Fairness.

The title of this post may seem odd but to any who have watched the Carling Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Everton will realise what i am getting at. English referees are bad. BAD. They are absolutely uninterested in preserving the flow of a game and are show amazing favouritism. English referee's can be described in one word. BIASED. Jon Obi Mikel was sent off for a decision which is at best a yellow card. Up until this point in the game Chelsea were absolutely dominant in every aspect. They had got their early goal (Shaun Wright-Phillips 26') and were content to play around and look for an opening. Then came the challenge. Even without the benefit of video replays (which i absolutely support for use in the Premier League) the decision was so easy to see. It was a yellow card. No question about it. But for the referee to whip out the red with no hesitation whatsoever is very very wrong.

This is what Fifa's official definition of a red card.

A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

1. is guilty of serious foul play
2. is guilty of violent conduct
3. spits at an opponent or any other person
4. denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
5. denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
6. uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
7. receives a second caution in the same match.

Exactly which of these offences did Mikel do? Perhaps no.1. The studs of Mikel were slightly off the ground but it was only on one foot. It was also not targeted at the player but at the ball. Therefore no.1 is inapplicable. Onto rule no.2 then. Did the foul directly injure the player? NO. Was the foul made with malice or intent to injure the opposing player? NO. With all that in view is a highly trained professional who is supposed to uphold the rules of the game be allowed to blatantly flout the rules? I hope that the League, FIFA, the referee's association and the PFA sit down and resolve this farcical merry-go-round of terrible, terrible decisions. This is hardly the first time that this has happened and most likely not going to be last.

Chelsea however to be fair to them, never threw in the towel and continue to battle till the very end. Of course they were rewarded by Lescott's lack of concentration at the death of the game. But the referee repeatedly made what can only be described as pro-Everton decisions. Every man is entitled to make his mistakes but this is really taking is too far. I really hope something is done.

Final Score : Chelsea 2 Everton 1 (yet again)

Man of the Match :
Idiot of the match :