Now I am convinced that they are out to get us | OneFootball

I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago but decided to delete it, because I felt like a Tin Foil hat wearing conspiracy theorist, I’ve then just checked the officials for Saturday’s Newcastle United match against Sheffield United and I’m absolutely convinced that Richard Masters, the PL and PGMOL are doing everything thing they can to stop us progressing.

The focus of my angst is the vertically challenged, Middlesbrough supporting, accident waiting to happen, Tony Harrington.

Let’s cast our minds back to possibly the most incompetent officiating in modern times.

Remember the penalty against Burton Albion on 5 April 2017, where the referee incredibly forgot the rules. After spotting encroachment when Matt Ritchie slammed home the spot kick, he inexplicably awarded Burton a free kick instead to having the penalty retaken. The fourth official’s job in these instances is to help the referee to prevent this happening, the fourth official that night was Mr Harrington, if memory serves, subsequently all four officials were punished for their incompetence.

Fast forward almost exactly seven years to 22 days ago (this timescale is important and I’ll get to that in a minute), in the 87th minute an aimless cross into the box flies into Dubravka’s gloves, VAR invites the referee to have a look at it as there was some contact between Ashley Young and Paul Dummett. If you look at it closely, Young initiated the contact by linking his right arm through Dummett’s left, he then fell over causing Dummett to fall on top of him, however, the referee decides it was a “clear and obvious” error on his part and awarded a penalty. Anyone like to guess who the referee was… step forward Tony Harrington again. Ten days later, our friendly official is given the Man U v Bournemouth match, for anyone who saw it there was a very unusual penalty shout against a Bournemouth defender when the ball took a deflection, skidded up off the pitch and hit Adam Smith’s arm, a difficult one to assess. Not for this guy, he nearly dislocated his shoulder (seriously, watch it back to see) getting the whistle to his lips to give it, Billy the Kid would have been proud, he was that quick on the draw!!

Later in the same game in the 95th minute an absolutely blatant block by Man U’s Kambwala and he reluctantly gives a penalty, he was then invited to look at the screen by VAR as the initial contact was three inches outside the box, forget the fact that Kambwala still had a hold of him two yards INSIDE the box. Of course, Mr Harrington decides this was “clear and obvious” as an error on his behalf and overturned his decision.

If that was correct, how were Luton awarded a penalty at SJP with Dan Burn grabbed Ogbonna three yards outside the box but he fell a yard inside, the referee on this occasion giving the penalty!!

Just this weekend we’ve had “Atwellgate” with Notts Forest claiming all sorts of things after their match against the scouse mackems, they’ve obviously got a very legitimate grievance as I think at least two, if not all three, were penalties and the last one was a “clear and obvious’ error. As Anthony Taylor clearly signalled Ashley Young got the ball when the camera shows he didn’t, the job of VAR is to allow him to check but Atwell decided not to.

As part of this fall out, a lot was made of how officials are appointed, which brings me back to “little Tony”.

PGMOL clearly stated that they do all they can to stop referees officiating the same teams, with less than a full month between games.

So can someone explain why when this weekend’s officials were announced yesterday, the referee on Saturday 27th April in the Newcastle United v Sheffield United match is one Mr Tony Harrington, only 25 days after his Everton shambles.

Are you telling me that there are no other referees available on Saturday, other than a self confessed lover of Middlesbrough FC who attends their games whenever he can. Surely anyone can see that he is not an impartial arbiter with his track record against us.

Why can’t the club question this appointment, which goes against PGMOL’s own rules as clearly stated on Sunday?