I recently posted that I was already satisfied with our season –with European Football achieved –and whilst winning the Premier League would be fantastic- I would not be heartbroken if not.
However that does not mean that I should accept a rank injustice in the preferential treatment given to Spurs by the football administrators –both FA and Premier League as opposed to Leicester City. This was in the care and attention given to the choice of referee and a need to remove any suspicion of doubt that decisions would be seen as fair and not influenced by other considerations
This resulted in the removal of Kevin Friend from the Stoke fixture against Spurs –as he had attended a Leicester game in the past in a private capacity.
This decision was criticised by many influential people in the game –but it was defended by the Premier League as the need to be seen whiter than white in terms of bias. They had taken great care in examining the full background of relations between potential referee and club…..
However, There is a history between Jon Moss and Leicester City which culminated in adverse reports both from the referee on the game and from the club on his performance as referee.
This was in a game against Forest which I attended and bore much similarity to events of last week. It was an inept display featuring a series of poor decisions- a highly debated and contentious penalty awarded to Forest to equalise and the subsequent sending off of Schmeichel –also highly criticised.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leicester-city/8714406/Leicester-City-goalkeeper-Kasper-Schmeichel-left-speechless-after-receiving-red-card-against-Nottingham-Forest.html
Just look at Moss in the article photo and compare with his equally histrionic brandishing of card at Vardy last week- as commented by an ex referee – he knew the impact - it was a calculated decision.
Did the same administrators who moved Kevin Friend –also know about this previous encounter and its fall out… of course they did but did not choose to apply any special judgement to remove any doubts… double standards
Difference is we are a provincial club not part of the great London metropolis and friends in high places…… apparently influential Spurs supporters challenged Friend’s appointment
I predicted Sunday evening that Moss would also ensure further actions from the FA and the email and phone lines will have been buzzing between West Riding FA and London HQ to make sure reports had all the I’s dotted and T’s crossed.
We cannot adequately replace Vardy and now will miss him in key games of the small number left of the season……….. it will impact on the final destination of the Premier title …. And Spurs – if they succeed will never know if they won it ……… or the FA
We should expect the local press and media -including Radio Leicester - to be raising issues on this affair and its impact not only on the club but the area. We should not just accept the situation
Double Standards
posted on 19/4/16
Topper - We've actually seen worse over the years. Just none as significant.
posted on 19/4/16
tommywright.... suggest you go talk to your local Chamber of Commerce of the impact of Leicester City being top and then winning the title has on business in the area. Lasr week we had live camera at the match from NBC and Japan as well as of course Sky. I am currently based in Germany and Leicester is now an everyday topic... if you were at the match -you no doubt also saw the impact on the fans -young and old... this is a once in a lifetime story so the pundits call it...... no impact in the area !!
posted on 19/4/16
I am surprised at the level of angst from our ' Prawn Sandwiche' brigade, normally we just get told the referee didn't make us lose etc.
Strange how times change!
posted on 19/4/16
Come on now TB, we're all in the same trench here.
posted on 19/4/16
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 minute ago
Come on now TB, we're all in the same trench here.
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We are but just like the Americans, it took some a while to get here.
posted on 19/4/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 19/4/16
comment by johngee (U5021)
posted 25 minutes ago
tommywright.... suggest you go talk to your local Chamber of Commerce of the impact of Leicester City being top and then winning the title has on business in the area. Lasr week we had live camera at the match from NBC and Japan as well as of course Sky. I am currently based in Germany and Leicester is now an everyday topic... if you were at the match -you no doubt also saw the impact on the fans -young and old... this is a once in a lifetime story so the pundits call it...... no impact in the area !!
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JG
I know exactly the impact being top of the league and maybe winning the league has/will have on our club.
But if we don't win the league it won't be down to just Sundays match, so I think it's a bit far fetched to expect all local media to now begin some sort of " double standards/witch hunt" after that game.
Our standing in the game and our brand name has increased by an unimaginable amount through this season, that will not dissapear if we finish 2nd rather than 1st. But I agree that winning the title will increase the brand name even further.
I am at every game home & away and I fully understand the emotional side of Sundays game on young & old, but you can't expect local media to jump up and down because of emotional turmoil of some supporters.
posted on 19/4/16
Whilst I fully agree with most of what JG has said, I think the worst thing we can do as a club is make a meal of this publicly.
I think the will guarantee we miss out on the title. The players will no longer play with the freedom and clarity of mind they need to to get the job done. There will be more red cards, more dissent, more "losing the plot".
The best thing we can do is quietly regroup behind closed doors, share our frustration and then put it behind us. We need the players to go out on to that pitch and be as professional as possible.
If they begin to lose their heads like we have (and I most certainly have) we will fail.
Let's use this as motivation. But let's now put it to one side and go out to prove that we are good enough. That we can do this. One game at a time. Over to you Claudio.
If at the end of the season we fail, then let's raise our concerns. I am certainly livid if Moss ever referees in the Prem again. But until then, we focus.
posted on 19/4/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 19/4/16
Ace Face: I heard Graham Poll yesterday on Talksport being asked about these refs being away at such an important time and he said it was for a pre-Euro2016 briefing and always happened before any major Summer tournament involving English Referees. What really disturbed me was his comment that "Leicester City have been getting away with it all season and it was about time they got clamped down on" (or words to that effect). It just goes to show me that the reason for Leicester City's success has been discussed at length between both current referees and ex-refs. I'm not suggesting a conspiracy but I'm sure it has directly or indirectly led to Moss's horror show on Sunday.