Following our victory over Portsmouth in the Community Shield, I asked the question, tongue in cheek, whether Portsmouth paid off the refs when playing against United. In our past few matches we have seen Carlos Tevez rugby tackled in the box, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo was shoulder charged, without any consequence, then last night, Wayne Rooney [. Click to continue reading...

This one's for you, Ashley Cole. And Poland. Refs who aren't on the payroll of Italian teams have a rough job, as it's not one most people brimming with sanity would take. When they're perfect, it's nothing more than the basic expectation. When they're wrong, it's armageddon. So damnit, the English FA wants them the [. Click to continue reading...

"We are in a poor state - no respect from players - MONEY BUYING POINTS AND PLAYERS - matches that do not attract (or need) spectators to survive".

So says 'Albert' - a Level 5 referee, on an officials-only website for referees.

The senior levels of the English game are becoming equivalent of the Corrupt Bastards Club that dominated Alaskan politics until recently. Click to continue reading...

I guess the proper terms are "lack of fitness" and "poor performances".

The Bulgarian Football Union is without three of its not-so-finest for the upcoming season.

Wow a whole season, just for potentially fixing games and Cheez Doodles.

[BFU referee commission's chairman Borislav] Alexandrov insisted the referee commission would be even stricter this season on referees who commit errors.

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In only two years of existence, two different SuperLiga scenarios have already played out in the final.
The first was the MLS/Primera Division split final, with Pachuca and the LA Galaxy representing both participating leagues. Pachuca, of course, became the first SuperLiga champion in history. Click to continue reading...

Things weren't looking too good for referee Matt Stoneman.

In just the 27th minute, the New Zealand ref had allowed a controversial goal in a Pacific Premiership match between the Western Rangers and Signature Homes Port Hill.

After two subsequent red cards, all hell was starting to break loose. Click to continue reading...

10:53 - Refs are doing another inspection... Players starting to take a look along the apron around the field.  I think there will be soccer tonight. A light rain continues to fall. Click to continue reading...

10:35, a light but steady rain continues to fall. The refs have already conducted a field inspection. It looks playable from up here, but only barely. I fear the longer we wait, the rain might begin to puddle again. Click to continue reading...

I couldn't resist these items collected in the last week or so. All strange. All true.

For instance, you'll be relieved to know South Africa's tourism authorities are looking out for the fans when they indicated earlier this week they wanted to legalize prostitution during the 2010 World Cup.

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Last night was a rarity in soccer, a big game in which the final score didn't really matter. RSL's reserves beat the BYU Cougars in the Coug's brand new Stadium at South Field in front of 3110 fans. Beat is probably too soft a word, RSL's Robbie Findley put the ball past BYU's Brandon Gillam twice in the stretch of two minutes midway through the first half, at which point RSL seemed to let off the gas.

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I'm so tired of complaining about the refs that I've created this blog specifically to address the issue. At first I was going to go off on a rant but honestly this issue is more persistent and goes deeper than something as trivial as GOLTV's stupid decision to cut away from a live match [...] Click to continue reading...

Why can't RSL suddenly find the back of the net? I for one amd getting really sick or moral victories. Much as I agree with what Kreis said about the refs against Houston, two pointer I wish to make. First, Wingert should know that any time a player retaliates, he will get caught. It always happens that way, much as his shove was probably warranted, it was also rash and stupid and he did deserve a red card for doing it. Click to continue reading...

Why can't RSL suddenly find the back of the net? I for one amd getting really sick or moral victories. Much as I agree with what Kreis said about the refs against Houston, two pointer I wish to make. First, Wingert should know that any time a player retaliates, he will get caught. It always happens that way, much as his shove was probably warranted, it was also rash and stupid and he did deserve a red card for doing it. Click to continue reading...

Just a quick note to let you know that the Superliga 2008 website is up and running and has a list of the refs for this years tournament.

Check back here for SuperLiga video in the days ahead. Click to continue reading...

No, dear reader, this isn't softcore porn hour at GFC HQ. This is what results from having a weak referee mixed with a group of over-enthusiastic Over-35's on a football pitch. And let me tell ya, with no offense to the wife, I haven't screamed like that in a long time.

This is the impact point at which knee/shin met my torso. Click to continue reading...

You knew it was inevitable, but German keeper Jens Lehmann has found an excuse for why Germany lost the Euro 2008 final to Spain. Yep, the former Arsenal and current Stuttgart stopper says that the refs are why they are... Click to continue reading...

You knew it was inevitable, but German keeper Jens Lehmann has found an excuse for why Germany lost the Euro 2008 final to Spain. Yep, the former Arsenal and current Stuttgart stopper says that the refs are why they are... Click to continue reading...

Joao Havelange, president of FIFA from 1974-1998 claims the 1966 and 1974 World Cups were fixed and produced the exact results his predecessor to the job, England's Sir Stanley Rous, wanted.
Havelange, who is Brazilian, claims that during both finals, the referees made decisions that allowed European nations to advance and help the host country win the cup (1966 England, 1974 West Germany). Click to continue reading...

Commentators like to say the penalty shootout is a cruel lottery, but there was nothing cruel about Spain prevailing 4-2 over Italy after a 0-0 draw. Only one team came to Vienna actively seeking a win, and while Spain battled fruitlessly for a goal for 120 minutes, at least they were battling. Spain outshot Italy 27-12, but it could have been a greater margin if Spain didn't so often seek the perfect play opposed to the quick release. Click to continue reading...

Some things to read as you smuggle lobster in your pants: Rate the Euro 2008 Refs (Rate The Ref) Italy are champions ... of wine (GrapeLive) Assessing the French nightmare (FrenchLeague.com) The economic impact of the Euros (The Sports Economist) UEFA doesn't want you to Click to continue reading...

I long ago stopped caring about soccer-bashing American sportswriters—or, anyway, I decided to try to stop caring, in preference to my former habit of allowing the 17,492nd version of the "soccer: sport of pederastic Trotskyites" opinion piece drive me into insane, fist-gnawing rage. Now I just shake my head with rueful amusement and put the writer in question on my long list of people never to read again. Click to continue reading...

So do we give them the trophy now?

Unless Spain wins like 5-0 tomorrow, I think the Dutch have shown they're leaps and bounds ahead of everyone in the tournament.

Bringing Robben and Van Persie off the bench almost isn't fair. And we haven't even seen Babel. Click to continue reading...

1. Netherlands is the real deal.
I believe that when you demolish both of the World Cup finalists, each by a three-goal margin, people can officially stop referring to you as either "dark horses" or "underdogs."

2. The refs giveth, and the refs taketh away.

You never like to see the outcome of games determined by questionable refereeing decisions, and this tournament seems to have had more than its fair share.

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A sea of orange.

Love it.

• Man Utd reports Real Madrid over CR7 saga. [Guardian]
  
  
• Portuguese FA suspends 26 refs. [ESPN]
  
  
• Over 200 hooligans detained now. In part for Nazi chants. [Yahoo!]
  
  
• Ribery to snub 31 million pound Chelsea offer?

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Real Salt Lake 4 : 0 D.C. United
Six Word Novel Recap

It's as bad as it looked.

Media, Traditional and OtherwiseThe Washington Post, Steve Goff: "...instead of showing depth and versatility, United offered another dreary performance at Rice-Eccles Stadium and was embarrassed by Real Salt Lake, 4-0, in front of 13,193 observers. Click to continue reading...