Comments on: Polish fans blame Howard Webb for Euro 08 exit

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:04:12 +0000

And comments have to be closed again…thanks everyone…

By: Woody

Woody — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:19:47 +0000

I actually think the decision was correct. The player was brought down by a player who had hold of his shirt. If the defender is stupid enough to grab a players shirt while in the area, then it is likely to happen. If the defender concentrates on his job and doesn’t grab his shirt we wouldn’t be having this discusion. Well done Howard Webb

By: Jak

Jak — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:01:13 +0000

Mental note to self: never visit Poland. Obviously a country with extreme anger and self-control issues.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:38:30 +0000

UFEA just make a statement in which fully support british referee saying that is right to blow wistle when someone pulling shirt in consequence knockin over opponent. In my opinion it was look like the opponent was tired and decide to lay down.

By: Max Zeger

Max Zeger — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:17:19 +0000

Howard Webb got the right call, and you have all have too much bias to see it. When you stop play to explicitly tell someone to stop grabbing and pushing or i’ll call a foul. If they continue to do it, then you call the foul. This is not rocket science. Additionally, you can’t make a different call because of the time of the game. If that same play happens in the 20th minute instead of the 90th+, he’s going to make the call both ways. You polish fans are grasping at straws. I knew you had no chance of advancing out of the group when you got thrashed at home by USA. I’m a USA fan, but Poland is a lot worse than us, and they deserve to be out of the Euro’s

By: luke

luke — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:40:50 +0000

It’s a shame that polish fail to admit that they played an awful football last night. Poland neither deserved to win or advance to the next round.

Also, the fact that 90% of polish refs take bribes and that most of the football clubs in Poland are corrupted doesn’t mean that it is such a common practice outside of the polish borders.

I’m polish and it’s scary that our supporters don’t see how bad we play and try to blame decent people for their loss.

I’ve read our president’s (Lech Kaczynski) comment in polish paper today he is also blaming the ref. It’s so typical for Poland.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:22:27 +0000

Firstly, that Polish goal was offside by AT LEAST a foot. Why aren’t Poles sending death threats to the referee about that? Because it was to their advantage. They wanted and needed that goal, because they were absolutely outplayed the first half. Maybe the referee called the penalty to make the Austrians happy after that first terrible call. I think it was a borderline penalty. But still. Why not help the Austrians when you made a terrible call to their disadvantage before, especially when it might be truly a penalty?

By: Andrew Price

Andrew Price — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:58:29 +0000

Blimey, there are some real no brainers adding comments to this particular thread.
As a referee ( & colleague) of Howard, the thought of him failing to referee teams equally is completely farsicle! He has referee’d football since 1989 (19 years) at all levels of the game. Why on Earth would he not referee the match in a fair manner? Bribes? BE REAL!!! He loves the game – thats why he does it, same as the rest of us! Why would he have is integrity jeopardised at the biggest Football event of the year. Moving onto the two main points of the match (the goals)At first viewing (& also after the slow mo shown 3 million times on TV) the Poland player looks on side, so how does the asst give decision in his heart of hearts hasn’t seen an offence committed? Then, the penalty. How stupid are footballers. Howard tells whatever the blonde haired idiot is called to stop pushing his opponent. Then, when the free kick comes in, Captain brainless centreback decides to swap shirts with the Austrian forward.! The most blatant penalty you’re likely to see this tournament! I don’t mind people expressing thier points, but engage your brain first!!!

By: Marco Pantanella

Marco Pantanella — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:32:56 +0000

Ditto Duncan.

The Polish defender made a really stupid decision in my opinion. Sure, there’s plenty of tugging, shirt pulling, and pushing on set pieces and corner-kicks in general, but on this one the ball’s trajectory, Webb, and the Polish defender were all in a straight line. It was really tough for the referee to miss the (pretty obvious) shirt pull.

Rather unlucky for Poland, although I don’t find it surprising to see conspiracy theorists jump all over this one. After all, Austria are one of the host countries.

By: Duncan

Duncan — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:48:58 +0000

Just to add my agreement. It was a penalty, and Webb called it. Polish fans are looking for a scapegoat when they should blame the defender for giving away a soft penalty at a crucial moment. We know that shirt-tugging goes on the whole time, but do it right in front of the ref and what do you expect…