty. Folk can debate the tackle if they want to but that is a foul. Anywhere else on the pitch it is a free kick and Oliver was correct to award the penalty.
2) Agreed too. The easiest thing for Oliver to do is let it go but he is brave enough to give it. And for the red card it's the same, he could have easily done nothing but he correctly sent Buffon off too, his reaction was way over the top.
Yup, totally agree.
It's probably a penalty but soft one, on the reflection Oliver got both episodes right but I don't think you should be allowed to ref a game of football with the face that Oliver has...easily the most punchable and inviting of them all with a touch of arrogance. It is really no wonder he has rich history were players are confronting him.
Shouting at a referee in the heat of the moment isn't a red card offence in my book. The push was accidental.
Not sure how you can have a very poor game but get both big calls correct.
Ronaldo was booked.
In your book?! Who cares about your book mate, or mine, there's only one book that matters here. Furthermore, Buffon is overly aggressive, he nudges into Oliver several times, he screams into his face... and most importantly, none of us knows what was said. Right before Oliver brandished the red card, you see a reaction in his face, like hearing something totally out of order that makes him take it out.
No matter the situation, tackle or offense leading to a penalty yesterday, I believe the Juventus-players would have done exactly the same thing. I can't blame them at all, but it's still not OK.
One of the posts of the year. Will reuse this..
You only have to read Buffon's comments since the game to get an idea of how abusive he must have been when going after Oliver. The man completely lost control, if anyone let the emotion of the evening get to him it was Buffon.
You don't even have to yell to get a red card, it all depends on what was said. On top of that he pushed him while intentionally trying to get "in his face", accidental or not it's a clear red.
The guy asked me for my opinion. So obvisouly, I've going to give my opinion.
Fair play to Benatia for being a bigger person than Chiellini and Buffon.
I can't stand Oliver, so there's some weird irony in seeing him getting so much stick for what were imo correct decisions. I didn't see most of the second half though, so don't know what his performance was like generally.
Buffon should know by now that you can only have a go at Oliver if you're wearing a City shirt...
Awful ref though. Has screwed us several times. Pleased to see him and English refs in general getting so much scrutiny, as they are generally shite.
Buffon should know by now that you can only have a go at Oliver if you're wearing a City shirt...
Awful ref though. Has screwed us several times. Pleased to see him and English refs in general getting so much scrutiny, as they are generally shite.
The penalty call was debatable and I'm not sure there'd have been that much of a fuss if he'd not given it, but it's hardly the worst decision ever seen in a CL knockout game. It probably wouldn't even make the top ten for this round of games alone.
And sorry, but you can't lose your shite like that and get in the referee's face, and expect not to be sent off. I don't know if Buffon has form for being an idiot but his comments after the game were also amazingly stupid. It doesn't matter if you're retiring or who you are. You can't just do what the feck you like and expect the rules not to be applied to you.
His focus should have been on saving the penalty. Then if he didn't he could have lost his shite after knowing it no longer mattered anyway. Instead he cost his team what admittedly little chance they had of salvaging things.
And sorry, but you can't lose your shite like that and get in the referee's face, and expect not to be sent off. I don't know if Buffon has form for being an idiot but his comments after the game were also amazingly stupid. It doesn't matter if you're retiring or who you are. You can't just do what the feck you like and expect the rules not to be applied to you.
His focus should have been on saving the penalty. Then if he didn't he could have lost his shite after knowing it no longer mattered anyway. Instead he cost his team what admittedly little chance they had of salvaging things.
in the context of the game it was an outrageous decision, one in which only the arrogance of English referees could give. Unless it was an absolute 100% blatant offence you can't give a pen, in the 93 rd minute with 25 seconds left Real did not deserve the pen and the spectacle (the game) was robbed of one of the competitions great stories, but the headline is the ref, again.
It was as soft as anything and the Madrid player bottled the chance by putting the onus on the ref by collapsing under slight physical pressure.
Oliver plus the other clowns pick and choose their interventions, their inconsistency is unbelievable n.b. Oliver previous when challenged.
As to the suggestion he remained calm, what a total load of bollocks he panicked like feck highlighted by sending of Buffon, he could have easily dished out several yellow cards to calm the situation down. What did he expect?
Finally have stripes cut into your temples prior to one of the seasons games tells me more about the guy, they really think 90,000 have come to watch them ref.
It's no surprise there are no English refs at the World Cup Graham Poll / Howard Webb.
It was as soft as anything and the Madrid player bottled the chance by putting the onus on the ref by collapsing under slight physical pressure.
Oliver plus the other clowns pick and choose their interventions, their inconsistency is unbelievable n.b. Oliver previous when challenged.
As to the suggestion he remained calm, what a total load of bollocks he panicked like feck highlighted by sending of Buffon, he could have easily dished out several yellow cards to calm the situation down. What did he expect?
Finally have stripes cut into your temples prior to one of the seasons games tells me more about the guy, they really think 90,000 have come to watch them ref.
It's no surprise there are no English refs at the World Cup Graham Poll / Howard Webb.
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I’ve read a whole lot of responses basically saying, “it was a penalty but shouldn’t have been given because it ruined a great story”...
Is it just me, or wasn’t there a thread on here giving Clattenburg up the river because he basically admitted that “protecting a great storyline” entered into his refereeing decisions?
Is it just me, or wasn’t there a thread on here giving Clattenburg up the river because he basically admitted that “protecting a great storyline” entered into his refereeing decisions?
You could've had both Buffon & Szczesny in goal at the same time and they still wouldn't have saved that shot from Ronaldo.
I wanted Juve to progress, but it's a penalty, and Buffon acted like a tit. Ref got it spot on for me.
Sums it up. I wanted Juventus knock Real out just because of their insane comeback but the decision to give the penalty and red card were correct in my opinion.
My only problem with him as a Juve fan was he allowed the RM players to dive all over the pitch without booking them
Ronaldo and Vazquez should have been booked much earlier on and were looking for that cheap penalty all game out of desperation
Ronaldo also got got heated with the ref a bit and was not booked when making gestures to him
Carvajal was not hit in the face and went down holding his face, also was fouled on his calf and went down holding his shin
I know they are the home team but he allowed RM players to get away with a lot of stuff that warranted a booking all game
Ronaldo and Vazquez should have been booked much earlier on and were looking for that cheap penalty all game out of desperation
Ronaldo also got got heated with the ref a bit and was not booked when making gestures to him
Carvajal was not hit in the face and went down holding his face, also was fouled on his calf and went down holding his shin
I know they are the home team but he allowed RM players to get away with a lot of stuff that warranted a booking all game
Nobody has any time for refs but he got the decisions right,the Real player was pushed in the back.
As for Buffon,his reaction got him sent off,his fault not Oliver’s.
As for Buffon,his reaction got him sent off,his fault not Oliver’s.
So from this it look like Douglas Costa was the one who pushed Oliver provoking him to produce the red card.
He just guessed that it was Buffon which is poor and shows how out of control he was.
That was just Clattenburg making shite up. He said he didn't want to be the one to stop Spurs from winning the title. Which is nonsensical because they were never in the title race to begin with.
Leicester had already drawn with United, meaning Spurs had to make up 8 points on Leicester in three games. When you consider that Spurs were allowed to kick Chelsea without punishment, and still drew the game, Spurs had no chance to win the title.
Same with me. Some of the responses remind me of how teachers are berated by parents for the student failing/getting in trouble.
The responses in that thread centered on the general idea of referees allowing “the story” to sway their officiating though.
If it was Rashford being felled we would be ballistic if it wasn't given.
You can't push and wrap your legs around like that. Especially not when he's about to shoot. He probably should've gotten a red too.
As for Buffon, no sympathy for the red. Just as I had no sympathy for Zidane. And just because he made a mistake for Hart definitely doesn't mean he shouldn't send Buffon off.
You can't push and wrap your legs around like that. Especially not when he's about to shoot. He probably should've gotten a red too.
As for Buffon, no sympathy for the red. Just as I had no sympathy for Zidane. And just because he made a mistake for Hart definitely doesn't mean he shouldn't send Buffon off.
How out of control? He didn't have videos to see who punched him or pinched him.
He had balls to call penalty and show red card. If anything he should have sent off few more
He shouldn't be guessing though. Just walk away from the situation until the Juve players had calmed down a bit.
I just got huge respect for Benatia after that statement!
In 2 nights refs have cost us football fans some potential great come backs, City 2nd goal should have counted and made it a cracking 2nd half, and i dont think theres enough in that to warrent a penalty last night which would have giving us extra time, said it plenty times, to win any cup you need a lot of luck and for me both got the luck at the right time. hopefully the semi finals are as good as the quarters
I think officiation games because of a 'story' is not a good idea. But Clattenburg wasn't doing that, he was giving a leg up to Spurs which could have killed the story of Leicester winning the title.
It seems to me that Clattenburg wanted to spoil the party, not add to a story.
I think that is a spot on summary.
And yes, it would have been a beautiful story, even though I must say that the 0-3 wasn't reflecting the match.
Yeah that was what my issue was. He didn't have a fecking clue who did what, it was a melee and he reacted emotionally. A good referee in that situation waits for the fracas to stop, has a chat with his assistant and then hands out cards.
You’re completely missing the point.
Looks like problem was too many players were so dangerously close to ref and Buffon was the one who made contact with him and Costa made a sneaky push/punch. Think Buffon making contact with ref was the reason he was sent off.
Might be wrong but there isn't much to blame Oliver here.
Well said. Rules are rules, no matter the stage.