Double Take!

The inconsistency of referees, not just in our own league, but in football in general is a real bone of contention. Consider ourselves, a mere three weeks ago Belfast referee Ronnie Crangle sent United's goalkeeper Sean O'Neill off for raising his hands to an opponent (rightly in my opinion I hasten to add), although the opponent took an exaggerated dive. Then this Saturday at home to Newry City, referee Crangle took no action against Newry keeper Coleman, who in almost a 'carbon copy' of the previous incident, raised his hands and shoved United's Andy Smith. Admittedly Andy took a somewhat theatrical dive, but at the end of the day the hands were raised. To make matters worse he merely cautioned the perpetrator of the original foul, an elbow to Darren Lockhart's face, as the United midfielder sped past the last defender, instead of adhering to the letter of the law and red carding the offender. This was in fact somewhat ironic as he had earlier cautioned Lockhart for what one assumes was dissent, when the midfielder remonstrated with the official over an alleged elbow to United defender Mark Surgenor, conveniently missed by both referee and the same linesman. In this weeks United programme, the editor was complaining about the inconsistency of officials, namely the 4th officials, who it seems have a grudge against United manager Roy Walker. This biased officiating was never more evident than in United's away game at the 'scum slum', when the 4th official was constantly on Walker's back if he went 2 inches outside his coaching zone, while allowing home manager Platt to wander along the touch line at will. In fact the United manager was finally told to leave the coaching area by referee Davey Malcolm. We do not want specialised treatment, we just what to have a fair crack of the whip, surely when we're paying out the guts of £500 to the 4 officials that's the least we can expect. It's got so bad they almost make me want to long for the days of the 'laughing fairy', John Ferry, from Londonderry, but remember I did say 'almost'!