Admittedly, there cannot be too much that referee chief Mike Riley and American musician Stevie Wonder have in common, but now we can add soul-searching telephone calls [lyrical or otherwise] to the previous shortlist of one - universally acknowledged to be a comparable vision impairment that impacted on them both in their respective workplaces. Not that the all-seeing overseer called WBA ‘to say I love you’, or anything quite so heart-on-sleeve-ish as that, especially in a footballers world that always strives manfully to be seen as being more Butch than Wilkins. No indeed, on this particular occasion Mike Riley, or ‘Old Mother’ Riley as he came to be known in his refereeing days, decided instead to pick up the phone and speed dial himself headlong into yet more debate on the diving issue and his own referees’ abilities to make rational decisions that won’t offend media/managers (other than Chelsea’s) /neutrals/underdogs/Sky pundits/or any other finger-in-the-Premiership-pie-personage and their perception of fairness.

 

Doubtless, Mike considered the implications before making his ‘Confessions for You’ call, but you have to wonder why on earth the push on Ramires (for, in all honesty, that is what it was) warranted such a personal apology when so many other deemed-dodgy decisions get underplayed or simply overlooked. If I were the embodiment of this incident I think I might be saying ’is it cos I’m in the last seconds of the game?’ or ’is it cos I’m a last gasp game-changer and Jose record-saver? or, perhaps more poignantly, ’is it cos I’s been given for Chelsea and, self-evidently, it’s a bad, bad thing?’ Well, you choose Mike, because it can’t be anything to do with the diabolical nature of the incident, dive-wise or foul-wise. My first reaction was the same as any observers would be - there was contact - and how often do we hear that phrase used as incontrovertible proof that a penalty was justified?

 

Still, making contact, touching base, feeling a club’s pain, call it what you will, Mike Riley duly felt obliged to ring and apologise and, for the moment, this is all anyone can say about the conversation that took place. But surely, now that we are aware of the very nature of it, we should be informed as to exactly what was said? After all, it is important to know and I for one can’t help but speculate on the strife of Riley and how he couched his contrition. For example, did it go along these lines…

 

“Hi, it’s Mike Riley here. I thought I’d better ring to say sorry about Saturday. I know it’s no consolation and, like me, you must be gutted, but these things have a habit of evening themselves out over a season, somehow or other. I’m sure you will appreciate that I can’t promise anything concrete, but my guys are experts at balancing books and rest assured this is another debit mark on your ledger sheet - to go with the other three you‘ve already chalked up. Let me just leave it, for now, at wishing you the best of luck, for what I’m sure will be a very good rest of the season!â€

 

Okay, you may feel that exaggeration has crept into that summation somewhat, but it’s equally as hard to believe in the stark comparison that is my next offering…

 

“Good morning, this is Mike Riley here, from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, and I’m ringing in answer to your letter highlighting four penalty decisions that have gone against you in the opening 11 games of the Barclays Premier League season. Sorry and all that, but some you win, some you lose… and some you draw with seconds to go. That’s football for you! Bye!â€

 

Then again, I could be doing the ManU supporting Mike a grave injustice on both counts and he truly did go overboard on the line, profuse apologies gushing out of every pore [decision made] and no stone left unturned in his efforts to console a wronged club, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, against the wrong team. Sombre in tone and delivered with sobbing supplication, it would have sounded like a cry from the very heart of officialdom…

 

“Mike Riley here, ringing to apologise for….well, just about every bad decision you’ve had since the start of the season. God knows, you’ve got to believe me, I’m so sorry about all this. Fair play to you Baggies though, you’ve had it bad from us big time and never complained… that is until you wrote that twenty-nine page letter a few days ago. So I’m going to promise, as SAF is my witness, that it will get better by January. Trust me, I know these things, it WILL improve, and I’ll make sure it does, even if it means coming out of retirement myself, to make the cock-ups look legit. Once again, please forgive me and my colleagues.â€

 

And there you have it - three stabs at a telephone conversation that screams out to be relayed to the general public, if for no other reason than to shed light on the manner of its making and the reasoning behind its content. Truth be told, it’s not the single word sentiment that Riley expressed here that matters, but the way that he said it and whilst none of us will be left any the wiser as to the exact content of this mea culpa in the Midlands, if I were Jose, and was challenged on the subject at his next press conference, I’d be asking for a transcript.... I’m sorry, but I would.

Edited November 21, 201312 yr by Dorset

By a complete coincidence, the last time a manager received a personal apology from Riley (Roberto Martinez), it was also for a decision in a match against Chelsea. 

 

In recent years we've had nailed on penalty appeals turned down, dodgy penalties given against us, Torres sent off for diving when he'd been fouled, an offside Hernandez goal allowed to stand, seen Suarez get away with biting one of our players and then go on to score in Fergie time, had Demba Ba give away a free kick for being kicked in the face, and had Drogba booked for being assaulted by Johnny Evans with no murmur of an apology, but woe betide anyone who gives a controversial call in Chelsea's favour.

 

Who wants to be the next referee to give a tight call Chelsea's way in the final seconds?

lets hope nothing happens the other way round where we are concerned...i dont want to hear the idiot pundits saying its....swings n roundabouts.....i will expect chelsea to then get the apologetic calls from the people killing footy with sterility

Edited November 21, 201312 yr by Mike Carefree

By a complete coincidence, the last time a manager received a personal apology from Riley (Roberto Martinez), it was also for a decision in a match against Chelsea. 

 

In recent years we've had nailed on penalty appeals turned down, dodgy penalties given against us, Torres sent off for diving when he'd been fouled, an offside Hernandez goal allowed to stand, seen Suarez get away with biting one of our players and then go on to score in Fergie time, had Demba Ba give away a free kick for being kicked in the face, and had Drogba booked for being assaulted by Johnny Evans with no murmur of an apology, but woe betide anyone who gives a controversial call in Chelsea's favour.

 

Who wants to be the next referee to give a tight call Chelsea's way in the final seconds?

 

Spot on mate. With the way fans and media have reacted to it you would think that it was one of the worst calls ever, it was actually a tough call for the ref, it could have gone either way.

 

We will probably not get another penalty for a while now, even if it is clear as day.

Edited November 21, 201312 yr by Scott Harris

By a complete coincidence, the last time a manager received a personal apology from Riley (Roberto Martinez), it was also for a decision in a match against Chelsea. 

 

In recent years we've had nailed on penalty appeals turned down, dodgy penalties given against us, Torres sent off for diving when he'd been fouled, an offside Hernandez goal allowed to stand, seen Suarez get away with biting one of our players and then go on to score in Fergie time, had Demba Ba give away a free kick for being kicked in the face, and had Drogba booked for being assaulted by Johnny Evans with no murmur of an apology, but woe betide anyone who gives a controversial call in Chelsea's favour.

 

Who wants to be the next referee to give a tight call Chelsea's way in the final seconds?

I can't even begin to describe how angry I was that Suarez was even still on the pitch that day, never mind allowed to equalise for Liverpool in the last seconds of the game. Completely ridiculous. He should have been arrested for that assault on Ibramovic.

 

Also, all the other points you mentioned, 100% agree. We're always getting dodgy decisions against us, but heaven forbid we actually get one in our favour. It's not like it won us the game. Far too many whingers.

In case the youngsters don't know who Old Mother Riley was:

 

http://youtu.be/MhEkv2-HIpg

As I mentioned on another thread, I believe it was Mike Riley who officiated at the infamous Reading game were two of our Goalies ended up in Hospital...I wonder if he ever apologised for making Petr Cech crawl off the pitch, when even watching on TV I could see that he was clearly seriously injured, still no harm done, unless you count a fractured skull, brain surgery and life long implications to a Man's health and well being...I suppose that pales into insignificance besides a vaguely dubious penalty...

 

Mind you its obvious Steve Clarke learned a thing or two from his time at Liverpool, lets hope he has a run in with Ovrebo in the future (unlikely I know, but stranger things have happened) Then he really would have something to moan about..!

In case the youngsters don't know who Old Mother Riley was:

 

http://youtu.be/MhEkv2-HIpg

an old version of mrs brown boys....and that`s sh*t as well.

I can't even begin to describe how angry I was that Suarez was even still on the pitch that day, never mind allowed to equalise for Liverpool in the last seconds of the game. Completely ridiculous. He should have been arrested for that assault on Ibramovic.

 

Also, all the other points you mentioned, 100% agree. We're always getting dodgy decisions against us, but heaven forbid we actually get one in our favour. It's not like it won us the game. Far too many whingers.

 

It wasn't just that it was also the ridiculous 8 minutes added on time out of nowhere.

Mourinho has held Riley to account in his press conference today, and every word is bang on the money.

"I am curious to know if people see that as a normal situation, if now on it is going to be the same for everybody [to get a phone call]," added Mourinho, ahead of Saturday's match at West Ham.

 

"At least now the referees know, they know one thing. If, in a controversial - I'm not saying a mistake - decision that hypothetically - and, I repeat, hypothetically - favours Chelsea, they know they are going to be publicly exposed by their boss. That they know.

 

"They can make, hypothetically, mistakes, favouring other teams, nothing happens.

 

"If hypothetically - and, I repeat, hypothetically - they make a mistake, they are publicly exposed by their own boss.

 

"I'm very curious to know if it was just an isolated phone call. I'm curious to know if people see that as a normal situation.

 

"I'm interested to know if this is the start, that from now on it's going to be the same for everybody."

 

THIS IS WHY WE LOVE MOURINHO !!!!!!!

 

YOU WILL NOT TAKE LIBERTIES WITH US !!!!!!!

 

PARDON ME FOR SHOUTING !!!!!!!

I liked this bit:

 

Asked whether he had ever received a phone call from an official during his career, Mourinho added: "If they do that, during my career, my telephone would be very, very busy."

"I'm curious to know if Steve Bruce got a phone call. I'm interested to know if Chris Hughton got a phone call. I'm interested to know if Laudrup got a phone call."

It's a fair point from Jose it would be nice to get an answer

Mind you its obvious Steve Clarke learned a thing or two from his time at Liverpool, lets hope he has a run in with Ovrebo in the future (unlikely I know, but stranger things have happened) Then he really would have something to moan about..!

 

Everything he knows he learned from José...

i enjoyed the way Jose pronounced the word 'hypothetically'! and i totally agree that everything he said was spot on, and Riley must be regretting his decision already. he might want to upgrade his tariff to cover the cost of all the phone calls he'll have to make next month!

Great for our manager to come out and defend the club so strongly, and he can't even be charged with one of those ludicrous FA fines for giving his opinion because he didn't say anything that was factually inaccurate. Over to you, Riley!

Apparantley WBA made a written complaint to Mike Riley which is what sparked the apology?

If this is true it makes it less infuriating, however perhaps we should start writing letters of discontent to Mr. Riley every time a decision goes against us.

We've been here before:

 

http://www.theshedend.com/topic/4667-rob-stiles/

 

complete with another Dorset post.

 

It is in the job description of the ref supremo to plead for forgiveness when a decision favours Chelsea. This does not apply in reverse.

Thanks for that blast from the past, Backbiter, and my apologies to all those Shed-Enders who read through that post again (or for the first time) laden as it was with ’questionable’ material. Incidentally, I see that Gus Poyet is the first to take up the baton on behalf of bad-ref-call-suffers everywhere, by demanding an apology from Mike Riley after yesterday’s atrocious sending-off decision given against Sunderland. Have to say his post-match comments are priceless…

 

“ I would like the refs’ association to apologise to me. They call a British manager, call a foreign manager now. Make it equal.â€

 

Interestingly, for better or worse, Gus has put a different slant on things by raising the British [versus] foreign manager question and plonking it firmly in the middle of the current controversy, so this in itself may well force Riley’s hand. He certainly wont want to make the call, fearing a triumphal backlash from Gus who, unlike Steve Clarke, will see little mileage in currying officialdom favour whilst sitting at the foot of the table. More to the point, I doubt he would have any qualms about repeating every word spoken to ravenous newshounds and, if that phone doesn’t ring, I’ll wager a certain Uruguayan will be mentioning the fact more times than Old Mother Riley’s had hot dinners.

Poyet was going absolutely bananas. Was hilarious to watch. He was like a fiery dragon!!

Poyet was going absolutely bananas. Was hilarious to watch. He was like a fiery dragon!!

He was. He was apoplectic. He was also extremely emotional and close to tears afterwards, I thought.

If Football managers were used to measure the scale of outrage at a bad decision would a Poyet score higher than a Fergie or a Mourinho, or would a Warnock or a Trapatoni be the worst sort of tantrum ?

Maybe a sort of sliding scale should be introduced, with the resigned sarcasm of a Hughton at the bottom...

 

As for Poyet I thought his head would explode on Saturday, it was most amusing.

Cant blame Poyet though, was a god awful decision.

If Football managers were used to measure the scale of outrage at a bad decision would a Poyet score higher than a Fergie or a Mourinho, or would a Warnock or a Trapatoni be the worst sort of tantrum ?

Maybe a sort of sliding scale should be introduced, with the resigned sarcasm of a Hughton at the bottom...

 

As for Poyet I thought his head would explode on Saturday, it was most amusing.

I see your Poyet and Warnock and raise you a Klopp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MJ7gxuDGxI

Edited November 25, 201312 yr by Backbiter

What about Keegan's rant?  I know if wasn't about a ref's decision but it was jaw-droppingly angry!