It's something I don't know really, but corruption is in the game, whether or not we like

it, or chose to think our league is better than any other. It's in every league at some level

In terms of officiating, I don't directly think referees take bribes no, because it would be too easy to spot. What I'm saying is referees are protecting their own arses first, then refereeing second

So when your man refs Barnsley Southend on a tuesday night, he's nothing to be worried, he's just watching two sets of lads, earning their crust, it's not on sky, it's not watched all over the world, and largely, it doesn't matter as much as a bigger game

Put your man on Manchester Utd at home against Fulham, and Fulham hold their own for 30mins, and it becomes a massively different story. There's now cameras from around the world on view, 80,000 in the ground, tabloids and media everywhere. There's also mouth piece ferguson who doesn't care what he says

Add all that up, then watch Rio bring the last man down, and what goes through a refs mind. Probably all the above, and what if I'm not right? I'll be on the championship next week, possibly for good, oh s**t, what shall I do, then pulls out the yellow card

In doing that, Ferguson doesn't mouth off at half time, yes fulham are angry, but it's the lesser of two evils, cos what are fulham in terms of the game, influence, and what tremors follow from upsetting fulham? Not many is the answer

Send Ferdinand off, and you've now got Ferguson going mental, all the mafia team round abusing you, a sour ground, mafia players diving everywhere wanting payback for a decision that was justified

In many cases, I understand why a ref bottles it, it's the dominant power of the media and money franchises behind it all that makes it such a disgrace

Posted By: pants, Aug 7, 12:55:56