Balotelli has been inappropriately described as a ‘match winner,’ ignoring the simplicity of the task that befell him (fall when fouled and then convert a penalty). But he should not have been on the pitch after a kicking Scott Parker in the head during the game.
The Tottenham boss, Harry Redknapp, remarked afterwards in his usual contrite way that he doesn’t try and get players sent off but that, basically, Balotelli should definitely have walked. He was right.
That he didn’t adds to a sense of frustration for Tottenham fans that they were robbed at the weekend. Having seen City score one of the most fortuitous goals you are likely to see – Joleon Lescott falling on the ball and carrying it into the net with him, Tottenham already felt aggrieved. Then when Jermain Defoe narrowly failed to connect with Gareth Bale’s cross and make it 3-2 late on, they must have felt the gods were against them. Clearly they were, as Balotelli’s stamp had already been missed.
Balotelli of course went unpunished by the same referee who decided that a karate chop from Nigel de Jong on Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final was not a punishable offence. That Howard Webb continues to referee at the highest level is baffling – this represents a serious flaw with his judgment.
But Webb aside, that Balotelli was still on the pitch when Ledley King mysteriously decided to foul him in injury time, and then to score the penalty, was a clear injustice.
Today, Man City are eight points clear of Tottenham. An incorrect refereeing decision has had much to do with that, and Spurs title challenge is suddenly all the harder. That a title charge can be affected by such refereeing error is surely wrong in this day and age. The time has come to give managers the chance, as tennis players do, to challenge the referee’s decisions. Such elements of luck, though a ‘part of the game,’ are intolerable.
The phrase “you need the rub of the green” is one of those stupid meaningless football clichés which goes around. Of course you need the luck, but that you should is wrong. Contrary to the views of some (Tony Pulis), referees are not biased against any particular team, but they are fallible, and do make errors. Those errors are arbitrary and random, and can affect football games and seasons in too manifestly important a way. Last year Arsenal’s title challenge began to end after a 4-4 draw with Newcastle, a draw only made possible by a ludicrous sending off and two penalties given to the home team for offences which no-one was able to see afterwards.
Also crucially, bringing luck into the equation means you are more likely to get a team who don’t deserve to win the league doing so. Luck does that – it is random, therefore can favour anyone. Taking luck out of the game can only be a good thing for the integrity of the sport – it ensures the best teams will win, as they deserve to. On Sunday, that would have meant Tottenham getting a point or three, not Man City.
This year, the other North London side have seen a title challenge seriously dented through no fault of their own. That the destination of the league title continues to be so influenced by men not playing for any of the teams involved in the race for the championship is ludicrous, and it has to stop.
