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by **L-type** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:14 am

Refereeing, everyone agrees, is a thankless task, inevitably accompanied by controversy. That said, there have been fewer reasons for chants blaming the men in the black this season.

Mike Riley: Not Latvia's most popular referee. (Photography/GettyImages)

Interpretations of the offside law still create chaos, but Mark Clattenburg has displayed admirable common sense on his introduction to the Premiership, Rob Styles and Uriah Rennie are showing signs of calming down from the red-card rage that once absorbed them and even Graham Poll may be maturing into the elder statesman of refereeing.

But the Premiership's premier referee - or so his selection for Euro 2004 would suggest - is Mike Riley. However, England's equivalent of Pierluigi Collina attracts rather more criticism and much less praise than the intimidating Italian.

A selection of his decisions since the end of the last domestic season show why. A catalogue of errors with far-reaching consequences or a vindictive scapegoating of an honest official? You decide.

June 19: Latvia 0 Germany 0
Riley had already antagonised the hapless Bulgarians in their 5-0 defeat to Sweden. But in Oporto, he gained more enemies in Eastern Europe. Two barnstorming runs from Latvia's livewire forward Maris Verkapovskis produced two strong penalty appeals and two shakes of Riley's head.

The Baltic Nation were denied the most famous win in their brief history and the first decision - when Verkapovskis appeared to be fouled by two defenders as he tried to slalom between them - was particularly unfathomable.

August 28: Aston Villa 4 Newcastle United 2
Back on domestic duty, Riley was in charge of one of the most entertaining early season matches. With 20 minutes to go, it was level at 2-2 when, with Craig Bellamy heading towards goal at breakneck pace, Thomas Sorensen came out of his penalty area and handled.

A free kick was awarded but Riley reprieved the Villa keeper. Sorensen saved the subsequent shot and Villa scored two more goals. With Newcastle without a victory in their first four games of the season, Sir Bobby Robson was subsequently sacked. But would that have happened if Sorensen had been sent off?

September 25: Newcastle United 3 West Bromwich Albion 1
Another Newcastle game, more contentious refereeing. With the score at 0-0, Albion centre back Darren Purse was sent off for two bookable offences that manager Gary Megson described as 'soft' and 'softer'.

But Riley was still booed off by the home crowd, probably for turning down what appeared a clear-cut penalty when Thomas Gaardsoe fouled Lee Bowyer.

September 29: Werder Bremen 2 Valencia 1
Take a bow, Miroslav Klose. Riley fell for the season's most outrageous dive and cautioned Carlos Marchena, the nearest player to the tumbling German.

In a match of eight yellow cards, it appeared inconsequential until Riley gave a second yellow card to the Spanish centre back. Valencia, who were leading 1-0, go on to lose 2-1 and are pipped by Werder Bremen for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

October 24: Manchester United 2 Arsenal 0
Forty-nine not out, Arsenal headed to Old Trafford for the biggest game of the season so far. There's a theory that their games against Manchester United are 'unrefereeable'; Riley gives it credence. Four major decisions bring four mistakes.

Arsene Wenger has some choice words for Mike Riley at Old Trafford. (NealSimpson/Empics)

Firstly, Rio Ferdinand barged Freddie Ljungberg aside as the Swede burst towards goal. It is definitely a free kick, probably a yellow card and possibly a red, but Riley waved play go on. Then Ruud van Nistelrooy planted his studs in Ashley Cole's knee. Riley took no action, but the Dutchman was subsequently banned for three games.

Then came two penalty appeals; Riley wrongly awarded a spot kick for Sol Campbell's challenge on Wayne Rooney, and incorrectly ignored United appeals when Cole brought down Cristiano Ronaldo. 'Riley is Riley,' concluded Arsene Wenger succinctly.

November 20: Norwich City 2 Southampton 1
Norwich were still looking for a first Premiership win when, 12 minutes in, Darren Huckerby escaped down the left wing. His cross hit the raised hand of Jason Dodd, some 10 yards from the striker.

It may not have been deliberate, but with an arm above his head and chance to react, it's a penalty. Except, of course, that it's not given. But this decision does not prove decisive and the fundamental civility of Norwich - coupled with relief at the long-awaited first win - tempers any criticism of Riley after the match.

November 27: Manchester City 2 Aston Villa 0
There are few more combustible characters than Danny Mills and Lee Hendrie, so few were surprised when they squared up in the closing minutes.

The Villa midfielder appeared to head-butt the City defender and Riley brandished his red card. Except that, as replays showed, Hendrie made no contact with Mills. City manager Kevin Keegan backs Hendrie's appeal but, despite evidence of clear air between the temperamental two, Riley refused to rescind the red card and Hendrie was banned for three matches for violent conduct.

That, and a Juan Pablo Angel miss from 12 yards, deflected attention from another dodgy penalty decision.

December 18: Birmingham City 4 West Bromwich Albion 0
More penalty problems for Riley. In the third minute, Bernt Haas slid on David Dunn, missed the ball and upended the Birmingham midfielder. No penalty, ruled Riley in an act of generosity towards Albion, though he did award a spot kick soon afterwards when a Darren Purse foul gave him little choice.

January 1: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 1
Riley bagged the biggest game of 2005 to date, a key match both for Chelsea's title charge and Liverpool's Champions League aspirations and even, ultimately, for the future of Steven Gerrard.

The Liverpool captain took a right-wing free kick in the first half, Antonio Nunez jumped with Tiago and the Chelsea midfielder, handling where he was unlikely to head, made contact with the ball.

Liverpool were livid when Riley refuses their penalty claims, and still more so when Joe Cole scored a late winner. Just how significant will that decision prove to be?

Keep up the good work, Mike.

taken from http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=320833&cc=5901
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just want to know what you think. If the fa held a hearing for him with all this evidence they would not only demote him but would be left with little choice but to hang the b@stard.

by **Djiin** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 6:45 am

make me SICK!... :angry:

by **LFC #1** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:02 am

reading that, I have come to the conclusin that Riley loves controversy - he sits at home every night having a W*nk over the controversy he has brought and that his name is in all the headlines. All those decisions mentioned have been at key points in matches and ultimately decided the result.

You could be as harsh to say:

- Riley got Robson sacked
- Riley has largley influenced whee the premiership trophy is heading
- Riley lead to Valencia being knocked out of the CL at the first hurdle
- Riley cost Latvia their most famous win in history

and more importantly, HE COST US 3 POINTS ON SATURDAY!

by **chiggz_likes_owen** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:54 pm

Lets burn his house down.

by **Cheesebeau** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:24 pm

This post is brilliant. I could only remember a few of riley's screw ups, but theres been so many I lost track.

I've never like him as a ref, and I don't see why the FA keep giving him 'big' matches to referee. Its only a matter of time till he really messes up a match and the FA can't ignore it and have to do something about him. (not that he hasn't already messed up matches).

by **ronmeister** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:57 pm

demote him to a division one ref

by **Stan Laurel** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:52 pm

chiggz_likes_owen wrote:Lets burn his house down.

lol!!!!

Do you know where he live then?

by **liamac** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:29 pm

No i have an idea ..............send him to refferee games in South America !!!

Wounder how long he lasts

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