Column Still Furious Ian Armitage 22/10/2007 39comments | Jump to last I have just sent this to the FA as I am still furious about Saturday. Dear Sir / Madam, I am writing to you in order to complain about the performance of your referee Mark Clattenburg during the game between Everton and Liverpool on 20/10/2007. During this game it was obvious that the referee had an affiliation with Liverpool Football Club due to his over friendly approach to Liverpools players. This was highlighted when, after deciding to book Tony Hibbert, he was asked by the Liverpool captain to send Hibbert off instead, to which he duly obliged. Every major decision during the game went Liverpool's way, including:- 1) The Dirk Kuyt karatee kick which, according to your own directives given out prior to the season commencing, was clearly a sending-off offence and was only given a yellow card. 2) Joleon Lesott was twice fouled in the penalty area, the second one involving what can only be described as an assault after he was wrestled to the ground in the final minute. No penalties were given. The referee had excellent views of all indicents and there is no excuse for a professional to get these decisions wrong. With this clear bias in mind, it has come to my attention over the weekend that Mr Clattenburg received a complimentary ticket for the game on Saturday so that his wife could attend the match as she is a big Liverpool supporter. In addition to this, Mr Clattenburg went on a pre-season tour with Liverpool FC earlier this year which suggests why he was such good friends with their players. I demand an answer as to why a referee with such obvious loyalties to a particular football club is allowed to referee their games? This loyalty clearly affected his judgement on Saturday and I demand that Mr Clattenburg is suspended immediatley pending a full enquiry into his conduct. Earlier this year Liverpool FC were given a full apology by the FA for a bad decision during their game against Chelsea. I demand that Everton Football club are given a full apology in light of the events at Goodison Park on Saturday and that Mr Clattenburg is made to explain his actions during the game. Yours sincerely Ian Armitage Reader Comments Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Shaun Brennan 1 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:18:41 Report abuse Good letter Ian.Well written too.Don’t hold your breathe though for a reply. dave lee 2 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:30:00 Report abuse yes the refferee had a terrible game, but hibbert is a liability and Neville is out of position and the penalty appeal in the last minute was defo a pen, but Dirk kuyt clearly pulled out of his karate kick and legs were not extended. An other thing when we bring peoples children in to our chants it embarrasess me to be a blue, we deserved the draw but did not muster a shot on goal against a mediocre liverpool side, the referre let both fat Rafa an Moyes of the hook Dan Johnson 3 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:33:20 Report abuse Ian wow!I feel numb ,if what you have said in your letter is correct then we were defienately done over by the ref.Oh my god what a bastard. Didn’t reliase the ref was so in bed with the reds oh my god!Thats fecking terrible Martin Lam 4 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:42:56 Report abuse his wife a rs fan??oh no.. I thought she was G8’s step-mother!... Walter Peck 5 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:49:33 Report abuse Better to try and get in touch with the mafia and make clatter-bitch and slags like gerrard "sleep with the fishes". If i had my way, i would like to know their home addresses and administer by own brand of justice. i hope the next fixture clatter-bitch officiates (my sympathies to the team he dislikes that day) an angry swarm of bees descends and mistakes his head for a pot of honey. Screw you clatterburg! Jip Foster 6 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:04:40 Report abuse How did you know that about the ref? Can you back it up? Would really throw new light on things... kevin hudson 7 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:03:53 Report abuse Mr Armitage your letter is absolutely pathetic-it is this week’s waste of ink. First of all you cannot spell ; your letter comes across like a down syndrome sufferer’s fan letter to Bob Carolgees. Secondly-which Slater St. pisshead told you Clattenburg was a red ? A beaked-up 44-ish member of the " we were robbed in ’85 " brigade ? And third - what makes you think anyone at Soho Square will actually read such undignified guff ? Liverpool have had refs in their pockets for decades mate-nothing changes. Try to take comfort from knowing that when we play and win, we do it through blood,sweat and tears. Often against twelve men. Pure and honest. Let the red’s enjoy oficial favouritism. Let Everton retain our aloof dignity. Ian 8 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:31:10 Report abuse No ink was used, it was sent via e-mail. In respect to gramar etc: -You don’t need a space before a semi colon.You don’t need a space before a question mark.You can’t start a sentance with the work "And".You need a space after a comma. David Siggers 9 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:38:59 Report abuse Tony Adams talking about the Lescott incident." thats not a tackle,thats assault" kevin hudson 10 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:41:33 Report abuse Touche’ well put !! David Siggers 11 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:44:30 Report abuse I agree! whatever our views on Moyes,lets stick together and dont judge him or the players on this sham of a game.RS did’nt win the ref did.COYB Brett Shaw 12 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:38:16 Report abuse Yes Ian, the ref was abysmal, why are you so surprised he favours the darkside? Here is another pertinent question (I hope), How can Glenn Turner(ref’s assistant) be allowed to officiate a Mersey Derby when he used to hold a season ticket for the R.S? He always seems to "get" this fixture and scrutiny of his past performance/decisions make "interesting" viewing. I know Glenn personally, I took him to his first "derby"That penultimate sentence is for the benefit of anyone who doubts what I say is true. Jay Campbell 13 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:43:00 Report abuse Kevin Hudson i think that woz a c*nt ov a shout u come out wi there mate. Why the f*ck should we expect to play against 12 everytime we play them f*ckin maggots??? Shaun brennan 14 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:54:54 Report abuse Heres your reply.He’s got a one match man. Well not a ban as such just that he won’t referree this weekend. He’s been given a day off in other words. danny smith 15 Posted 22/10/2007 at 15:21:53 Report abuse the fa have decided to give him the week off !!!!!!!!!!!!! that says it all really.but hibbert was at fault for their first goal when he pussyed out of the challenge IN THEIR HALF then gave away the pen when he had a chance to make the tackle OUTSIDE THE BOX ! HIBBERT IS SHIT BUT GETS PICKED EVERY WEEK THAT MY FRIENDS IS DOWN TO THE MANAGER ! Andy Williams 16 Posted 22/10/2007 at 15:35:27 Report abuse I agree with Danny Smith’s comment in that Hibbert hesitated when the ball was on the halfway line! Basic defending, but he let the ball bounce? He was unlucky to be sent off - the box couldn’t come quick enough for Gerrard, the shithouse was always going down when he got there. The injustices are masking over the real issue, which was a poor game between 2 bad sides that lacked any quality. Ian Armitage 17 Posted 22/10/2007 at 16:21:00 Report abuse Danny, spot on about Hibbert. All he needed to do was drop off with Gerrard but he was indecisive. To be fair to him though, he doesn’t pick himself and is clearly lacking confidence. He needs resting. With suspensions to Nevile and Hibbert we will be forced to play Jagielka at right back which I think is his best position and could be a blessing in disguise. tongy gee 18 Posted 22/10/2007 at 16:35:55 Report abuse hope pancake takes her roughly next time... shame on you stevie G VIncent Koh 19 Posted 22/10/2007 at 16:34:05 Report abuse How can FA let a referee to referee a Liverpool match where his wife is a Liverpool fan? Mark Clattenburg probably want to make his wife happy. A off day for Mark is not a good punishment. It is too light. I suggest to demote him to Championship. Mark Kint 20 Posted 22/10/2007 at 16:31:06 Report abuse wow i cant beleive there are such fickle fans like Ian. I agree the refree was absolutely shocking. But wat the f*** are you going about the ref being a pool fan ??? Do u even know the fact that he’s from Newcastle and a very big Newcastle fan & is not allowed to officiate their game. I would love to know where you got the information regarding the so called "Pre-Season Liverpool tour". Beth Louise Carter 21 Posted 22/10/2007 at 16:56:45 Report abuse Dont know what team clattenburg supports but one thing is for sure - The biggest cocksucker awards will be a tight finish with him and gerrard. No doubt benitez himself will be up there somewhere too. Should be a close finish. After the derby defeat thats a little bit more animosity towards the other side of the park. If i had my way i would take the whole of anfield and all liverpool supporters and dump them in the middle of the Irish sea.On a freezing cold night in the middle of mid winter. Jay Campbell 22 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:09:40 Report abuse Mark Kint i’m not being funny mate but please come up with an explaination for his performance on Saturday coz I for the life of me cannot come up with anything other than he’s a f*ckin red tw*t. Ian Armitage 23 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:20:13 Report abuse Mark Kint, please can you point out where in my email I said the ref was a pool fan?Also, here’s a direct quote from Mr Moyes on BlueKipper.com in which he also raises the issue of Mr Clattenburg’s participation on Liverpools pre season tour to asia: -"Didn’t Clattenburg go to Hong Kong with Liverpool for the Asia Cup this summer? Maybe he wants to be their friend. " Mark Clattenburg 24 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:30:13 Report abuse You lay of liverpool. They are the greatest team the world has ever seen. Anymore of this and i will depart to my red painted bedroom with my anfield duvet and my roger hunt slippers. That game was on saturday was a fair result. Should have sent of neville for not being a man and taking that tackle. Also me and stevie g have no alliance whatsoever. The fact that we go round to our respective houses and do our mothers up the backside should not indicate that we are in any way close. Any more berating me and i will take charge of the larissa game (for which i intend to give them a five goal head start for your snide comments on me) and every game thereon. Also i will have your little dixie dean statue taken down and replaced by my lovely robbie fowler. Your horrible comments have offended me and i am off to bed with my hot chocolate and john barnes autobiography. Shame on all of you. Neil McKinney 25 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:42:35 Report abuse Oh dear. This thread started off as a bit of a joke and has descended into farce. I do appreciate the anger though as my blood is still boiling now! If this stuff helps to vent that anger then I for one will not piss on anyone’s parade.I don’t know if Clattenburg’s wife is a Red, or whether he went on a preseason tour with the RS, and I don’t care! What I do know is that the display of officiating on Saturday was a disgrace. Strangely, I was already growing very impatient with MC even early in the first half. Every 50/50 went their way. Our players were kicked and shoved around, tackled from behind and hauled down in the box and nothing! I don’t just blame MC, but the entire team of officials!!If Clattenburg refs again, then he should have to work his way back up from the Blue Square Premier League. Fuck it, make that Masters Football on Sky or the Scottish Pub League!One more figure of hatred to throw into the mix....Jamie Redknapp. I nearly burst a blood vessel listening to him on Sky on Saturday try and defend Carragher and say that it wasn’t a penalty. I know he’s an ex-red, but come on, defending the indefensible!! I thought Peter Reid was going to smack him (that would have been vintage TV). I mean, it’s like Peter Reid turning round and saying Neville shouldn’t have been sent off, there’s no argument! Maybe Sky should exchange Jamie for his wife Louise? She’s a TV presenter, better looking and, on Saturday’s showing, probably knows more about football as well!Clattenburg may or may not have a soft spot for the RS but one thing’s for sure, he’s a weak referee that has no place on the park during a top flight game.COYB Mick simpson 26 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:57:45 Report abuse The bottom line is we are not a member of G14, so as far as the FA are concerned we dont matter, welcome to G14 football, these teams hold all the power and rules are made to accomadate these clubs. Football today is rotten to the core and the likes of sky and the G14 are the main collabrators and even the refs are in their pockets, parts of the media are also part of their monoplies. I have add enough of it and I think maybe that might have been my last game, if this is top flight premiere league football they can stick it up their arses. I would rather go and watch the youth team or my local sunday team. Mick Mac 27 Posted 22/10/2007 at 18:17:42 Report abuse It is fucking obvious this prick clatenberg is the father of Gerrards bastard baby, he feels so guilty for slotting his slag of a wife he gives them pens and dosen’t give us them. bob carolgees 28 Posted 22/10/2007 at 18:44:52 Report abuse Ian stop writing to me all the time Tom Martin 29 Posted 22/10/2007 at 18:41:00 Report abuse I heard today that Clattenberg was meant to referee the FA Cup final between Liverpool and West Ham but told the FA that he couldn’t because he admitted to previously being a Liverpool supporter and would therefore be unable to make fair decisions. Does anyone else know anything about this? spit the dog 30 Posted 22/10/2007 at 19:32:14 Report abuse Bob, if you put your hand up my arse once more i’ll bite f*cking your knob off. bob carolgees 31 Posted 22/10/2007 at 20:50:23 Report abuse Been there, done that, got the t.shirt wheres the vaseline? Harry Everhard 32 Posted 22/10/2007 at 21:10:26 Report abuse Will you naughty boys stop talking dirty I get all whooooooooooo. You naughty naughty boys, this post is about that very bad boy Mr bumburg now stop it or I will be harry everevereverhard Peter Taylor 33 Posted 22/10/2007 at 21:33:26 Report abuse Listen you pair of Faggots if you want to talk about sausage jockey tactics fuck of to www.gay.com Jason McCormack 34 Posted 22/10/2007 at 21:51:19 Report abuse Graham Poll was on Five Live before and said that Clattenburg was not refereeing on Saturday anyway. He’s doing a UEFA match on Thursday so never going to ref this weekend.By rights, he should be banned next week.Its on the BBC website now too. John Martin 35 Posted 22/10/2007 at 22:08:26 Report abuse Alan Hansen highlighted Joleon Lescott’s part in The Gerrard/Hibbert/Penalty incident. While Hibbert is at fault so is Lescott but he’s our best player while Hibbert is the doer of all evil so lets just blame Hibbo. fred the weather man 36 Posted 22/10/2007 at 22:10:16 Report abuse OOOOh peter what on earth are you doing going on them poofters websites looking at mens bums get a life your worse than jimmy summerville paul 37 Posted 23/10/2007 at 06:58:07 Report abuse dave lee, your a red!!! I suggest that you log on to todays telegraph and see Kuyts lunge. Its a red card no question asked, legs extended or not. bluebutnotbitter 38 Posted 23/10/2007 at 13:39:02 Report abuse My letters gone to the f.a. also. You have to let them know it matters, that they have to investigate. This was not a simple case of the referee making a mistake or poor judgement. It costs 34p to tell them what you think, to try and change things for the better of our club and football in general. Dana Barrett 39 Posted 23/10/2007 at 15:08:26 Report abuse unfortunately a letter to the F.A. - is that short for what i think it is? , is not going to do much good. The result will stand, and clatterburg can go off to the canaries or wherever and lie back on his sunbed with his pina coladas and not give two hoots. Anybody outside of this club, including clatterburg, gerrard and benitez would more of likely moved on about this whole debate now. They have their three points, they won unfairly, they have beaten us in "our cup final" as they put, so lets move on. i was livid on saturday and all sorts of dark ideas in my head towards gerrard, and that referee. But calmer now, and i am now setting my sights on thursdays game, which incidentally will see the return of one Ibrahim Bakayoko, remember him (bristol city 1999). Just hope he does not come back to haunt us. David Bowers 40 Posted 23/10/2007 at 15:30:00 Report abuse Would you like some cheese your whine? Louis Tully 41 Posted 23/10/2007 at 16:50:19 Report abuse At last i am free of the useless slags that give fletcher a cure for insomia and you can all go and fuc- sorry, where was I. Yes- the derby was a case of no titles are available or bischoff being his usual belligerent self, but moyes did well considering the foam has since been cleared. But wait! Moyes is not black. Must have been yakubu or yobo who crossed the stream, anyway a job well done after a frightening ordeal. The referee was as much use as a wednesday morning rigger after a brief stop off in apathy land the night before. At least hibbert and neville can console themselves with the fact that the dogs are back to normal and foam is better than stone any day. © ToffeeWeb