From the front page...
Not defending the action of Lei Lei Gao but I wonder if the incedent was due to his limited grasp of English. (Not even sure how limited it is, just asking) Someone else might have suggested "surely that's worth a card, sir". LLG uses the internationally recognised gesticulation for exactly that phrase and gets booked for it.
Seems like a load of rubbish to me. You see players screaming at referees and getting nothing for it.
(Oops, thought I was putting this in the News section, feel free to move)
s2art2008-09-03 21:50:15
Permalink
Permalink
Yeh.
Or in the case of the A-League giving them a chop in the nads... The fact that it was an Asian playing in a kiwi team (who had just been chopped down) had nothing to do with this brave referee making his stand against bad sportsmanship.
Let alone the Costa Rican diving in the box at the ROF the other week...
anyway...big call, but I thought it was smelled bad. what do you think?
Or in the case of the A-League giving them a chop in the nads... The fact that it was an Asian playing in a kiwi team (who had just been chopped down) had nothing to do with this brave referee making his stand against bad sportsmanship.
Let alone the Costa Rican diving in the box at the ROF the other week...
anyway...big call, but I thought it was smelled bad. what do you think?
Permalink
Permalink
With you here Martin.
Loved the quote from Breeze "he saw I wasn't going to give a card" I would have given Breeze an earful too. Gao had left the defender for dead before being cynically chopped. While not through on goal, he was in a lot of space just outside the area, and one decent pass away from creating a scoring opportunity.
Loved the quote from Breeze "he saw I wasn't going to give a card" I would have given Breeze an earful too. Gao had left the defender for dead before being cynically chopped. While not through on goal, he was in a lot of space just outside the area, and one decent pass away from creating a scoring opportunity.
Permalink
Permalink
Yeh.
Or in the case of the A-League giving them a chop in the nads... The fact that it was an Asian playing in a kiwi team (who had just been chopped down) had nothing to do with this brave referee making his stand against bad sportsmanship.
Let alone the Costa Rican diving in the box at the ROF the other week...
anyway...big call, but I thought it was smelled bad. what do you think?
Or in the case of the A-League giving them a chop in the nads... The fact that it was an Asian playing in a kiwi team (who had just been chopped down) had nothing to do with this brave referee making his stand against bad sportsmanship.
Let alone the Costa Rican diving in the box at the ROF the other week...
anyway...big call, but I thought it was smelled bad. what do you think?
Sif.
Permalink
Permalink
Hi
I never saw the incident so I wont comment on it. I will pick my words carefully to provide a different perspective to the 'limited grasp of English' statement to add some balance and show the psychology of refereeing.
Russia vs Cameroon and the referee is Spanish... What language would you communicate in? The higher up you go, generally you tend to referee teams that you cannot communicate with verbally. Because of that language barrier, you use visual communication gestures like looks, pointing, cards to communicate. Gestures are recognisable to all even if the language is not and that makes the point clear. For example if you want to tell some one to 'stuff off' you may show him the middle finger. You haven't said anything and the recipient of the message may not speak the same language as you but the action is recognisable and you have certainly communicated what you are trying to say. You can stand in the middle of a pitch and talk to a player and the people 50 yards away have no idea whats been said - talk about having a tea party, how is the weather... The instant you show a visual communcation, you can tell what is being said from over 50 yards away.
Where or not the player is right or wrong, they do not want this 'gesticulation' as part of the beautiful game. Under the Laws of the Game this is classified as dissent by action and is listed as a cautionable offense.
Permalink
Permalink
I must admit I cringed when I saw him ask for the player to be booked, you could see what the ref was going to do. Personally I have absolutely no time for players asking for other players to be booked, in my experience there are other ways around it. For starters our Captain should have been in the Ref's ear instantly making sure he knew it was late and from behind and also reminding the ref either how many times Gao had been fouled, or how many fouls that particular player had made. Usually all it takes is a quick "Thats the 3rd foul from number 4 and we're only 25 minutes in Ref, what are you going to do about it!"
Permalink
Permalink
I must admit I cringed when I saw him ask for the player to be booked, you could see what the ref was going to do. Personally I have absolutely no time for players asking for other players to be booked, in my experience there are other ways around it. For starters our Captain should have been in the Ref's ear instantly making sure he knew it was late and from behind and also reminding the ref either how many times Gao had been fouled, or how many fouls that particular player had made. Usually all it takes is a quick "Thats the 3rd foul from number 4 and we're only 25 minutes in Ref, what are you going to do about it!"
Yeh don't get me wrong- not a fan of diving or play acting as part of the game. I notice Breeze was making reference to AFL as part of his decision- the sport where a good melee used to be part of the game, until fairly recently. Rough play is expected as part of the culture, and complaining about it isn't. Same here i guess with the rubgy and league background.
No what got me was that it was the first yellow card handed out for this offence. I didn't see it- I just read the article.
You can only imagine if Breeze was let loose in a EPL game where they crowd the ref.
If we want to attract quality import we have to allow them to adjust to what we expect from the league, the way Daniel did last year.
Imagine how we would feel if Gao gets suspended for a crucial match because Breeze chose us to make a 'historic decision'.
edit: he also mentioned NRL and Super 14 as places where there is no dissent.
martinb2008-09-04 10:11:50
Permalink
Permalink
edit: he also mentioned NRL and Super 14 as places where there is no dissent.
How long is McKinnon out for ?
Permalink
Permalink
edit: he also mentioned NRL and Super 14 as places where there is no dissent.
How long is McKinnon out for ?
Permalink
Permalink
although the warriors are appealing, did you see that the other spitting guy got off cos it wasn't deemed a spit due to the spraying nature of the spit as oppossed to a lugie!
Queenslander 3x a year.
Permalink
Permalink
McKinnon did nothing. That is the most bullsh*t ban I have ever seen in my entire life. Sideline ref blatently f**ks up so turns direction to someone else. No accountability.
Can't defend Gao really. The problem is that it isn't consistant - players ask for cards (without doing the gesture) every game.
valeo2008-09-04 11:55:22
Can't defend Gao really. The problem is that it isn't consistant - players ask for cards (without doing the gesture) every game.
valeo2008-09-04 11:55:22
a.haak
Permalink
Permalink
McKinnon did nothing. That is the most bullsh*t ban I have ever seen in my entire life. Sideline ref blatently f**ks up so turns direction to someone else. No accountability.
Can't defend Gao really. The problem is that it isn't consistant - players ask for cards (without doing the gesture) every game.
Can't defend Gao really. The problem is that it isn't consistant - players ask for cards (without doing the gesture) every game.
I totally agree about consistency, thats all the players and clubs really want, the Ref's to enforce the rules the same way on a consistent basis week in week out. There will be hell to play if the next guy asked for someone to get booked doesn't get a booking themselves.
Permalink
Permalink
Hope Mr Breeze and his colleagues are also going to wage war on making bad decisions this season 
Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.
"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003
Permalink
Permalink
McKinnon did nothing. That is the most bullsh*t ban I have ever seen in my entire life. Sideline ref blatently f**ks up so turns direction to someone else. No accountability.
Can't defend Gao really. The problem is that it isn't consistant - players ask for cards (without doing the gesture) every game.
Can't defend Gao really. The problem is that it isn't consistant - players ask for cards (without doing the gesture) every game.
I totally agree about consistency, thats all the players and clubs really want, the Ref's to enforce the rules the same way on a consistent basis week in week out. There will be hell to play if the next guy asked for someone to get booked doesn't get a booking themselves.
I'm with this point of view. As long as the rules are enforced consistently so that everyone knows if you demand a yellow card then you're going to get one yourself then its fine.
If, however, we don't see another card this season for "dissent by action" then its a completely wasted decision
Permalink
Permalink
Let he who without sin cast the first stone Mr Breeze.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
Permalink
Permalink
I'm really interested to know if any of you guys out there have ever actually seen anybody given a yellow card for a gesture asking for a yellow card? I've asked around my soccer-mad pals and none of them have.
Not complaining (I don't like to see it in the game either) but am just interested.
Permalink
Permalink
I've seen Steve Sargent do it
Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.
"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003
Permalink
Permalink
I'm not out to defend Gao, although it did seem a bit harsh to give him a card rather than a warning...but the referee let at least a couple of leading elbows whilst going up for a header go un-carded...would rather have a player tell the ref to give a card than have an elbow to the temple......is the ref worried that a hand gesture like Gao's is going to influence his decision making...I can think of a few that get thrown at refs and they still officiate like idiots....
Permalink
Permalink
Cop it sweet Gao, you diving little twat.
Permalink
Permalink
I'm really interested to know if any of you guys out there have ever actually seen anybody given a yellow card for a gesture asking for a yellow card? I've asked around my soccer-mad pals and none of them have.
Not complaining (I don't like to see it in the game either) but am just interested.
Does that invoke any memories?
Oska2008-09-05 16:29:10You know we belong together...
Permalink
Permalink
Heh got my toy of a season's worth of A-league, J-league, C-league and maybe even some World Cup Qualifiers. Thanks SC03 for the heads up.
So was able to see Breeze being consistent. So applause to him. Had no doubt about marching a player for spitting. Hope he stays consistent and the A-league will be a much better place.
But it has too be the same for all refs.
Sydney FC got a second yellow today after the Newcastle players asked for it, and pushed the Sydney FC player. Lot of chat at the ref every time the whistle blew.
martinb2008-09-13 22:57:05
So was able to see Breeze being consistent. So applause to him. Had no doubt about marching a player for spitting. Hope he stays consistent and the A-league will be a much better place.
But it has too be the same for all refs.
Sydney FC got a second yellow today after the Newcastle players asked for it, and pushed the Sydney FC player. Lot of chat at the ref every time the whistle blew.
martinb2008-09-13 22:57:05
Permalink
Permalink
Perhaps Breeze should have been more consistent when seeing Kevin Muscat deliberately stamp on a players groin...
Permalink
Permalink