what's the Fussball about?

in recent days, i have been thinking about football managers being sent off during a match.
to begin, i just think its ridiculous managers can be sent off.
but since there is such a rule and a right for referees to execute, i'll go with my point.
i think managers are afraid to send off Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson.
either that or they're dumb old fools.


i would highlight my notion following the team's 2-2 draw against Sunderland.
(Sunderland awesome; very unfortunate, Berbatov awesome goal, Foster: Shite).
in the second half, you could see the Scot barking at the fourth official and pointing at the pitch (Presumably to the referee, Alan Wiley).
he then took a shot at the referee aforementioned, claiming mr Wiley is not physically fit (as a butcher's dog) to conduct the game, took too long to make a booking (longest was 19 seconds for Sunderland's Phil Bardsley) and did not give enough time in the match (match ended at (94 mins and 2 secs).

in the defense of the match official, he was placed at fairly reasonable locations as to where the action was throughout the match. he jogged and halted according to the flow of the game. while booking, referees need to talk to the offender and at the same time take a breather. he is multi-tasking. giving himself and the players a short catch of breath as well as trying to remind players to keep the game clean. if players can rest during goal celebrations, injuries etc, why not the Man in Black (Yellow/Blue for this season)? and finally, he did give enough time for the full match to end. a full 90 minutes plus the extra time given.
Mr Alan Wiley would have conducted the same good job for any other match.

So why was Fergie going all red-faced on the match officials, and following the match, a rant on the poor gaffer?

and why did the officials report to the main referee that the manager was running his mouth a tad too much?

scared?

lazy?

has a crush on him?

what?

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal's manager, was sent off in the dying minutes of their clash with the Red Devils. why? for kicking a bottle, when Robin van Persie's last minute effort for an equalizer was ruled offside by the linesman. the bottle had not harmed anyone, nor did it explode like a C-4 Plastic Explosive. it cannot be taken as a sign of aggression. it is only, at the very least, mere frustration. he was very cute throughout the process, standing in the middle of nowhere until he was escorted out. there was an apology of some sort thenafter, but its a mark forever to tarnish the good name of referees.

Sammy Lee of Liverpool too was sent off for an unseen "offence". the assistant coach could do nothing but abide the command.

while they could shoo managers off with a mere lift of their finger, they daren't even look at the great manager of Man Utd; probably fearing the Hairdryer Treatment that made him very famous. do they fear his success? he is successful alright, but does that play an impact in the hearts of officials? i'm sure Fergie has been sent off at some point of his managing career but the need to do what was needed calls for begging on this occasion? he is a brilliant manager, but he gets in the minds of referees in his drive to win. such negative external intervention should not be allowed to dictate the game.

referees award fouls and cards for players taking off their shirts and misinterpreted decisions following a tough-ballwinning challenge, but they choose to keep their whistles and cards when players dive and managers spit on officials as they show their rage. i cannot say referees are biased, but they certainly make mistakes, far too many for the calling of a referees. they are merely human, but need to make right and proper decisions. video-assisting perhaps? aside all that, referees need to step up.

so who is at fault: referee or manager?

all i can say is, both need to know where they stand.

its your pick.