Mourinho’s Arrogance Knows No Bounds

Now that we’ve had more than a week to digest last week’s outrageously reckless challenge by Chelsea’s Asier del Horno against Barcelona’s Leonel Messi, let’s look at how predictably and pathetically events have transpired. As if scrpited by a reality tv-show, the loud-mouthed Portuguese manager of the London club made some marginally-witty comments about Messi’s acting ability.

But I predicted this the moment Del Horno was sent off. Mourinho can’t help himself but to always blame the referee when his players seal their own fates by their very actions.

In this case, the referee got it right. And if you continue to deny it, please at least admit to yourself that you are a Chelsea supporter. Del Horno had no intention of going for the ball and every intention of clattering into his smaller, more nimble opponent. In referee-speak, we call this ’serious foul play’. There’s no room on the pitch for morons who play this way, whether it’s at the very top level of the game or at the bottom.

So now we’ve got some idiots out there threatening the life of the Norwegian referee on some Chelsea fan-sites. And I have to wonder if Mourinho had sportingly acknowledged his player’s inappropriate actions then perhaps this type of abominable response could have been avoided. But Mourinho isn’t responsible for the actions of those ‘terrorists’ (and that’s what I’ll call them since I’m a referee and I can appreciate the ugliness of fan zealotry). He can barely even control the ill-informed garbage that flows out of his own mouth.

I know it’ll never happen, becuase he’s such a pompous ass, but he owes Leonel Messi and the match referee an apology. Mourinho was wrong and he should admit it. Messi was not playing any games when Del Horno crashed into him. The referee did make the right decision in sending off the offending player, and Mourinho should let him know it.

But more than that, he should be an outspoken critic of those who would make threats on the life of referee Terje Hauge. And if it should be determined who those clowns are, I hope they have the book thrown at ‘em. Don’t just take away their privileges to attend football matches, throw ‘em in jail for a month or two.

Threatening someone’s life is no laughing matter and there’s no room for it in any sport at any level. As referees, we’re in a tough position to do what’s right, and in the end, we know that people will disagree with us much of the time. But people, please remember that whether you’re watching your kids game or your hero’s game, remember that it’s just that…a game.

Sadly, some people will never get it though I’m afraid. First there was Urs Meier, the Swiss referee who retired after receiving death threats following the 2004 European Championships. Then there was Anders Frisk, the Swedish referee who left the game for good following last year’s Barca-Chelsea encounter which included a red card for the Blues’ Didier Drogba. Will Berge make it three years running thanks to this barbaric behavior by English football fans?

Let’s hope not, because the only losers here will the game of football and those who love it.

Those are my thoughts from the middle.

Until next time,
ac