Arsenal fans might take interest in recent events in Turkey, where the entire board of the Turkish Disciplinary Board has resigned following the leak of internal emails concerning former Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho.
As reported in multiple Turkish outlets, the emails referenced critical remarks made by Mourinho about the organisation, which appear to have led to a retaliatory mindset within the board. One message as per Goal, in particular, caused widespread outrage:
“Mourinho is being given too much leeway. If this continues, he’ll pay the price for it next season.”
This revelation has led to accusations of bias, undermined the integrity of the disciplinary process, and ultimately forced the board to step down in disgrace.
A chilling parallel?
While personal views on Mourinho may differ, some may struggle to warm to the man, the broader implications are concerning.
What if a similar situation unfolded in English football? Imagine, for example, if Mikel Arteta continued to vocally question the PGMOL and Premier League officiating standards, only for leaked communications to reveal a premeditated agenda against him.
Of course, many believe such a scenario could never happen in England. Our referees and governing bodies are seen as professional and impartial, the incorruptible stewards of the game.
But the question remains: did Turkish fans, players and clubs once think the same about their own officials?
Fan trust should never be taken for granted
Trust in football’s regulatory structures is critical, but trust is fragile. Scandals like these serve as a reminder that transparency and accountability must be upheld at all levels of the game.
An older Gooner’s lament against greed and cheating in the modern game.
Let us hope the English game never gives fans cause to doubt the integrity of its officials.
But in the modern game, perhaps even that cannot be taken for granted.
Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Ken1945
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I doubt that Arteta has put any criticisms in writing ie emails etc and usually reserves his quite justified complaints to post match comments. PGMOL probably do dislike him, as they did Wenger, but his complaints a quite valid, so what can they do?
I’ll try and find out what the “chosen one” said Jax, but I think it was a few different episodes.
It was the emails that the Turkish Disciplinary members sent out, that caused this uproar and resignations.
We have already seen PL managers being fined and cautioned when criticising officials after a game, so the precedent is already there.
There have been many discussions on JA about the PGMOL and it’s members and the claim has always been there’s no proof of any wrong doing and that’s still the case – but this Turkish case must surely raise concerns about the PGMOL being more open with their members and the fans when decisions that are controversial are made?
Do you know what Jose said Ken?
It seems that, before an upcoming match between Feberbahce and Galatasaray, Mourinho objected to a Turkish referee officiating said game, saying it would be a disaster.
He then accused the Galaatasaray bench of jumping around like monkeys.
Tgus led to him being accused of racism and that, along with other incidents, saw him receive a fine and four match ban.
Some of the other emails sent
out by the Disciplinary board showed them mocking other clubs and their managers.
That’s what I could find out Jax.
Cheers Ken Typical Jose.
The EPL is nothing different from the WWE for me. Sadly, Arsenal’s character has long be penned down as that of a ‘heel’ and they prepare our scripts to match_look at our opening fixtures for the coming season!
What’s the WWE got to do with football?
He means the EPL is like WWE in that winners are already decided and the authority will direct events to favour their chosen winner.
But mate if you truly believe football was scripted would you bother watching it ?
WWE has millions of very much invested spectators even though they know it is as fake as they come.
Even though its not a like for like comparison, in Ferguson’s time, had officials been fair and unbiased/corrupted, Man utd would have fewer titles than which they won.
Difference is mate we told it’s scripted
It’s like Eastenders , we know they are actors
Football would deny being scripted and there is zero evidence it is
So yeah if they came out tomorrow and said it’s all written , there might be some who live that and will still watch
But many won’t
No Dan, your clutching at straws.
No one is saying that football is played by actors.
This is proven, factual evidence that corruption happens in football – you have always asked for evidence and here it is… so you go out on a limb to try and deny it, by bringing in isolated incidents.
A simple question Dan, does the actions of the Turkish Disciplinary Board, Blatter, referees such as Coote and Dean not prove beyond any doubt that corruption exists?
No Ken I was referring to the WWE point
I said , yeah in some nations it was proved that corruption was happening based on ……evidence which is then investigated
But when we talk about English Prem and M Oliver / FA Cup Final
There is zero evidence there is corruption
Ken1945,
With the way some of these players roll around feigning injury, I think that some of them are frustrated actors. 😂🤣👍
And your views on the article?
You’ll never beat Dan’s “pickled referees” though!!
That did tickle me to be fair lol.
Fine article and open minded observations ken1945.
👍
If football fans in England see their officials, both PGMOL and FA as infallible, that’s definitely not the case with international football fans. It would be rediculous of any right thinking person to think that incidents like the Havertz choke, Saka hacking from behind, Maghaeles push from behind resulting in a goal, Rice hacking plus red card, and multiple other incidents were innocent oversight. The whole thing wreaks of a systemic corrupt conspiracy.
Didn’t take long for “conspiracy” to show.
1. VAR should be handled by an independent body, not PGMOL
2. Michael Oliver needs to stop officiating Arsenal games
2 – will not and cannot happen
Already happening
I bet he officiates an Arsenal fixture again
Surely not next season. Even the PGMOL will be wary of a repeat of last season
Of course he will lol
Hasn’t done anything wrong
If you moved an official from taking charge of a team everytime they got a decision wrong we would have no one left
I bet he’ll referee city115 matches Dan, care to bet?
No I agree with you mate
When did I say he wouldn’t ?
By way you never took me up on my bet lol
What bet was that, the one above?
The net spend one
Saying that though I won my last two bets and no one paid up.
Name and shame then!!
I tell you what Dan, how about we forget the nett spend and agree a £20 bet that Mr Kronkie will spend around £200 million before the end of this summer window on new signings?
If anyone thinks there isn’t corruption, just look at the Henderson handball against City in the final and the explanation given for the lack of any punishment.
It’s impossible to be that incompetent, especially with a decision that isn’t subjective, and that can be viewed multiple times from multiple angles.
So the only possible conclusion to be made, is that they didn’t want to spoil a final with a decisive and early red card, so they consciously decided to ignore the rules.
Yet when Arsenal avoided a red card against PSV, that’s okay ?
Yet Clattenburg said the the first foul didn’t warrant a yellow card.
@Dan
Yes I guess so, but I wasn’t taking about that or if there is a conspiracy against Arsenal.
Yet again, you haven’t read what I wrote, and decided to add things to the conversation to somehow create your own narrative. I also find it funny how you clearly like to troll certain people on here, like myself, by disagreeing with anything we say. Even if it is factual and not opinion based, like injuries.
All I am doing is pointing out that there is corruption, and that it can affect any team at any time.
Yeah but why not point it out when it happens in our favour ?
Saying football is corrupt is not factual it’s an opinion
An opinion if you truly believed why would you watch ?
I have many times, using such lines as “we got lucky today” when reviewing a game.
And you’ve just backed up my point of corruption by saying that about Arsenal getting decisions. Thank you for agreeing with me!
Although you then contradict yourself with your very next line “Saying football is corrupt is not factual it’s an opinion”. You’re a bit all over the place, you’re factually wrong, and as always, you misrepresent what I said. Do you work in politics per chance? 🙂
I never said football is corrupt, I said there is corruption (as in there is corruption within the game, not everyone or everything about football is corrupt). That’s not opinion based, that’s fact. If you honestly do not believe there has ever been corruption within the game, then you don’t know footballing history.
Some examples of corruption for you to look up would be FIFA, specifically Sepp Blatter, many match fixing scandals throughout multiple leagues in the world, Rangers, Juventus, Marseille, and many more…
Best for you to apologize, and retract what you said, and leave it before you dig yourself an even bigger hole!
I never said football is corrupt, I said there is corruption ?
Any evidence ?
Because in the nations you named they had evidence which was then investigation
Can you provide evidence officials are corrupt ?
To help you by the way ( did a course in this lol) the whole ….your digging a hole is a classic passive aggressive way of admitting your struggling in the debate
Watch me , notice how I can make points without evene mentioning you lol
Dan, no one is saying the whole of football is corrupt, certainly not in this article.
I specifically pointed out that it was aimed at an individual (Mourinho) which would affect one club Fenerbahce.
As a perfect example, one could say that keeping a match a spectacle in one game, while not doing it in another, benefitted city115 but did the opposite for The Arsenal.
The referee in both games was Mr Oliver and both decisions were defended by his governing body, even though the rule book says nothing about the spectacle of the game!!
Evidence of corruption Dan?
Read the article!!
As far as I can ascertain, no money was involved, which strengthens my opinion that corruption is not just money involvement.
No we have evidence of situations and know officials get decision wrong but we can’t prove it’s because they are corrupt
It’s simply an opinion / theory with zero facts
The facts are in the emails Dan!
They targeted Mourinho and it’s there in black and white!!
I ask again, why did they resign?
Yeah I said mate I was responding to a Lucy 78 comment about Cup Final
Corruption in Turkey does not prove corruption happens in England
I didn’t read the article
Was simply responding to Lucy 78 regarding the FA Cup Final
So once again your responding to an article, in other comments, that you haven’t read!!
Read it mate and you will read corruption at it’s highest level.
Yeah mate
I literally go off comments and respond if I disagree
Why would me reading about Turkey prove to me that there is corruption in England ?
When we spoke earlier In the season I told you that in Italy and Greece dodgy things happen
Difference is there is evidence
I’m simply asking for evidence or facts that there was corruption in the FA Cup Final
Think that’s a reasonable question
But this article, had you read it, was talking about corruption in Turkey and asked the simple question, could it happen in England?
So could it Dan?
Have we got an open and policed PGMOL?
What checks are there in place to prevent any wrong doing, apart from the rule book, which seems to be interpreted to fit the moment, such as assuring or preventing a spectacle?
@Dan
You want evidence, just do a very a simple Google search.
I am not struggling with the debate at all. I called out your spin, and your nonsense. And the fact you’ve asked evidence means you really do know nothing of footballing history, or that you do know, but are playing dumb. Either way it doesn’t look good for you.
Better luck next time!
You did it again lol
Can you prove any evidence that there was corruption in the Cup Final ?
Haha Thirdman being Thirdman ,always asking for an apology .
Give it up it’s embarrassing,4th account now 😂
So why did the Turkish Disciplinary Board resign then Dan?
That’s not an opinion, it’s factual, it happened and yet you seem to be denying it!!
I wouldn’t bother Ken1945, and you can see the trouble I am having with him.
Even with evidence, and like you say, the board resigning (something innocent people wouldn’t do), Dan still manages to spin it into his own set narrative.
I have noticed his tactic is to latch onto certain people on here, and disagree with anything they say, even if it is factual.
Doing it again
Try to make a point without mentioning me
Where are the facts that there are corruption in the FA Cup Final ?
Or in Prem officiating
I won’t reply if you mention me or bring others in it to gang up
Very simple….provide the facts that in the FA Cup Final there was corruption
I understand people have their opinions Lucy78, but Dan seems to be denying actual facts regarding this article.
No Ken you simply confused
If you look I challenged the statement regarding the Cup Final
So to clarify
Italy there has been corruption
Greece corruption
Turkey corruption
I’m simply asking for evidence/ facts of corruption from the FA Cup Final and the Prem
We investigated ourselves, and we found no wrong doing.
Is that good enough?
That’s you not believing them
I want factual evidence that the the officials were corrupt
For example the media had an audio recording of Juventus asking for reffs to be pickled to take charge of their games
This was the investigated
Do you have anything like that?
( The irony being other Gooners claim City are favoured lol )
Name me one institution or company that policed itself and was never found to be corrupted – FIFA and Blatter is a fine example of one that was, finally, caught out.
On a lighter note Dan – Pickled Referees? 😂😂😂
Even Derek couldn’t beat that mate!! 👍
My phone lol
So you actually cannot see anything wrong with organizations investigating themselves? Wow! Child abuse within the church ring any bells of mass corruption and mass harm?
Ok, so I will give you factual evidence of corruption in the FA Cup final. If you have eyes, you know Henderson handled it outside the area. How is that not a foul? It’s literally impossible to miss it on VAR.
The VAR team could only miss it if they were actually blind or corrupt. It’s not subjective, it’s a very easy black and white decision, so it’s simply not possible it can be a mistake. And then read their official statement.
You have to remember that in life, certain things are so obvious, that all you need is eyes and common sense. That is evidence enough.
No mate
The ball was handled outside of the area
The official in that second missed it
Can you prove they did that because he was corrupt ?
Then VAR
Did they view it as not an obvious error ?
Did they view the ball it as going in the other direction ?
Are they not consistent with implementing the technology ?
Does the pressure impact them ?
So while you can have an opinion it’s corrupt it’s your opinion
You have no facts
Your eyes see the decision was wrong but you don’t know if he’s corrupt ?
You must be right then Dan. Please show me in the rules where it says that – Keepers, whether it be accidental or deliberate are allowed to handle the ball outside of their area, without a foul being given.
Cannot wait for your answer on that one. It’s even impossible to spin.
When did I say it was ?
I agree the reff got the decision wrong
But unless there is evidence we don’t know it’s corruption ?
Havertz clearly dived against Man United
How we know that was wrong
But we don’t know if the reff was conspiring to help us do we ?
With respect your asking the same question so last time I’ll ask
Have you got any evidence that there was a corruption in the Cup Final
So s corruption is to deliberately do something for financial or some sort of gain
So don’t repeat what you think
Tell me evidence
Eg , leaked email , a report of money exchange
Forget the ref, they can make mistakes, that’s the whole point of VAR!!!!
It’s not possible to look at a keeper via VAR handling outside his area, and to say it’s no foul. You would be consciously lying.
THATS THE EVIDENCE!!!!!
As to why they made such a corrupt decision, I do not know. The most obvious reason would be to not spoil a cup final, and so early on into the game. Exactly what happened in the World Cup final 2010 when Webb made a conscious decision to not send De Jong off for a blatant red card offense when he kung-fu kicked Alonso high into the chest.
It was the easiest red card ever, yet Webb decided violent conduct was acceptable for some reason.
Ah, Lucy78. I am assuming from your name tag you have been watching football for as long as I have and are therefore old enough and cynical enough to no longer be surprised by just how incompetent people can be!
I actually didn’t think the Henderson handball against City warranted a red card. However, what can’t be explained is why nothing was given at all!? We can all agree it was handball, and can be divided on whether we think it was a red or not but it was surely at least a free kick? VAR has made referees less accountable and by doing so, less competent.
That’s my point Ben. The authorities have publicly said that a keeper deliberately handballing the ball outside his box, and stopping a goal scoring opportunity isn’t even a foul, let alone any card!
It’s not possible to be that incompetent, especially when you have VAR to confirm all that happened.
Lucy78, I’ve looked at the handball by Henderson and the handball by Leno when we played at Wolves. Both incidents happened outside, and to the left of the keepers area. Haaland had a better chance of getting the ball than Traore did at Wolves, as Haaland was much closer to the ball. Yet only one keeper saw Red. So I make you right when you said they didn’t want to spoil the final and ignored the rules.
Disagree
Both feet of Leno are outside the area and he jumps lol
When Henderson handles the ball he’s back in the area so I can see how in a split second a reff misses that
Still doesn’t prove the reff was corrupt
Henderson handled the ball OUTSIDE of the area !
What is a “reff” ?
Who said he didn’t mate ?
But that doesn’t make his corrupt
He could just be bad at his job
If a Chef over cooks your steak you can say he’s a bad cook
But you can’t say he did it on purpose
Trust me , I work in an industry where you might strongly have a picture in your head
But factually proving the intention is different
Can you prove the reff took money ?
Or was told not to show a red card before the game started ?
You believe it’s because they didn’t want to ruin the final
But what you think isn’t evidence
You said he didn’t when you posted, “When Henderson handles the ball he’s back in the area”.
Who said the ref took money, as I certainly didn’t ?
I didn’t have a picture in my mind, I looked at the YouTube of both handballs. You might like to try it.
Yeah I was referencing his feet
My point was I can see why In a split second it’s not clear in real time
( Hence why City players don’t appeal ,)
When Leno whole body is out of the area
Both should be red cards because doesn’t prove corruption
Again you need to prove deliberately the official acted based on personal or financial gain
No one has provided that
VAR took a good look at the handball, and even replays on the telly showed it was clearly handball.
As for his feet being in the area 🤣🤣, that means absolutely nothing, seeing as handball means using your arms or hands to touch the ball.
Mate no one is saying it wasn’t
I keep asking for evidence and you literally keep saying it was a handball lol
I know having his feet in the area doesn’t make it okay – I’m simply saying In real time does the reff not see the hand outside the area because of his feet position
Now where is your evidence of corruption
And don’t say … . .it was a handball lol
The evidence that it was handball was clearly on the TV screen 🙄.
As I posted previously, VAR had a good look. Now if everyone else could see it was handball and a Red Card, how on earth couldn’t couldn’t the VAR officials ?
Please show me where I’ve posted on this subject that there is corruption ?
I won’t be holding my breath for you to show me.
So if you don’t think the official was corrupt you agree with me then lol.
So what’s your actual argument
No one has said it wasn’t a hand ball dude
My argument is the inconsistency with the match day officials. The two handball incidents by the two keepers is just one inconsistency. You then have the two terrible tackles by Kovacic on Odegaard and Rice. Then there is Liverpool’s Robertson grabbing Saka by the neck. No red card, but Xhaka got one for grabbing a Burnley player by the throat.
Those are just a few instances off the top of my head. I dare say still there are many more.
And I never disagreed with that dude
Still I never said you did.
And how did VAR miss it?
Maybe they didn’t think it was obvious error by the reff ?
Maybe they don’t understand the rules ?
No one is saying it’s great lol
But are we saying everytime a decision is wrong it’s corruption?
Can I ask if you believe some officials are corrupt why watch it ?
Well if the officials on VAR didn’t understand the rules they shouldn’t be referees.
And not understanding the rules is corrupting the PGMOL!!
I concur with you Ken.
So you never said there was corruption but concur with Ken who says the PGMOL is being corrupted? Lol
Correct. At last you have managed to comprehend the written word. Well done 👍👏👏
Makes no sense but sure lol.
Maybe not to you still 😁
Dan, the clue is “was” and “is”.
No mate
I’m not going to engage if your not going to make sense
You said you never said anyone was corrupt then you concur there’s corruption
Before we even get to a discussion I’m having to constantly explain to you the most basics
Like 10 times I asked for evidence of corruption and you didn’t understand
Then you said you didn’t say there was corruption
Then you say you concur there was
But if I ask for evidence your saying again you didn’t say there was
So with respect not sure if your doing this in good faith or not but not going to respond unless you provide evidence
‘ As to why they made such a corrupt decision, I do not know
Finally lol
Premier League officiating is terrible and we have seen from the David Coote fiasco they are far behind reproach. These are just people and people are inherently disappointing, so anything is feasible. Moreover, we have seen enough appalling decisions over the last few seasons to suggest there is at least some bias on a personal level. When the very people officiating the game are themselves fans, it is almost impossible for there not to be. That said, we should never attribute to maliciousness what can easily be explained by incompetence.
“Of course, many believe such a scenario could never happen in England. Our referees and governing bodies are seen as professional and impartial, the incorruptible stewards of the game”
Not what I have seen since I started watching the league in 1998/1999 season Ken. I have seen the exact opposite especially in Ferguson’s time.
I dont like Arteta but I cant deny the PGMOL has targeted him due to his criticism and some results were influenced by referees to make him lose points.
Just like they did to Wenger and Rafa Benitez.
I believe the PGMOL corruption in whatever form will be exposed in our lifetime.
HH, my observation about the PGMOL was a tongue in cheek reply, as I do believe the kind of corruption this article highlights has happened, if not by a group, certainly by individuals within our game.. as Lucy78 points out.
Well, it hasn’t taken long for the conspiracy theory against Arsenal to re-surface.
I was talking to a couple of friends last week who are life-long supporters of F C Barcelona. They are absolutely convinced – as much and probably more so than most Arsenal supporters of a similar mindset – that there is a conspiracy against their club by the Spanish league authorities and in favour of their bitter rivals, Real Madrid. According to them, this bias is always there, season after season, and particularly in their “El Clasico” games against RM.
I pointed out that in the 2024-25 season, Barcelona had just won the league, the cup and the super cup (their community shield equivalent), played RM in four “El Clasico’s” and won them all, and had suffered only a single league defeat in 2025 – and that was after they became champions. Although they had no answer (there isn’t one), it didn’t change their opinion one iota. Nothing anyone can say will ever deter a conspiracy theorist.
Bertie, can you explain why the complete board resigned after the emails were produced?
This isn’t a “conspiracy theory” it’s actual fact.
Ken, I wasn’t talking about Jose’s case, I referred to our club, Arsenal, in the opening sentence of my earlier post because of the posts here about Arsenal. I mentioned Barcelona to suggest that no matter what happens some fans will always say there’s a conspiracy against their club, in the case of my friends despite the facts.
You’re absolutely right in saying that in Jose’s case we’re talking about a fact – in this instance, proved by emails. It’s a case of potential wrongdoing being exposed – it happens frequently in different settings.
As far as I know, there are no emails or anything else that’s “solid” evidence in Arsenal’s or in Barcelona’s case either to support such theories. The clearcut evidence in Jose’s case can’t somehow validate conspiracy theories about other clubs. It is what it is about the Turkish Disciplinary Board and Jose.
I agree 100% with your last paragraph – the question raised within the article was, could it happen here in England and, following on from that, have we got the checks in place to be certain it hasn’t – will not happen?
With the PGMOL policing itself, I don’t think we have.
Ken1945,
Your reference to referees being pickled, and me not being able to beat it. I applaud 👏 your superior humour on this occasion. 😂👍
Sometimes not trying to be funny gives one more humour than when one tries to be funny.
Still waiting for your views on the article, apologies if I have missed them.
The source one was quick as well dude lol
It proves I always read your posts thoroughly though Dan… and your articles I should add.
My apologies Dan and Ken1945,
But on looking at the article and the responses, I can’t see where Dan used the pickled Referee’s phrase. I must be having a senior moment. 🤦♂️
Dan’s post at 3.44 pm Derek 😊
Thank you Ken1945,
I finally found it with the help of your goodself.
As for the article itself, well seeing the sheer arrogance of the man (Mourinho), I can quite understand the officials being tempted to put it up him so to speak. That said corruption in any form needs wheedling out, and dealt with in the sternest way.
As for our league being corrupt, I’m a bit on the fence with it to be honest. While I can look at several circumstance’s regarding decisions going against us, and there’s been quite a few. I do also think that other teams supporters would say the same.
Every fan of every team can come up with instances if they look hard enough.
So, I would like to think that there’s no corruption in our game, but when you look at the world in general. And all that the corruption you see, I suppose if true, then if there is corruption in our game, should we be really surprised.
But as I said earlier, I’m a bit on the fence with this subject. I’m now off to the Doctors, to have these splinters removed form my bottom.😂👍
Thanks again for your heads up on the Pickled Referee phrase.
And while I’m at it Dan, sorry for not acknowledging that it was you that came out with that quip. I like to give credit where it’s due. There, I got there in the end.👍
If that happened . . .
The committee would claim the account was hacked, maybe AI, and punish Arteta for bringing the game to disrepute.
Something like that.
And some Arsenal fans will support it.
The manger is mannerless.
**manager**
Regarding the Henderson handball discussion. I think a rule change of: as long as none of the keepers body touches the ground outside of the penalty area it is not handball if he touches the ball with his hand while it’s in the air. In fact I always thought that was rule until following this thread.
This is just an observation, please don’t include me in the argument as I was ignorant of the rule after all these years🤣🤣🤣
That would make it difficult as what if the keeper literally dived through the air and punched the ball away 5 metres outside the box, and then hit the floor while no longer touching the ball? Aside from being tricky to ‘police’ it would also increase the chances of injury as the keeper would need more force to stay off the ground and would therefore be out of control when heading towards another player.
OMG. The conspiracy theories in here are giving me brain cancer right now.
😮😮🤦♂️
A sad turn of phrase from you there Goonster, I’m sure that people with brain Cancer would not wish that on you.
Be frustrated with the conspiracy theorists if you want to, but have some consideration for the people that have what you claim all the conspiracists are giving you right now. 🤷♂️
Derek, bang on the money fella. For Goonster to bring that terrible disease into an article is out of order imo. A friend of mine died of brain cancer and my mate who passed away just before our first leg against Real Madrid died of terminal cancer. I suffer from two forms of cancer, and I wouldn’t wish upon anyone.
Sick HD just sick!
Very sick Ken.
@HD @Derek etc
I have also had cancer tragedies in my own family / relavtives etc. Just teo weeks ago my Aunties husband passes away from a brain tumour (Brain cancer).
My Uncle died of cancer in 1998. My Cousin died of ovarian cancer in 2010, she was pregnant when she found out etc.
But these tragedies have never stopped me from talking about cancer in a satirical manner. Gotta lighten up with life sometimes.
👍
Goonster,
While I understand that gallows humour I believe they call it can help some people through the bad times. You may think that people need to lighten up with life sometimes, that may well be. But for some gallows humour doesn’t work for them.
Anybody who has had any form of Cancer, or know a family member or friend who has, don’t want to read a post making light of such a devastating disease.
As I said earlier, if your gallows humour helps you through your issues, then that’s one thing. But please spare a thought for people who don’t share your gallows humour. All your doing to them is bringing a bad issue into focus in a very unnecessary way.
I’m sure there are other ways of showing your frustrations with out the need of mentioning any type of illness for that matter. 🤷♂️
@Derek
Life is tough and we have got to grow thick skin or it might eat us alive.
This is the internet where we have all kinds of personalities and opinion. If some people are not strong enough mentally where a bit of dark humour makes them fall apart then the internet is not for them. They should stay in their cotton paddled echo chambers. 😊
Life is tough, it can be scary and can hurt ones feeling and emotions, but we can’t let it get to us emotionally if we can stop it.
And I have also lost close family members, relatives, friends etc through HIV (AIDS) going back from the 1990’s.
For example if a player has a poor shot at goal, a bad cross into the box, a poor pass, etc, I usually would say: “ That shot, cross, pass etc was Poverty. Or, That shot, pass, cross etc was AIDS.”.
I’ve never heard anyone getting upset that I am being insensitive to poor people that live in abject poverty, or that I am being insensitive to HIV victims.
😊
Goonster,
Yes life is tough, and yes we have different personalities and opinion. But it’s not a question of if people are not strong enough to take said dark humour. And that they shouldn’t be on the internet.
It’s just basic good human manner’s to respect what other’s may be going through.
And your example of if a player has a bad shot, or cross or pass, to then come out and say things like that was aids, quite frankly is down right rude on any level. Come on, your an intelligent person.
Surely there’s plenty of other words you can use to describe said action in any game. Why do you feel the need to use diseases to describe your frustrations.
It’s really poor form as far as I’m concerned, and to put it bluntly, it puts you in a bad light. I don’t think your a bad person, but I think that some of the language you use is miss guided. Come on, surely your better than that.🤷♂️
Herr Drier,
I’m sorry to hear that you suffer from two forms of Cancer.
Sorry for the loss of your friend and the loss of your mate to.
And I’m not being funny regards the friend and mate thing either, just to clear that up. I don’t want another run in where that’s concerned. 🤦♂️
The word Cancer is frightening in itself, and I to have had and still have family members who have or are suffering from Cancer of some sort. It’s totally indiscriminate as a disease.
And it would help if poster’s considered what they say, before making such statements.
Derek, thank you for your kind words, much appreciated. As for the disagreement we had, it’s in the past and forgotten.
The day after we lost at home to Hull City in ’08 I lost my sister to Leukemia at the age of 56. That’s when I realised there’s more to life than football.
Best wishes to your family members that are suffering with this awful disease. I’ve found that positive thoughts go a long way in facing the battle.
Herr Drier,
Right back at you. 👍
Stay safe dude
Football is a beautiful game but just that a game
Your in my 🙏
@HD
I am sorry to hear that you suffer from Cancer.
I did not mean to be insensitive to the people that are suffering.
And I would like to request the ADMINS on here delet all my commets with regards to my CANCER talk.
Please ADMIN. Can you please delet my comments in this issue?
Thank you. 🙏
Cheers Goonster, I appreciate it.
Also fair play to you for asking the Admins to delete your post concerning cancer 👍👏
Goonster, thank you, much appreciated.
Also fair play to you in wanting the Admins to delete your comments on this issue 👏👍
Goonster,
That’s more like it. 👍👏
So to keep up
All season there was the accusation that big decisions always go against Arsenal
When I said Man City it happens to as well some didn’t believe that
Now though there was apparently was corruption that went against City in the FA Cup Final in a game …..they got a penalty in
Yet fans like Palace say the big clubs are favored lol
So confused
I’m sure your as confused as those fans in Turkey who thought that conspiracy theories were nonsense…. until the Turkish Disciplinary Board had to resign over just such an occurrence Dan.
But this is the UK, we’re whiter than white and let’s just trust the PGMOL to police itself.
That way, we will never be able to find any evidence. Great idea!
Surely action speaks louder than words?!
Just read that the PL var panel have declared that they only got one…. that’s correct… only one decision wrong against The Arsenal!!
Now here are my points – how do we discuss this with the panel?
Why was this decision made behind closed doors?
Who do we hold accountable for such a ludicrous decision?
Of course, while this continues, if there is any issues, we will never be able to find them out will we?
This is what I tried to explain to you
Unless Arsenal bring them any evidence of corruption nothing will come of this
Hence why I said M Oliver will ref an Arsenal game again
It’s not up to The Arsenal to bring corruption Dan, it’s up to the PGMOL to be open and clear about decisions by engaging with the media and fans.
The incident in Turkey would never have come to light, because the club and the manager knew nothing about it.
By the way, I should have said key match incidents.
They have
They said only one mistake was made
You disagreeing doesn’t mean they haven’t
This was my point all season
They are not going to investigate M Oliver for corruption unless there is evidence of corruption
Still missing the point Dan!!
The fact that they say there was only one mistake in key decisions doesn’t mean they were right or wrong.
What it means is they are deciding their peers are accountable to no one where our club is concerned.
How can they say that the tackles on Odegaard and Rice, that went unpunished, were the right decisions for example?
The explanation that Mr Oliver didn’t want to spoil the spectacle is not in the rule book, yet they say it wasn’t a mistake and you accept that decision!!
In the return fixture, he decided to send off Trossard, not bothering about spoiling the spectacle and you accept that!!
Mr Oliver then sent off Skelly against Wolves and that was agreed with the VAR officials.
PGMOL agreed only for it to be overturned by yet another anonymous set of people and you accept that!!
Tell me Dan, how could anyone prove corruption, if it’s being covered up?
I guess I would need to know which key decisions
My own opinion is since I watched football some go for you some don’t
As in Skelley should not have been red carded at Wolves but should have at PSV
I see harsh handballs given against us
I seen Odegarrd get away with a blatant handball
That’s not corruption though
What I would say if we really want this sorted we can’t have players cheating either
Another curve ball Dan, with players cheating, but I agree with you on this… so should we then penalise managers who let them do it and (you’ll like this) fine the owner for letting the manager let them do it!!
Of course I could say to you bring me the evidence that players cheat!! lol🤔😊
At the risk of jumping in to the fire… I think what some may be missing is that evidence isn’t directly required to make an observation. Evidence is what you need to charge someone and take legal action.
Nonetheless… consider this. Al Capone was solely imprisoned for tax evasion. Yet he is legendary as a gangster, known for running rackets and using violence to further his cause. Yet there wasn’t enough evidence to make a legal charge out of it. We still all know what it was about though don’t we.
So to stretch that into football, there have been multiple retired refs who have stated that either refs personally or the body/group, viewed certain people or clubs with distaste, which directly affected their decision-making. For example, Vinnie Jones was always much more likely to get sent off than John Fashanu. Partly due to being a psychopath (bless him) but also because refs knew that he was a psychopath, so in a 50/50 decision they figured he probably meant it.
That’s what we have now. All these ex-refs admitting that bias exists in officiating matches. That means they are not being actually impartial which is a fundamental aspect of their profession. That can be termed corruption.
Finally – just because someone says they think it’s corruption, they do not have to know how certain people benefitted from said corruption. Perhaps it’s a pedantic thing over the word corruption, which may be too strong a term. Perhaps known-bias would be more appropriate?
Ted Drake,
Having read your post, I must say I found myself agreeing with every word. A very good post.👍
Well put Ted Drake.
That’s exactly what seems to have happened in Turkey, as Mourinho was seen as a trouble maker (which he is) who undermines authority (which he does) and was therefore going to be dealt with in a corrupt manner.
Excellent post Ted Drake. Regarding certain players being sent off reminds me of Patrick Vieira being sent off at Chelsea for two yellow cards. The first was for a foul on Zola which was correct imo. The second one was a terrible decision, as both Vieira and Gronkjaer both went in with a foot raised and Gronkjaer kicked Vieira’s studs and went down. For me Vieira’s sending off smacked of his reputation.
No but you need evidence of corruption
That’s like me saying I think the house next door are doing something illegal
But then asked what or what evidence , me saying ……’ well l don’t need to know what it is , I just think so ‘
I remember that Chelsea game by the way
Viera shouldn’t have got sent off
Wiltord should have got a red though
I think it was RHS who said last season, when Mr Oliver was given the Wolves Arsenal match words to the effect “expect a red card given to us then.”
Now why would a perfectly reasonable and sensible poster think like that and be proved absolutely correct?
I seen people say that and he wrong lol.
Again we don’t talk about the time we benefit from bad officiating
No real answer then Dan, just the normal swerve.
Why not do an article on all the bad decisions we benefitted from and we can discuss them?
But I ask again, in the hope you might actually answer the question – how are we going to uncover corruption (if there is any) while the powers that be regulate themselves, penalise anyone who questions their decisions and refuse to even name those who make up committees?
Please Dan, just answer the question!!
I am answering the question
You just don’t like the answer
If you have evidence that those in power are corrupt you take legal action and go to court
Like in Italy and Spain
Governments got involved
But you need evidence
I think me and you have different ideas of corruption
If Arsenal get a penalty at Old Trafford and you think it wasn’t a pen , that’s not corruption
It’s an official making a mistake
Corruption is is that official deliberately doing something for his own gain
No one has ever given me evidence
I noticed a pattern on here
If you don’t hear what you want it’s a serve lol
You said he predicted the official would make a bad call , how did he know that ?
Simple , if an Arsenal fan goes into every game saying there is an agenda against Arsenal , eventually they will find something to support that claim.
That’s why I point out the many times Arsenal benefit from poor calls
Dan, it’s the first time I ever saw a poster say that and his prediction turned out to be correct – it was the only decision that this panel of unidentified people said was the wrong decision…. after VAR and PGMOL said it was the right decision!
At no other time have I seen anyone predicting such an incident before a game and your theory that every Arsenal fan looks for an agenda is absolute poppycock.
So we now have fans with an agenda, players who cheat, managers who let them and, yet, no answer to how we are able to uncover corruption (if indeed there is any) while powers that be continue to work behind a screen of self policing and self judgement?
I ask yet again, how can we trust a organisation that won’t converse with the people who pay their salaries?
Unless you have evidence of corruption why does it matter ?
Didn’t say every Arsenal fan but some Arsenal fans are terrible
Can I ask you a question
If you think the sport is corrupt , why watch it ?
Dan, there was no evidence of corruption in Turkey until the emails surfaced!!
I’ll answer your questions, whenn you stop beating around the bush and answer my question :
How are we able to prove, one way or the other, if their is corruption such as in Turkey, Italy and FIFA itself, if the establishment works behind closed doors and why do they choose to do so?
I’ll answer both of your questions head on, once I get an actual answer to that question Ive asked three times.
No mate I have no answer because I have never thought or cared about the establishment working behind closed doors because I have seen nothing that makes me think there is corruption
Your entitled mate
Why do they need to do it in public just because you think they are corrupt with zero evidence
That’s like me saying to the police , I want all investigations reported to me because I think your corrupt
Then your asked for evidence and you say……because I do
Or I want to sit in on any Dr appointment because I think it’s corrupt
Evidence sir ?
Because i do lol
So no I have not got an answer for you because it doesn’t bother me
Exactly and when the emails happened …..people acted because they had …. evidence
If I woke up tomorrow and there was an audio of the Prem telling officials to stick it to Arsenal and the Prem investigated themselves then I’m with you
But lets call a spade a spade
Arsenal fail all the time
You don’t want to admit we are not good enough so it’s easier to blame officials
In reality , officials have been making errors for years.
Dan, this has nothing to do with The Arsenal failing, nothing at all – just another curved ball you’ve inserted into the discussion.
Let’s just clear up the other little gem you introduced – Liverpool were better than us last season and city115 were better than us the previous two seasons, as the table never lies.
In reality, referees didn’t have VAR years ago and yet, even with this, they are still making mistakes.
Now, let’s get back to the point of the article and your first post above :
You have no idea why the establishment work behind closed doors, because you don’t care and have seen nothing suspicious anyway – yet here we are, having witnessed FIFA, EUFA, the ITALIAN, TURKISH and RUSSIAN fa’s all being found to have corruption at the highest levels.
Now, as a proud UK resident, I would love to think that we are above all that kind of sleaze and corruption and the only way to prove that we are squeeky clean, is to open the doors of our private and exclusive members only FA, PL and PGMOL club and show the world we are the country to be measured against…….. but, sadly, that isn’t happening.
We were promised by Howard Webb that there would be more transparency with the media, clubs and fans, but that’s not the case is it?
We don’t know who makes up the appeals committee for instance and neither are officials required to explain key decisions, rather these are covered by these mysterious group of, what three, five, seven ex referees, ex players, ex managers, ex owners – while no one is held responsible!!
As a person who, by choice, spends an awful lot of money watching and supporting my club, I don’t feel “entitled” to know what is going on, but I certainly think I should be able to know who is making decisions and why.
What is the problem with naming such people if they’re doing such a good job?
There would be no need to sit in at any meeting, if the findings and the reasons why decisions were made and by whom, were published and made public.
For instance, wouldn’t it be sensible for Mr Oliver to sit down during, for instance MOTD, and explain why he decided to treat one game between two clubs as too good a spectacle not to follow the rule book, yet choose to go the other way when deciding to ruin the spectacle?
Now I know you don’t care, but I’m absolutely certain there are millions of football fans who would love to know the answer.
While such decisions are cloaked in secrecy, the thought that there was more to it than just a mistake, will plant the seeds of corruption… at least it has in this 79 year old man.
I am pleased to see how this article has got fans questioning the status quo and, as much as I dislike Mourinho, I have to say, without the attempted assassination of him as a manager / coach would have succeeded without anyone knowing and because they didn’t care.
Those emails weren’t supposed to be for public reading, it was a mistake that brought out the corruption of a committee who didn’t care either.
I’ll answer the questions you asked me in another post Dan.
Mate I’m going to be honest
I stopped at
Dan, this has nothing to do with The Arsenal failing, nothing at all – just another curved ball you’ve inserted into the discussion.
It’s disingenuous to keep saying I’m intentionally doing anything just because I don’t agree with you and I assume it will just be more then that
I’m not the person to have this debate about
I don’t believe there’s corruption in English Football
You should respect my opinion and not ask a hundred questions in different ways till you get an answer you want
It’s a bit controlling to be honest
If you have the evidence of corruption report it
I think it’s immature and it’s really a topic I don’t care enough about and we are not going to change each other’s mind mate
We don’t win think because we are not good enough
Things not think
Yet you keep asking me questions Dan, two of which I’ve gone into great detail in answering below!!
I do respect your opinion, hence there’s no name calling or personal attacks and, as it’s the same in reverse, I assume you respect my opinion?
I’m sorry if you think I’m trying to control you, that’s way off beam and not intended at all.
Good to debate once again and I hope I’ve fully answered your questions – if not, feel free to come back.
Dan.
Question One – if you have no evidence of corruption, why does it matter?
Question Two – If you think the sport is corrupt why watch it?
1. We have evidence of corruption from the very highest level and by the very highest Individual – FIFA and Sepp Blatter. EUFA and the hod carrier from France (who’s name escapes me at the moment) – Italy – Turkey – Russia – both by clubs, individual players and officials.
That’s why it matters to me that, in my country, we need to have the ways and means to be sure we’re not as corrupt and sleaze ridden as they are.
2. The Arsenal have always represented, to me, a beacon of how a football club should be run, how it represents everything good in the game and something to be proud of.
This can be summed up perfectly by a man who, in my opinion, is one of the best players ever ever to represent our club Dennis Bergkamp :
“When you start supporting a football club, you don’t support it because of the trophies, or a player, or it’s history.
You support it because you found yourself somewhere there, found a place where you belong.”
A perfect summing up and I’m not going to let the likes of FIFA, Blatter or anyone else, take that away.
Hope that answers your questions Dan and I also hope your correct in your view that there is no corruption in our game here in the UK – on to the next debate, unless you think I haven’t answered your questions head on?!
The EPL is a show and PGMOL write the most gripping scripts_ UEFA, FIFA, LA LIGA, SERIE A still trying to figure the secret. All that money, glamour and talent without theatre? Tv revenues will not be what they are but whats bad about a system that lines or FILLS the pockets of players, managers, pundits… Fans? O well they get to cheer, grumble, laugh or cry cos thats what you get from great theatre. People dont watch WWE mainly for the fights but the storylines_ The epl ALWAYS delivers in this regard thanks to PGMOL.
I maintain if you thought football was scripted you wouldn’t watch it
Here in Nigeria, we all know and generally acknowledge the fact cos we’re masters of that game right (joke) but hey once you get hooked, you can’t get enough right but i know its going to crash at some point. Check what the EPL contributes to your GDP and maybe you’d appreciate the good work of PGMOL and your FA. I think i’d be proud of such a legit, lucrative and unrivalled export “commodity”.
When all is said and done, Arsenal always keep acting in tandem with their poor management. People are planning to set you on fire, do you go bathe yourself in fuel? but i dream of seeing an Antonio Conte kind of manager at this club by chance someday. Someone who would go ALL OUT to rip up the scripts. As for Arteta… Lets keep watching. The show goes on.