Recent content by The Gump

I think it’s a poor explanation, and in any walk of life when an authority appears to be trying to defend the indefensible, it undermines that authority and credibility. That’s the situation here for me, and many will view this - as I do - as a classic establishment cover-up, but like many...

I really don't mind the increase given the explanatory email that came around earlier (pasted below for anyone who's not seen it). In my area, one U14s/15s game would have offset the total registration cost, so it really isn't an issue for me given the additional CPD that we'll hopefully see...

I wasn’t suggesting zero criticism - but there’s a difference between criticism (“I think they hit it wrong” or “it’s a tough job, he’s made a mistake”) as opposed to going much further or the lenient treatment of OFFINABUS.

Aye, wrong term to say wrong in law. My point being according to the LOTG, this shouldn’t be handball (not deliberate, not made his body unnaturally bigger for the action).

One final thing in this from me as we now know the end of season outcome. It is a very good and strong statement from the SFA, and I hope the police are involved and arrest/prosecute those responsible for the leaking of the referee’s details as well as anyone making threats. What I don’t like...

Great article in The Athletic that perfectly sums up where we've got to with VAR. The only solution is to get rid of it but, like the author, we all know that's not going to happen. "VAR is broken. The furore at Motherwell, Tottenham and West Ham proved it"

I can accept the Ars/WHU decision (reluctantly) but this was pretty awful all round. Definitely for C&O and I don’t know how you give a penalty for it on the footage/direction and pace if travel of the ball. VAR has ruined football and made officials’ jobs even more impossible/thankless.

Apologies Rusty - he initiated the contact with Todibo prior to Pablo backing into/being pushed into him (by Trossard).

Admittedly with potentially claret and blue tinted spectacles, the check on other potential fouls was at best cursory, with Kavanagh shown just one view (despite numerous other potential offences by Arsenal players) and even then very briefly. It is also the goalkeeper who initiates the contact...

I'm a West Ham supporter and can accept it's a foul on the GK, albeit there are numerous West Ham players being fouled before that foul occurred. The bigger point is that the same shenanigans have been going on the box at corners/free kicks all season that didn't result in a VAR intervention...

Both are clear reds on replay, but I don’t believe either are howlers to have missed in real time, though I’d be disappointed in missing the second one in real time especially given the defender leapt off the ground and went in two-footed. Fulham’s manager was, as ever, a dick post-match...

I was curious about this too - I couldn't find any reference to this apparent "exemption" either in the LOTG but our laws gurus have clarified to a degree above. It's going to cause us a problem at grassroots as is it an offence or not?! I would never give a free kick for what happened, and...

I completely understand where you're coming from BC, and I do agree with your line that there's a competency issue at play and "Sin bin hastily and you lose respect, sin bin too late and you've already lost it. The sweat spot is really quite difficult to nail." However, I disagree with you that...

Ah, my bad, had t clocked that.

Yes.