Manchester United News 24/7Writer: Zae 
Date:Sunday April 19 2009
Time: 9:39PM
UK time is: 22:27:48
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So Much For The Riley Myth
Well, Rafa Benitez certainly achieved one thing: Premiership referees are now afraid to make the right calls in Manchester United games because they will be accused of bias.
Before the FA Cup semi-final versus Everton, David Moyes took up the mantle, accusing Riley of favouritism towards United. Well, he's perceived to be a great benefactor of us for giving lots of perfectly legitimate penalties for United...
And what happened in the game? Danny Welbeck was clearly fouled inside the area by Phil Jagielka in the second half yet Riley who was in an excellent position waved play on. He also forgot to send of Marouane Fellaini who punched Rio Ferdinand in the face and committed several fouls and complained and protested.
Will that be enough to stop Rafa and his fellow ABUs ranting about referee's favouritism towards United? Unlikely.
We'll write more of the game later - congratulations Everton by the way, I'll probably support them in the final.
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Your Comments
looking at the stats (the telegraph did a nice peice on them), he had given less decisions against united than everton in the past. Personally however, i would attribute that mostly to everton just being a more physical team than united (as was clear from the game) - and so was as expected really. as i said elsewhere on this site, I don;t think it was a penalty anyway - but even if it had been, it wouldn't be "enough" for rafa/moyes etc. A large part of football these days is about mind games before the matches, and "sir" alex is in no position to complain about them...
pompeycarpet
looking at the stats (the telegraph did a nice peice on them), he had given less decisions against united than everton in the past. Personally however, i would attribute that mostly to everton just being a more physical team than united (as was clear from the game) - and so was as expected really. as i said elsewhere on this site, I don;t think it was a penalty anyway - but even if it had been, it wouldn't be "enough" for rafa/moyes etc. A large part of football these days is about mind games before the matches, and "sir" alex is in no position to complain about them...
pompeycarpet
I think Moyes was very clever to draw attention to Riley as it could easily have been a penalty, a very harsh one at that!
toffeetower
I think Moyes was very clever to draw attention to Riley as it could easily have been a penalty, a very harsh one at that!
toffeetower
oh, and also, I doubt very much riley paid any attention to the pre-match build up. personally, if I were refereeing a big game like this, I would stay clear of listing to what managers say, and just not listen/read anything about the game... I would expect no less from a premiership referee, or any referee in such a big game
pompeycarpet
oh, and also, I doubt very much riley paid any attention to the pre-match build up. personally, if I were refereeing a big game like this, I would stay clear of listing to what managers say, and just not listen/read anything about the game... I would expect no less from a premiership referee, or any referee in such a big game
pompeycarpet
^I think they do that in the world cup...
pompeycarpet
^I think they do that in the world cup...
pompeycarpet
Moyes did not question Riley's integrity at all, a journalist asked him a question about Riley (who has given United something like 15 penalties in his career?) and Moyes answered indirectly. He didn't bring it up, it was bought before him.
Little Dutch
Moyes did not question Riley's integrity at all, a journalist asked him a question about Riley (who has given United something like 15 penalties in his career?) and Moyes answered indirectly. He didn't bring it up, it was bought before him.
Little Dutch
Oh and this site is really cringe worthy to read with the pathetic whingeing, a tiny, tiny bit of objectivity would not go amiss just once in a while. If you think Fellaini "punched Ferdinand in the face" then I invite you for a Friday night out in my native Lewisham. Stick around a pub down here long enough and chances are you'll see at least one bloke take a proper punch to the face and not an inncouous and accidental open palm to the chin. Grow up man.
Little Dutch
Oh and this site is really cringe worthy to read with the pathetic whingeing, a tiny, tiny bit of objectivity would not go amiss just once in a while. If you think Fellaini "punched Ferdinand in the face" then I invite you for a Friday night out in my native Lewisham. Stick around a pub down here long enough and chances are you'll see at least one bloke take a proper punch to the face and not an inncouous and accidental open palm to the chin. Grow up man.
Little Dutch
Hahaha...now I've heard it all. MUFC fans complaining of the referee. Be careful, u might end up with the same reputation as Arsene Wenger, who "doesn't see" any of the situations he benefits from, but all the others. I look forward to this weeks match, cause there is really a history of favorising referees. Ronaldo diving at WHL, Mendes scoring but the ball did not touch the net, extra time to extra time etc. etc.
NorwaYid
Hahaha...now I've heard it all. MUFC fans complaining of the referee. Be careful, u might end up with the same reputation as Arsene Wenger, who "doesn't see" any of the situations he benefits from, but all the others. I look forward to this weeks match, cause there is really a history of favorising referees. Ronaldo diving at WHL, Mendes scoring but the ball did not touch the net, extra time to extra time etc. etc.
NorwaYid
Definitely supporting Everton in the final - I have a soft spot for them (don't know why just do) anyway, and it would be good to see a non-top four win it again. (Also i don't really want chelsea to win it - sorry!)
Man utd champions
Definitely supporting Everton in the final - I have a soft spot for them (don't know why just do) anyway, and it would be good to see a non-top four win it again. (Also i don't really want chelsea to win it - sorry!)
Man utd champions
agree with you champions....i want liverpool and chelsea to end with nothing this year and the year after that an the one after that.......
ibrahiy
agree with you champions....i want liverpool and chelsea to end with nothing this year and the year after that an the one after that.......
ibrahiy
lol LUFC fans complaining about the refrees? WOnders will never cease! They are their 12th man on field, after all!
JT_daniel
lol LUFC fans complaining about the refrees? WOnders will never cease! They are their 12th man on field, after all!
JT_daniel
we are not complaining about refs as much as pointing out that us getting favors from a ref is just a myth....
but of course i would acknowledge that refs would give the big sides more calls, they would give the experienced players the call over the young teenagers...or if they know of a players reputation.....what i am saying is the refs don't have an agenda but these things happen in football....we gotta accept it and stop making these stupid claims that the refs favor united more than any of the other top 4
ibrahiy
we are not complaining about refs as much as pointing out that us getting favors from a ref is just a myth....
but of course i would acknowledge that refs would give the big sides more calls, they would give the experienced players the call over the young teenagers...or if they know of a players reputation.....what i am saying is the refs don't have an agenda but these things happen in football....we gotta accept it and stop making these stupid claims that the refs favor united more than any of the other top 4
ibrahiy
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