Officiating as fairly as possible or illegally helping a side? The promises some referees make themselves prior to soccer matches do not always fit spectators, and more importantly, they do not always match the “Laws of the Game”.
If this happens, it is obviously because not all officials accept to use their massive influence and power for the benefit of football. As a result, human mistakes are so easily tolerated, leaving unity to disappear from the world of the leading sport. Habitually, controversy in games fades out after being bitterly endured by its victims, only to be ignored afterward, subsequent to ensuing revenges.
In some big clashes however, where participating teams have a lot to sacrifice, critical “human mistakes”—or act of favouritism, as many prefer to call them—on behalf of referees are simply unacceptable and unforgivable. Through the past, so many great teams have been wounded and robbed through daring actions and abuse of power from arbitraries. Such unforgettable episodes in fact still have effects on today’s drama, as they play a vital role in many rivalries nowadays—both at club and international level.
It is said that the International Federation of Association Football and the Union of European Football Associations are currently working to keep the sport clean, while maintaining its remarkable modesty. This goes without saying that the introduction of technology as an accurate helper in soccer is nothing more than a huge doubt.
Clearly, the extreme simplicity characterizing football could peacefully be preserved if there were effective alternatives. Nonetheless, since offside goals, unfair penalties, dives, unjustifiable sending offs and forced victories are gradually bringing the game to lower grounds—a solution is definitely needed. One cannot tell when the spreading dilemma will be solved, but at the moment, there is one thing that really matters for most European football followers: the referee’s performance in the Barcelona vs Manchester United match in the Champions League 2011 final.
A Delicate Matter: Man United’s Dream, Barcelona’s Image and UEFA’s Clout At Stake
Neutrality on the part of officials would have been the perfect pilot of games of any kind. It is presently not the case, and this hence means that anyone is free to expect a highly controversial match at the Wembley Stadium.
Then again, the consequences of a partial refereeing on May 28 would be harmful to all three parties heating up the ultimate matchup. Especially if unwarrantable favour floats on Barcelona’s side, not only will Manchester United’s dream of lifting the Champions League trophy in their own country be destroyed, but also will it damage the Catalans’ image even further. Consequently, the chaos would place UEFA in danger as they would have to carry the blame for failing to keep things in order.
Already, Barcelona were greatly criticized when they “accepted illegal help” from the referees of their semi-final battles against Real Madrid. Emphasized with few theatrical acts, La Liga champions’ behaviour was generally described as unpleasant—with many finally regarding them as UEFA’s favourites.
Surely, without giving any straight judgement on the controversy from which Barcelona benefited at the end of the Clasicos series, it is easy to notice that—through their audacious doing—the Spanish Cup runners-up unnecessarily enlarged their anti-fans’ fellowship. Despite their endless justifications upon what Real Madrid strongly condemned, there is no doubt that Los Cules would not want to go through a similarly provocative moment against Manchester United at the Wembley Stadium.
The 2009 European champions have been pounced on too many occasions in the Pep Guardiola era, mainly because of their outlandish fights against Chelsea and Arsenal in recent times, and against Los Blancos, just lately. With the Londoners not ready to show them any sign of support, it will be up to the referee and his assistants to keep things under control when the two giant sides clash in the English capital on Saturday.
