This week I want to return to an issue that got a lot of fans hot and bothered over a refereeing decision made at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.Yes I am talking about the Ramirez penalty against West Bromwich Albion, or should I say the non penalty. Let me below, as everyone knows Chelsea player Ramirez went into the penalty area late in the game and collided with Steven Reid. Andre Marriner the referee paused, thought about, then pointed to the spot. Oh Andre how wrong were you to give a penalty.My initial reaction was no penalty,and over the past week or so I have been proven to be right. As I saw it Ramirez was going to ground before Reid went near him. In actual fact if the referee had called it right, he should have awarded a goal kick and booked Ramirez.
Now let us not all get into a debate as to whether it was or was not a penalty, but let us look at the fallout from the decision. Cute as cute can be Mourinho, claimed it was a clear penalty. Come off it Jose, who you trying to fool. What was your angle, lining up a cosy relationship with Mr.Marriner. Steve Clarke was more straight forward when he said it was never a penalty, with which I have to agree.
Now as we know referees do not talk to the media so nobody is able to quiz the referee about his decision. But not in this case, Enter the one and only Mr Mike Riley and his phone. According to reports coming out of West Bromwich he rang Steve Clarke and apologised for the decision made by his,yes his official. Surely this phone call made in good faith and I would hope in confidentiality, would go someway to appease the midlands club and draw a line under the issue. You must be joking, they could not get it out quick enough to the media, they had been contacted. I would imagine Mr.Riley must have been fuming over the midlands club running to the media. We all know these phone calls to clubs are made week in week out, so I have to say I am very disappointed that it was conveniently leaked to the press. Then low and behold step forward on Saturday morning,the self promoting Mr Mourinho hoping in the future to get a phone call every time his Chelsea team do not get a free kick.or dare I say it a penalty. The lesson to be learned out of all of this is, stay off the phone to managers and players, as the win at any chance they can, attitude will come flying to the surface. So low and behold after all the issues surrounding this weekends games, at least six managers will be waiting on a phone call. I actually thought Gus Poyet,s comments on TV on Saturday night were disgraceful,hinting that only British managers might be getting a call. My advice to Mr Riley would be to stay off your phone this week,as these managers are world class at using stuff like this to there own benefit. Until the next time, do not use that phone.
