"Going Up" "Northern Life" special 1984. 30 minute Tyne Tees Television special programme from 1984, where David Burton reviews Newcastle United's 1983-4 promotion season. Featuring Arthur Cox, Kevin Keegan, and some classic Keegan, Waddle and Beardsley goals from the days when the club had a front three that I'm sure quite a few Toon [.

I find this hilariously funny!

David Beckham got sent off from a youth soccer match:

"It was the younger kids of Romeo's club, and they're playing in the game and there was a penalty given. And the kids are 7 years old and he sent the kid off." After that, Beckham, who has seen his share of red cards in his career (including a crucial one in a World Cup match against Argentina in 1998), did what so many parents of youth soccer players have done — he opened his mouth.

Always the composed, corporate-friendly gentleman away from the game, David Beckham is a fierce competitor on the pitch who has never shied away from telling a referee exactly what he's thinking. This has gotten him in trouble from time to time and as he revealed on Saturday's episode of "The Jonathan Ross show"; it's even gotten him kicked out of a Los Angeles area children's match just for trying to defend a 7-year-old kid.

Some things are just coincidental and some things are not, there is more to them, it is not just luck that has led to a rather unlikely outcome or occurrence. Today Howard Webb referees yet another big Manchester United game. Today Martin Atkinson does not referee yet another Manchester United game.

With increasing confusion in the Premier League over which tackles should or should not be punished, an attempt to teach players what is acceptable is being made in home video form. "How to tackle" DVDs will be sent to clubs next week because if there's one thing professional footballers will pay attention to, it's instructional videos.

The Football is Fixed prediction of a seriously brand damaging scandal within the British game this year is coming to fruition nicely - not just with Redknapp/Mandaric, Portsmouth FC and Rangers FC but with the occurrence of both "a betting accident live on tv" and the inappropriate control over the selection of match officials as well.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has criticised the performance levels of Spanish referees this season.

Rosell's club felt aggrieved by the decision of the Spanish federation's competitions committee not to punish Real Madrid utility man Pepe for appearing to stamp on Barca forward Lionel Messi's hand earlier this month.

Last night Manchester City were denied two penalties by Peter "Grandad" Walton.
So what? Referees are paid to make decisions.
But what is it that influences the decisions that Grandad makes?
In 21 matches refereeing Manchester United over eight seasons, the Reds have won 15, drawn 6 and lost 0.

Another major component of the Revolution attack will not be returning this year, as Danish newspaper Jydske Vestkysten is reporting that Rajko Lekic has signed a six-month contract with Lyngby. Terms of the deal will reportedly be published on Monday.

Lekic is the second Revolution striker this month to take his services elsewhere.

A core problem locus in English football is the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB).
This body, which oversees the management and appointment of referees and junior officials for matches, is simply not fit for purpose and needs to be deconstructed and reformed...
... with immediate effect.

Six of the seven matches to be played this MISL season between the Milwaukee Wave and the Wichita Wings are now done and dusted. The first five games were played with real fervor and desire to win from both clubs. It wasn't until game six this past Thursday, that both teams had seen enough of each other.

How John Colquhoun Helped Celtic Win A Title While Playing for Hearts
John Colquhoun Loves Jonathan Moss Loves Mike Riley
One Agent, Three Goalkeepers, One Offshore Bookmaker, Three Referees and Lots of Money
To find out more visit our new multiverse at http://footballisfucked.

Combustible words from Mario Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola after his client was banned for four games for his stamp on the head of Scott Parker at the weekend.

Raiola was just getting warmed up when he said that he will take his client away from the Premier League if referees do not do a better job of protecting Balotelli:

"I don't want to say that they are always against him, but when English players are involved nothing happens," Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola said in an interview with Italian radio station Radio Radio on Tuesday.

Whenever Jose Mourinho (who notwithstanding anything, is still the best coach in the world) loses a match, he blames the referee. Do not mind the other team has played great football, or that some tactical choices have been wrong. No, the referee is to blame! So when it actually happens, it just seem like yet another lame excuse of "cry ref".

Three days on, that stamp is still the major talking point in football, dominating the backpages and sports leads. Not that it was a stamp, of course. Poor Mario has been cruelly victimised by referees. I realise English isn't his first language but he really has to get to grips with what 'victimised' actually means, as opposed to ‘stay on the pitch and score the crucial winning goal that could lead to the league title'.

According to the laws of the game, shouldn't Robin Van Persie have been sent off against Manchester United in Arsenal's 2-1 loss on Sunday? I know when it comes to yellow and red cards it's often pretty hard to keep track of all of football's strange rules. But it's widely believed that an automatic yellow card is to be shown to any player who lifts his team shirt to reveal a printed message on a tee-shirt below.

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has called on Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini to stop trying to influence referees by waving imaginary cards on the touchline.In recent weeks, Mancini has been caught on camera several times exhorting the referee to take action by waving the imaginary red card.

After Manchester United lost to the combined might of Blackburn and Newcastle shipping six goals in the process, they were 'rewarded' with the selection of Chris Foy to referee the FA Cup tie at the Council Estate.
The rest is history.
For the next match against Bolton, Peter Walton was 'randomly' selected by the PGMOB to officiate.

The African Nations Cup kicks off this weekend, which provides a handy opportunity for under performing league players to show what they're about! Unfortunately, perennial favourites Egypt failed to qualify for this alongside Algeria, Cameroon and Nigeria.

(Editor's Note: This article is a follow-up to one written in late December about St. Louis' struggles to land an MLS franchise. If you haven't read that yet, it is highly recommended. This is Part 2 of the ongoing Soccer in St. Louis series.)

It's a half hour before kickoff and Matt Williams is not happy.

The battle between the two GQs resumes

Transfer windows are always silly season but they pale in comparison to the sort of collective psychosis and paranoia engendered by El Clasico.

The hysteria before tomorrow's Copa De Rey semi-final first leg has gems like if Mourinho plays Pepe in the midfield then Real has a winning record in the Clasicos.

We've all seen the 'magic spray' soccer trainers use to heal injured soccer players everyone wonders what it is and given how it often causes a miraculous recovery, it must be magic.

While researching something else in the USSF Advice To Referees and IFAB Memorandums, I came across this section in the USSF 2011-2012 Laws of the Game Memorandum:

5.

We've all seen the 'magic spray' soccer trainers use to heal injured soccer players everyone wonders what it is and given how it often causes a miraculous recovery, it must be magic.

While researching something else in the USSF Advice To Referees and IFAB Memorandums, I came across this section in the USSF 2011-2012 Laws of the Game Memorandum:

5.

... and I missed the Knicks game, too. Oh Arsene, my Aresene. God bless you. After a thoroughly forgettable weekend in the Premier League, you gave us the gift that keeps on the giving -- the ArseneFAIL -- losing 3-2 at Swansea City Sunday. Problem is, this one is hard to laugh about. There are no referees to yell at or cynical tactics by the opposition to blame.

Match report Video -

If defeat to Man City was as honourable as defeat can be, and defeat to Fulham as good an example of self-implosion as you're likely to see, yesterday's loss to Swansea is one in which we ought not to be churlish straight away and offer congratulations to our opponents for the way they played (in general).

After scoring the winner against Leeds a week ago, many Arsenal fans expected their legendary club icon Thierry Henry to carry on where he left off against Swansea yesterday.

However, a controversial goal in the 16th minute from Scott sinclair brought the home side level on one goal apiece after Robin Van Persie had netted in the 5th minute.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish rued his side's lack of creativity as they dropped more points at home after being held by Stoke.
The Reds have drawn seven of their 11 games at Anfield this season to seriously damage their chances of a top-four finish.
The home side had the majority of possession but struggled to get to grips with their unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 formation and failed to create too many goalscoring opportunities against a resolute Stoke defence.

Echoing the sentiments of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand has expressed his surprise that there has been so much discussion in regards to Vincent Kompany's red card against Manchester United last weekend.

"I don't understand why this debate is still going on," said Rio. "It's stated clearly in the rule book, we get told before the season when all the referees go around the different clubs: a two-footed tackle is a red card.

I appealed because I obviously completely disagreed with the interpretation of the officials on the day but that happens in football and we move on. I wonder though if we are now going to see an unprecedented wave of red cards on match days because we sanction "if's" and "maybe's"? Are we going to look back at video evidence for every single challenge that goes unnoticed by the officials, look at different scenarios and potential outcomes of what could have been considered a good tackle and then sanction it?

Vincent Kompany was rightly sent off for a two footed challenge on Nani at the weekend in a game that saw Manchester City knocked out of the FA Cup.

Nani got out of the way of the challenge, saving himself from getting hurt, and Wayne Rooney complained to referee Chris Foy.

After the game, Roberto Mancini claimed that the challenge was "300%" not a red card and accused Rooney of influencing the ref.

I know we shouldn't condone fans pouring abuse onto officials and opposition players but I do hope Mark Clattenberg gets absolute dogs abuse when he referees Everton once again.

That derby was by far the worst display of officiating I've ever seen. Too bad to be laughed off, you looked at the decisions he was making and could only conclude he was biased or corrupt.

I'll have something to say about the movement and observation by referees this afternoon, stimulated by this posting from Hong Kong. This site is detailed, carefully written and full of shots from videos of Premiership games. I heartily recommend it...

I've written a number of times before about youth soccer referees not wanting to use their cards. Initially it seemed to be due to the age of players that I coached. But now that my older girls team is in high school, I haven't seen many more cards, even though I've seen plenty of fouls to warrant them from opponents AND my own players.

The Cold...

Is pissing off to the last degree. A few well-chosen hours of sunlight aside, the entire day in this remote corner of Rajasthan is as bone-chilling as watching Overmars running towards you at full-pelt. No central heating and no adipose have collectively ensured that that I indulge in glum sighs and sad smileys galore at the turn of the New Year.

This is the second part of my analysis of BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of the interview with PGMO chief Mike Riley. The BBC's Mark Chapman also talked to Tony Hibbert who is a match delegate and an ex-Wolves player, the delegates are affiliated to the LMA and PFA. Tony Hibbert felt we have the 'best officials in the world' and that all our referees were 'there on merit'.

Firstly, let me just start by saying Newcastle thoroughly deserved their win and it was a win by United more than a loss by Manchester. They were never allowed to settle on the ball, from the off. Newcastle also took the game to them, showed no fear whatsoever, gave no respect and pressed on with [..

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By Walter Broeckx

In this new series about the refs I have so far published two articles:

London people are unfit to referee according to the referees' [.

Graham Poll Poll criticised referees chief Mike Riley recently for being "anonymous" and leaving referees to "hang out to dry". Obviously Graham Poll has his own vested interests, but he does have a point. Very few people spare this topic much thought but it is a biggie, just who is running the refereeing the the Premier League and how transparent is this process?

Good evening Geordies and welcome to our latest match banter feature, which sees the Magpies hosting the team who have almost certainly been our fiercest foes in the Premiership down the years. I am of course referring to Manchester United. This match will be all the more difficult for the Mags too as Manchester United [.

By Walter Broeckx

In my earlier article about the Professional Game Match Officials I commented on how the referees' web site had been shut down and how the referees' association has taken on some new referees for the Premier League. Not many but at least a (very) small step in the right direction.