crackh0e

Meh, you're not interested because you WANT to believe in a conspiracy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

People don't want to listen to sense, they'd rather buy into the UEFA/Barcelona conspiracy without THINKING at all! Consider this: Yes, it must have been a fix when Barca didn't get a penalty and Ballack wasn't sent off in the first leg against Chelsea in 2009. It must have been a fix when Puyol was sent off and a penalty was awarded after he collided with Fabregas in 2010. It must have been a fix when Milito's offisde goal was given a year later and Sneijder's penalty on Alves wasn't given. It must have been a fix that same year when Bojan's 94th-minute 'winner' was disallowed for a handball that no amount a replays can show to be clear. It must have been a fix when Messi had an onside goal that would have made it 0-2 was disallowed at the Emirates in 2011. It must have been a fix when Barca had two cast iron penalties not given at the San Siro last week. It was a fix - how couldn't it be? - when the referee blew two correct penalties this week against Milan. And, of course, it must have been a fix when Barca drew Lyon, Bayern and Inter in the knockout stages in 2009; Stuttgart, Arsenal and Inter in 2010; Arsenal, Shakhtar and Madrid in 2011; and Bayer; Milan and Chelsea this season. Such easy draws, purleese. And beating Man Utd in 2009 with half their defence suspended or Wembley? How's that a challenge? But, of course, it was no fix when when Porto beat Man Utd thanks to an incorrectly disallowed Paul Scholes goal. It was no fix when Chelsea beat Rijkaard's Barca thanks to a goal facilitated by a foul on Valdes. It was no fix when Inter got out of the group stage against Dynamo Kiev with an injury-time offside goal. It was no fix when Inter beat Chelsea thanks to a penalty that wasn't blown at the San Siro. It was no fix when Inter beat Barca thanks to the aforementioned incidents. No, when talking about Barca, there is a narrative: they get all the calls, they're cheating, diving bar stewards, UEFA want them to win and put no obstacles in their way, all Barca wins are controversial and tainted by questionable decisions that, of course, only ever go their way. Yes, Barca have gotten many decisions over these past four seasons; they've also had quite a few go against them. But the begrudgers prefer to clog up below the line with a never-ending stream of conspiracy theories - some of which at times veer into xenophobic rants. But because it's Barca, a team recognised by many as playing a revolutionary style a football that has dominated Spain and Europe, and provided the backbone to the previously inept Spanish national team that came out of nowhere (group stage at Euro 2008 and second round at 2006 WC) to win the Euros and World Cup it's all down to luck and a black hand. People who profess to 'love the beautiful game' suddenly say that demanding a yellow card after being clattered is 'ruining football'. People who call themselves 'football fans' get pissed off that a team that has sat back an defended, playing on the counter, having 19 attempts on goal over four matches is beaten by one that has made 62 attempts It's stupid to jump to other people's "conclusions", without examining the evidence of said theory.

Convenient.

I agree Collina was a great ref, and would be perfect. But still, what are your thoughts about the Barcelona-Inter Milan games? Surely that's a thron in the side of any conspiracy believers...

Okay, so I'm looking through your forum to see your thoughts about playing Barcelona, and you have REALLY bought into the delusional Mourinho conspiracy. First of all, I can see why you Chelsea fans would believe in some Barcelona conspiracy, after that game at the Bridge. The refereeing wasn't good in that game, but 8 half penalties don't make a penalty! Okay, so I believe you could've gotten 1 or 2 pens (the handball on Pique and Eto'o), but not as many as some Chelsea fans thought... Also, many Chelsea fans forget that Henry should've gotten a penalty at the Camp Nou, but that is conveniently forgotten. Anyway, if you believe in some UEFA/Barcelona conspiraca, consider this: WHY would the Øvrebø show Abidal the red card in a semi final Barcelona were LOSING, IF there "supposedly" is some conspiracy? After all, most experts and people agreed that it was only a tangle of legs and that Anelka threw himself. So now they were losing with 10 men in a Champions League semi final which was "rigged" for them. Yeah right. Then the next year, Barcelona meet Inter Milan in the semi's. They travel to Milano, and they lose 3-1. One blatant offside goal from Milito too, and yet people claim Barcelona have ref's on their side in the Champions league! It was at least 1 meter offside, as everybody agreed. There was simply no room for discussion on this one, as it was too obvious. Then, Inter Milan go to Barcelona. They get down to 10 men against Barca, from a dive from Busquets. Although Motta did put his hand in Busquets face, it was still overreacting from Busquets. Anyway, Barcelona manage to score through Pique, and then later Bojan scores a second, LEGITIMATE goal, which the referee rules to NOT be a goal, because of a non-existing handball on Toure. The pictures show the ball hitting him in the stomach. If Bojan's goal was allowed, Barca would be in the final that year! So, you claim there's some UEFA conspiracy with Barca? Then why would'nt the ref give Barcelona the WINNER, which would give them a place in the final? Think about that. In the Inter Milan match, 2 situations of the referee getting it wrong, were CRITICAL in the outcome of the entire tie. So Mourinho should be the last one to whine about this stuff. Besides, why listen to someone like Mourinho, who has an agenda, as the coach of Real Madrid! Of course it would suit him if people were to think there really is a conspiracy. Especially if he can make referees think twice about giving something legitimate to Barcelona! Also, Barcelona often have a ball possession of 70%. This means that they are more likely to get fouled. That's the rule of averages! When a team has the ball that much, and also inside your half for most of the game, there's a higher chance of them getting a freekick or a penalty. People should think more by themself, and stop being such sheep.