After the Newcastle game, it was all very odd the way that Sky pundits went out of their way to defend English referees and the PGMOL.
Gary Neville accused Arsenal of ‘undermining the whole refereeing community’, whilst his best mate Jamie Carragher was a little bet less clickbaity, but still backed the officials.
Love Island star Gemma Owen’s father, and now Sky pundit, Michael Owen also had his say:
‘The only (in his words) ‘embarrassing’ and ‘disgraceful’ thing about it was Arteta’s behaviour. A common occurrence that damages the game more than any incorrect decision.
‘For his club to now release a statement moaning about the standard of officiating is poor and sadly for a team of Arsenals standing, totally classless.’
It felt like at the time that there was a bit of an Arsenal pile-on from Sky pundits, and many sctratched their head as to why they came out so aggressively in favour of the officials, refusing to acknowledge that the PGMOL need to improve officiating in this country. And we can now expose why.
Yesterday afternoon, the Premier League announced that they will make the audio piblic for the Newcastle goal decision. It would be exclusively released…..you guessed it! Sky!
The VAR audio will be played and analysed on Sky’s Match Officials Mic’d Up – a monthly programme hosted by PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb. And co-hosting the show? Michael Owen.
So we have Sky getting an exclusive from the PGMOL (of which they will earn advertising revenue on) and PGMOL chief Howard Webb talking exclusively to Sky on the decision.
Don’t kick a gift horse in the mouth is what comes to mind.
For those not up to date on their old-English proverbs, this basically means that you you should not criticize a gift, even if you don’t like it very much.
I am sure Carragher and Neville has the same distain for officials as pundits as they had as players, and actually agree with Arsenal that refereeing standards in this country need to improve. But whilst the PGMOL give Sky exclusive access to their decision making process, and their chief ref, they will toe the company line.
They will not want to criticise the PGMOL, as that could result in Sky taking away their new toy, and giving the exclusive access to TNT or the BBC.
As for Michael Owen, he is a horrendous commentator and has now been given the Match Officials Mic’d Up show. It is clear that his agenda is driven by his need to keep his job following his gambling issues.
Howard Webb is afforded the easiest of rides by wooden Michael Owen on Match Officials Mic’d Up… the former England star is avoids the tough questions.
That was just one review of the shows first episode back in October. It is all just a farce.
We are now in a situation where the PGMOL go on TV to say “look, we are giving more access”, but they have also clearly informed Sky that if the grilling or criticisim is too much, they will cut the access.
It is no wonder that fans are leaving Sky in their droves and seeking alternative ways to watch their football and absorb post-game analysis. It is all just driven by generating high advertising revenue using ‘shock comments’ that go viral rather than actually providing good analysis.
I am lucky. I go home and away for most of the games so am immune to what Neville, Carragher et al have to say the majority of the time. But Newcastle I had to sit their BS. For Chelsea v Manchester City last Sunday, I simply switched over (the the Blacklist) at the final whistle.
I am all for listing to experts. But their view needs not to be driven by an agenda.
It is clear and obvious that Sky’s protection of referee’s, and OTT criticism of Arsenal, is due to their cozy relationshiop with Howard Webb and the PGMOL.
UTA.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
You can expect more of the ‘ stitch up’ tonight.Everything will be very,very carefully edited.In point of fact you’re unlikely to see the camera angle of the ball completely out,which many websites have.You WILL see one of it being almost out but not quite.That’s a guarantee.Also expect Webbo to say the PGMOL 3 decisions were “ interpretations “ as no clear & obvious incidents.lol really?
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Spot on. The way in which the pundits immediately parroted each other and used almost the EXACT same patter was just laughable. I`m actually over the whole farce, think it might even benefit us moving forward because the players will know they`ve been cheated and it could lead to us to developing a siege mentality.
I`ll say this though, you ask a hundred people who haven`t seen the game, show them the two clearest angles available to VAR and ask them whether that ball was in or out. I guarantee that at least 95 of them would say it was out and the other 5 will have serious problems with their eyesight. Same thing with the foul on Big Gabi, you ask a hundred people whether that`s a foul in the modern game and 70-80 will say it is. But as you say, Webb will hide behind “interpretations” and the “no clear & obvious” bollocks. Not even worth watching.
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On the other hand, Michael Owen works for TNT when he is on TV, and tonight’s programme is also on TNT, and they’ve scheduled it before Sky show it.
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This is especially pertinent when Keith Hackett confirmed knowledge of at least 2 people getting phone calls to toe the line and quieten the criticism of the match officials.
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