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Manchester
United’s second goal on Saturday continues to cause great debate amongst
football fans, pundits and even managers alike.
Just
minutes after the Premier League game, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was
brought out by the various broadcasting companies to do interviews and answer
questions, with Nani’s goal the obvious talking point. Redknapp called the goal
a “farce” and said that referee Mark Clattenburg had “had a nightmare”. The FA
recently came out and stated that Redknapp would not be charged, although he
would be warned on his future conduct.
First
of all, the Nani goal was quite clearly going to create controversy. Many
people were at fault (Clattenburg for poor communication; the assistant referee
for waving his flag at an inexplicable time; Gomes for not clearing the ball
when he had the chance and therefore not taking the advantage that Clattenburg
had given him; Nani for possible gamesmanship; and Rio Ferdinand, who should
not have been anywhere near the referee and his assistant during their
discussion). However, dragging a manager out of the dressing room and
questioning them on an incident, minutes after it has occurred, is quite
ridiculous. It’s been said before and undoubtedly will be said again, but that
needs to change.
It
won’t change, though, because the broadcasting companies control what goes on. If they want an interview with managers or
players straight after the game, then the FA will create a rule which says this
must happen. They will also force interviewees to say the correct things, i.e.
not impeding on their precious improper conduct law. Many managers have gone
against this law (notably David Moyes in November 2008, Steve Bruce in February
of this year and Sir Alex Ferguson on many occasions throughout his
twenty-four-year reign as Manchester United manager).
These
four, highly esteemed managers were all punished for their actions. Moyes
received a £5,000 fine after Alan Whiley refused Everton a penalty in late
2008. Bruce didn’t agree with Andre Marriner’s decision to send Michael Turner
off earlier this year and the former United skipper was later fined £2,500.
Most famously, Ferguson was fined £20,000, and given a touchline ban, after he
questioned Whiley’s fitness after his side drew with Sunderland in 2009 while,
in 2008, he was given a two-match touchline ban, as well as a £10,000 fine, for
confronting referee Mike Dean after a game against Hull City.
Redknapp,
though, managed to escape chastisement. The former-West Ham and Portsmouth
manager threatened to stop talking to the media “if they [The FA] want to make
an issue of what I [Redknapp] said”. The fact that the FA have not punished
Redknapp may also have something to do with the fact that he is a possible
candidate for the England job when Fabio Capello leaves his post in two years
time.
The
FA clearly like their big-money broadcasting deals that they have at the
moment, but they don’t want managers to ‘bring the game into disrepute’. If
managers are coming out that soon after a game, though, they cannot be expected
to stay calm and collected and say something which is OK with the FA.
The
fact that Redknapp hasn’t been charged is not the problem. When those involved
in football give interviews they need to have opinions. Although Clattenburg
didn’t make a particular mistake on
Saturday, Redknapp was right to say that Clattenburg “has made a mess of
it". But if the FA has a rule and forces managers to oblige by it, then
they have to stick to their guns with Redknapp. The problem isn’t that Redknapp
should have been fined; the problem is that no one should be punished for
having an opinion.
This article was originally
found on Football Speak but is now unavailable due to a site update.
