Good lord. We must put a stop to this football thing. Too many working class ruffians on the pitch. Sometimes they use language that's not fit to be heard in mixed company.

A straight red for foul language is incredible. Lack of discipline maybe, but am I the only one who still thinks football is a game for grown-ups?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Answers

It's not the right example to be setting children but it should be put into perspective that it was a highly charged game and Dyer had just been on the end of a laughable decision. Linesmen get sweared at all over the country every Sunday morning without getting paid, why should the Prem be any different, keep it real.

While I have a little sympathy for Dyer he should know by now, his bank manager will!

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

In The Journal this morning, Dyer is very repentant saying he let the team down when they could well have won the game. However, at the point of the incident he reckons the crowd were giving him the verbals and the Linesman was laughing at him - nice example.

Frankly, I don't understand this. If you watch many games on Sky Sports you will know that players regularly swear at the Officials and the industrial language seems to have become accepted - but not by all Officials, apparently. This is yet another example where gross inconsistency is the norm, which must be extremely confusing for the players.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

They ought to pick their way through the language on the match thread then if they want their eyes opening. I'd like to see it on TV but if the linesman was laughing then surely the FA should be approached? I mean, surely that's 'unsporting conduct' by the linesman...one rule for some it seems....

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

I saw a close up of an eyeball to eyeball between Paul Durkin (one of the better refs IMHO) and Roy Keane a while ago (and before you start LR, this isn't a dig at your boys), where Keane was obviously saying 'You're fucking joking ref', and Durkin saying 'Shut your face Roy or you'll go in the book'. At which point, they both grinned at each other and got on with things.

Professional, full time referees please.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Do we know exactly what LKD said? It's one thing saying the likes of what Dunx said aboot Keano, but slightly different if you make specific comments about the orrificials themselves. I think that comes in to "threatening behaviour" or some such, as opposed to fuckin' industrial language. Quite what constitutes "foul and abusive language" remains to be clarified. Perhaps our legal eagle(s) could seek out some clarification.

And taakin' 'boot Roy of the Roger-ers, what was his offence (apart from being offensive anyway) at SJP last season? Didn't immitating glasses with his hands come into it? Was that a 2nd yelli or a straight red?

Final word - it's a bit rich having two players sent off for such dangerous actions as opening yer gob and touching the baal wi' yer mits. As Dunx said initially - a man's game, eh?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Keane got a yellow for suggesting the linesman needed glasses.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

The only cases I know about with a straight red for swearing are Dabizas at Old Trafford, Dyer last night and the revolting Lee Hendrie sent off for Villa (as if being himself wasn't offensive enough already). Horribly inconsistent when you've seen nearly all of them do it at some time.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Softie, if was to be kind to the linesman (well, what do they say about the incompetent??) I'd suggest that LKD made a move towards the orrificial rather than just mouthing something.

So, what's the reason for the punishment for such a heinous crime? Is it to stop the players inciting the crowd into riotous behaviour? well, if that's the case, then it almost worked the wrong way. If anything was going to make me (such a more mild-mannered example of Homo Sapiens you could never expect to meet) go balistic and do things I (might) subsequently regret, that was it. DOn't let them try to give me the cr@p about respecting the orrificials. They'll get that when they deserve it.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Oddly enough Hendrie and Dyer are both skinny little buggers whilst the big, strapping fellas seem to be able to shout right in their faces without a card appearing. Far be it from me to say that the orificials see discretion as the better part of valour, but this does seem a bit queer.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Reminds me of one of Frank McClintock's stories; related by the man himself at some after-dinner do.

He'd been giving the ref an ear-bashing all day, and was then yellow-carded for a high tackle. Up he gets, f'ing and blinding, at which point the ref says 'Frank, will you just shut the f*ck up!'. Game resumes, then McClintock makes another high tackle. Over comes ref, red card at the ready. 'That's it Frank, you're off' he says. 'I'm not f*cking going' replies Frank. Sez ref 'You can either walk yourself, or my size 10 boot up your arse will help, now f*ck off'.

McClintock walks, order restored.

Post match, first thing Frank does is buy the ref a drink.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Aye - but it was a man's game in them days Dunx. And the men in charge had discretion as well as an understanding of the emotions. Nowadays, they're (almost) all intimidated by the suits in the FA.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Anyone else noticed the recent trend for referees to make throw ins be taken nearer where the ball went out of pay. Logical but again a bit picky, it all evens out as both sides do it, why the bother?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Good spot DB. Did you also see the ref say to the player "Take it from the right f***in' place or I'll give ye a friggin' yelli card"?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Having sat on a League Disciplinary Committee for over five years at amateur level can I just make a few points that may interest those who feel it is all a sham, you are right it bliddy is!. The whole point at lower level is solely to raise funds for the actual league set-up and the best fundraiser without shiftings ones arse was "Fine the Players". We had powers from 1 week and £5 to the dreaded "Sine Die and £50. A ref`s rep would sit in with us, in the corner , behind the prisoner sitting on a ricketty chair in front of a panel of 6 worthies well versed in the Pavlov theory of interrogation. We had already read and discussed the ref`s report wrote in the excact language of the day, there were some beauties, the player by attending thought he stood a chance, no way , unseen forces, never heard but there around you, made it patently obvious that the man in black was to be the hero. The player would give his version, sometimes badly advised, reading from a pre -pared scribble on a beer mat, words changed, Feck Off C--nt became Flippin excellent , I could not hear what the ref was saying so I leant my head closer to his "" Sympathetic nod, few winks , we ask the player to return to the bar while we discuss the case, check past record, guilty. offence merits £20 and 4 weeks ban, wheel him in , wheel him out , next one. I kid you not in relation to the pro`s in terms of suspensions and missed games the amateurs are hit a lot lot harder. In my time I will categorically state that only once did a player overturn a decision, the ref`s report was a disgrace , times, names, the lot and this kid had 10 witnesses on the line. A lifetime in football, a little bit of power, the wearing of the blazer and the badge, a strange animal

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Aye, I've had run-ins with the amateur lot before. I used to run a Saturday league team down here in Bristol, and one of my lads got sent of for 'threatening behaviour towards a linesman' (who happened to be the other lots manager). He was out of turn that was for sure, called the bloke a cheating cnut; the fact that they guy gave him offside when he was in his own half didn't count for much.

The fine/ban for the sending off was extraordinary; 12 weeks and 60 quid! No appeal.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Hey Dunc, Bristol eh, one of our locals from the village looks like he is having a good season down there with Danny Wilson, refer to Scott Murray, got 2 on Saturday, his young brother has went semi-pro with Peterhead other week. Not a bad player went from Highland L to Villa, few apps then Bristol City, ex Newc Brian Tinnion still playing? and another Geordie forget who?,

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

The Ronnie reports that the Toon last night committed a total of 8 fouls in the entire game and yet had two men sent off, plus two more booked, and conceded two penalties - quite obviously a set of dirty b@st@rds who needed sorting out by the Officials! Tossers.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

The indiscipline was shocking. Why can't we learn from the sportsmen of Newton Heath?

The correct procedure at such times is for the entire team to form itself into an orderly mob and surround the official in a threatening manner. This guarantees that no cards will be issued. Oh - I think you might need to wear red shirts as well ...

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001

Clarky - I found that a staggering statistic when I read it. Eight fouls all match? Surely that has to be an all-time low? Just goes to show how well those in authority have improved the standard of play. I mean, it's obvious the more cr@p decisions and red cards you throw around, the better behaved are the players.

Actually, that says a lot for the sad state that the game has decended to. Norman Hunter would turn in his grave (that's if he's deed - Billy Bremnut otherwise). Yes, please let's cut out the cynical tactics. But please don't turn it into a watered down (sorry!) version of synchronised swimming.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001