I know it will come to nothing and get swept under the carpet, BUT, I still had to send it;-
Sirs,
With regard to the recent fixture between Sunderland FC and Stoke City, I wish and need to make my feelings known regarding the level of the officiating in this game.
Before I go on, I ask you to not respond in the usual manner of a standard reply, or try to pass the blame OR responsibility to another organisation or body, anything other would be an insult to my intelligence and a huge admittance of guilt for the actions of officials acting under your jurisdiction.
My question is simple, do you have anybody who can give me a simple answer to the following glaring errors by YOUR offiicials.
1) Versus Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City had a perfectly good goal disallowed by an official that was better placed than any other person OR camera in the stadium to see the incident. That he missed the ball crossing the line by at least 1ft was bad enough, but he then also chose to ignore the obvious handball that cleared the ball from the goal line???????????
2) Versus Manchester United, Gary Neville, a seasoned international, makes two rash challenges on Matthew Etherington of Stoke City. Having already been yellow carded for the first.........
Oh, forget it, you know what Im getting at, and further more TV evidence proves that I am correct. However, nobody at The Premier League, The FA, or the Referees association have the guts to come out and say the decisions are wrong, and we, as Stoke City, fans are expected to accept it in the "Spirit of the game".
There is no spirit in the game, only greed. Greed for money at all cost. Greed, to help those of a more fortunate position than the likes of Stoke City, or Portsmouth, or Darlington. Greed to shower praise on a group of players not fit to wear the shirt bearing the hallowed "Three Lions". Or the greed of accepting the pay demands of one man who by his own admission is a failure.
As for the Sunderland V Stoke City game, can somebody please explain, how, the referee can see a dubious foul between two players travelling at speed from 20 yards, but then cannot see somebody effectively playing basketball from less than 18 yards?
Speaking of American sport, having attended last weeks NFL game at Wembley, how refreshing to see correct decisions given. Admittedley by replay, but all within 10 seconds or so of the incident. Its time The FA and The Premier League woke up and smelt the coffee. The Premier League, is no longer the best in the world, probably because Stoke City, wont play the way "the game is supposed to be played", but really because in Spain, passion and skill are celebrated in equal measure. And because the NFL, realised a long time ago, that the game needs to be fair to all that compete in it, not just the blessed few.
Regards, an angry Stokie
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