“Barcelona are protected. When you play against them you realise that they are a very powerful club,” Luis said. “You realise the fear when Barcelona could get knocked out. It would hurt Uefa a lot. I don’t know what they have to do for someone to send one of them off.”
It is an interesting statement in many ways. One because it gives a rationale for why Barceolna might get special treatment, without, of course, giving any proof of it. The other because it contrasts so mightily with the way the Premier League is covered in the media in the UK. And I don’t have to go searching for examples. Just this morning we have, “Leicester cast as freedom fighters against Premier League era’s iniquities” as the headline in the Guardian over an article by Paul Wilson.
The Telegraph did a bit of digging in this issue – in the way that it and the rest of the UK press would never do if a Premier League club was involved. It found that only two Barcelona players have been sent off in all competitions this season and both for foul language. Interestingly when Gerard Pique was “dismissed for yelling in the face of an assistant referee” in the Spanish Super Cup second leg against Athletic Bilbao back in mid-August, Barcelona went on to lose the cup round 5-1 on aggregate.
Javier Mascherano was sent off for shouting a rather rude commentary about the female members of the family of the assistant referee in their 3-1 home win. La Liga top dog Javier Tebas defended the midfielder saying the commentary was “not a terrible insult”. In the interim 12 players were sent off in nine matches playing against Barcelona.
Barcelona and Real Mad have only had 53 and 54 yellow cards respectively in 31 games – half the level of Granada. “Even in European competition they have seen more red cards handed out to their opponents (30) than any other team with Bayern Munich next with only 20 red cards issued to opposition,” the Telegraph tells us helpfully.
It continued, “Lionel Messi undertook a “brutal and rugby like tackle to wipe out Real defender Pepe…. Messi walked away without even a cosy chat from the ref.” Something those of us who watch Arsenal know a fair amount about.
But an article like this about English teams? No. Instead we have Leicester as freedom fighters! While the English media will chat about dubious doings regarding refs in Spain, they won’t entertain the subject in England.
That raises the question, should they? Why investigate something that isn’t there? one might ask. And this is the key point of my little piece today.
The reason that we do goes back to Einstein. He’s oft quoted both by commentators here and elsewhere as saying the definition of madness is doing something, getting it wrong and doing it over and over again. He didn’t say that, nor anything like that. But instead he did give us the notion of the “thought experiment” and a very powerful notion it has turned out to be.
A thought experiment involves a scientist looking at a situation and asking questions such as, “is what I am seeing actually real, or just a phantom of my imagination?” and “if it is real, what could be the cause?” and finally, “OK, how can I prove this is real and that is the cause?” That’s what I want to try and do with the issue of whether there is bias in Premier League refereeing.
Now that first question (“is what I am seeing real?”) is often very troublesome in science as often it deals with things we can’t really see – such as what goes on inside people’s minds, what happens in the depths of space, what happens inside the nucleus of an atom…
So when people have written to Untold before telling us that if we don’t have recordings of a man from one club telling a ref that the holiday home in Italy is at his family’s disposal this summer if he does the right thing, we have no case, I disagree. My question is different – it is “is referee bias on a large scale possible?” and that question takes us back to Calciopoli the Italian match fixing scandal that was revealed in 2006 but which had been going on for years. In that scandal not only were referees being bought, but so were TV companies so that their coverage of a match didn’t reveal the way in which decisions were being manipulated.
Thus we know that match fixing can happen on a very large scale and be covered up for years. But Calciopoli also revealed that the old notion of match fixing – the type that was seen in England in 1915 when Man U and Liverpool players agreed to fix a result so that Chelsea would be relegated – had been replaced by something quite different. Something in which referees could be bribed to affect the result of games involving the near-rivals of a team, rather than of the team doing the fixing.
So if Chelsea, for example, were worried that Arsenal might be a rival in the coming season, and if they were prone to match fixing, they might bribe refs to “do what they could” to see Arsenal got draws instead of wins, defeats instead of draws. It is a subtle approach because if Arsenal were playing Palace and took a three goal lead early on, the ref would clearly not bother to help the club in that game, and thus would appear to be refereeing in a totally above board manner. But if Southampton v Arsenal were 0-0 the ref might ignore all sorts of fouls by Southampton players to help unnerve Arsenal and give Southampton a chance of a draw, in order to help one of the other teams near the top of the table. We’ve called this Type III Match Fixing.
Our little thought experiment and knowledge of history reveals that such an approach has happened elsewhere – but this is not to say it does happen in England. However our thought experiment would also suggest that given this the knowledge that it could happen and had happened in Italy, matters should be put in place at once to ensure it never happens here.
One way to do this would be to have lots of referees so that no referee got a team more than twice during a season (thus limiting the effect of any bent ref). We might also set up an organisation to monitor and employ referees which was separate from the clubs, and which was utterly open and transparent in all its dealings, publishing detailed accounts of the referees performances, which could be checked against video records. What students of political systems call “checks and balances”.
We know of course that we don’t get any of this – we have a tiny number of refs, the same refs doing the same teams over and over, discrepancies between the number of errors we observe each week and the number the referees’ association sees, and an utterly secret society running the Premier League’s refereeing rather than an utterly open organisation.
Thus we have unexplained issues: the small number of refs, the secrecy, the discrepancies, the difference between the PL refereeing system and the systems in top leagues in the rest of the world since Calciopoli – and (and this will be the subject of a separate article) the issue of why the media won’t take up the issue.
In science this is the starting point of investigation. Some people are left handed, but most are right handed. Why? Observation of supernovae show us that the universe is expanding at an ever faster rate. Why?
Such questions don’t prove anything. They are just questions, and we never know what the answers are and where they will lead us until we ask the questions and start poking around. Scientists could (and indeed did) say “the universe can’t be expanding at an ever faster rate, it doesn’t make sense” and add new made up factors to remove the anomaly, but mostly they push and prod to explain rather than assume.
In football however, few people want to do this.
There are of course multiple reasons for strange results, and for odd sequences in football. Chance must be part of it, so must randomness, in addition to skill A fraction of difference to the way a ball is kicked by a player with only a fraction of a second to decide what to do can turn a goal into a ball hitting the post. The goal could elate the player, the miss deflate the player and affect the player’s performance.
Injuries must play a part, so must psychology – the player missing the goal might be deflated, but could also be ever more determined. Skill is self-evidently a major factor, as is the ability of a manager to motivate, spot young up and coming players etc.
But because there is no investigation into refereeing, no openness, no academic analyses in the way that clubs now analyse potential recruits through their teams of video scouts, we don’t know.
And this is the first major point. It is such an obvious factor that if there were to be something wrong with some referees, Type III match fixing would be easy to implement, that there ought to be constant monitoring and openness. And the fact that we have the exact opposite is a cause for nervousness.
One is left asking why? Why, with an industry that turns over muti-billions of pounds in England alone, is a question such as this not investigated at all?
To pull my points together, it is not the evidence of wrong-doing that should mean that we put in place the normal safeguards that we see in other leagues – openness of refereeing actions, video checks of referee performance (not just video refs), large numbers of refs so each club only gets each ref twice and never more, geographic balance of refs etc – it is the fact that football is important in British society and in the British economy.
What is wholly suspicious is that there is no such openness and no such checking, and the question now becomes: why is there no openness in the action of refereeing in the Premier League. We live in a society that endlessly cries out for more openness. We welcome the Panama Papers so we can investigate what our leaders are doing. We point the finger at China for not fully revealing the details, and at Russia for just brushing the revelations off as Putin Phobia. We want corruption investigated – especially if all that means is a little more openness.
For goodness sake, most of us don’t trust our political leaders and the journalists that report on them. So why on earth should we trust the leaders of an utterly secret society that runs refereeing, and the journalists who (when it relates to England) won’t comment on them?
The fact is that knowing that Premier League football is all above board and there is no referee fixing is so important, it should not need any evidence of wrong doing to have checks and balances in place. But there is evidence in Calciopoli. We know corruption on an industrial scale is possible.
So why is it just Untold, and a couple of other sites fighting this battle?
I’ll answer that, and look at the implications in a later article. If you have been, thanks for reading.
—————–
Untold Arsenal has published five books on Arsenal – all are available as paperback and three are now available on Kindle. The books are
- The Arsenal Yankee by Danny Karbassiyoon with a foreword by Arsene Wenger.
- Arsenal: the long sleep 1953 – 1970; a view from the terrace. By John Sowman with an introduction by Bob Wilson.
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football. By Tony Attwood, Andy Kelly and Mark Andrews.
- Making the Arsenal: a novel by Tony Attwood.
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal by Mark Andrews.
You can find details of all five on our new Arsenal Books page
By coincidence Graham poll has criticised Premier League refereeing standards (todays Mail), and although he doesn’t suggest corruption, he does say to the effect that Riley is to blame for the way he “shuffles his pack”. Not completely damning but worth a read.
The answer is simply that the money is rolling in & nobody cares why or how it is earned as long as it flows.
The media are more corrupt than ever as we have seen in the hacking cases. The resolution was to close one paper & allow the organisation to carry on rolling the money in.
The football side of sport is a monopoly that transcends all legal framework currently because this allows for laundering of everything including income. There is no reporting structure nor is there any responsibility for corrupt action.
Until Parliament acts on the legality of the FA monopoly, as ruled by the Gods of corrupt FIFA, nothing will change.
As we know in life many things are corrupt and bad and 99% of people know this but don’t do anything about it. A few people actually stand up to try to expose or change things. The refereering situation in English Football especially in the Premier league, a subject that has got under Tony’s skin, is one. Tony it seems is a man shouting in a crowd of many but not getting heard.
The reason simply is, this is an Arsenal fan site and a supporter of Wenger and all things Arsenal. Now no matter how well something is written and how much evidence backs up the opinion, being on a site for one team that backs a manager isn’t going to be read or taken seriously except for a few. There are many people who hate Arsenal so automatically hate this site, in fact there are actual Arsenal fans who hate Wenger so hate this site. Before I read anything, it looks from the outside like conspiracies and everything is against the team.
The solution is that the corruption and refereeing problems need to be seperated from here. A new website that can open people’s eyes and start to put pressuree on the FA and other associations. No links or ties with Arsenal and thus getting a bigger audience and people prepared to listen to what Tony has to say. Still be people disagreeing but at least it’s nothing to do with Arsenal or Wenger.
“A website called Untold Arsenal is trying to expose us for corruption”
“It’s an Arsenal fan site, they just peeved that they haven’t won the title for over 10 years.”
“Your right, no one will listen.”
Something to think about
Tony has written a very good article here. Well done, Tony.
I however must say that I agree with Luvyourclub that Arsenal fans (especially the Wenger Ins) will agree 100% with Tony. The Arsenal-haters and Wenger Outs will just say this article “excuses, excuses, excuses.”
I love Arsenal and I believe what Tony has written makes lots of sense.
I think running a campaign on referee-bias and incompetence outside of an Arsenal-biased blog or website is necessary so that it attracts attention of a wider fan-base (and not just pro-Wenger Arsenal fans).
I will support such a site that highlights the irregularities of referees, that suggests improvements on referee standards, and that proves that bad referee decisions do NOT even out over the season (as some teams are habitually favoured and others are habitually disadvantaged by bad or biased referees).
Tilted Systems
I don’t think that we should fall into thinking that what is happening in the EPL is unique. Tony points out (here and elsewhere on Untold), that the officiating system used in the EPL is at odds with much of top level football worldwide. I don’t believe it is at odds with top level sports world wide. I suspect the possibility for warped officiating systems exists in other sports systems: the Olympics, tennis, gridiron, ice hockey and others.
The possibility of public disobedience is one reason why these systems need to be opened up. The public is expecting these systems to be fair and when they are not fair; problems can result. Property damage and injuries will be among the result.
I seen another tilted system recently at Ars Technica; predicting the weather. Panasonic apparently now has a weather prediction system that does better than the European climate centre, which makes it best in class. The European model has been better than the USA model for quite a while, as has the Panasonic model.
The Panasonic model in part gets its advantage from better data; it has good sensors in places where the data is exceptionally valuable – aircraft. And it is increasing how many aircraft have these improved sensors. Panasonic does give value back to the public, by running its models with the public data. Possibly augmented with some of this better data. But Panasonic also runs its models with all the data, and sells the results to the highest bidders. So that financial people can play the futures markets more effectively to make profits. I think this tilting will expand in the future. Aircraft will start to maximize “soundings data” (takeoff/approach) by going to higher elevations than necessary. Flight plans will deviate more from geodesics. All paid for by better abilities to play the financial markets.
FIFA has had its nose in tilted markets for a long time. How else do you get an ethics committee member who works in a field which can facilitate legal or illegal means of hiding assets or cash flows? It is entirely possible he did nothing wrong, and we should assume that this is true. But how was the decision made that he was a good person to put on an ethics committee?
Failure to have a level playing field in professional sports has to have financial implications, and the people with the information will make money on it. Another game and Aston Villa may officially be relegated. But soon, it may be possible to say that (for example) Norwich will avoid relegation. And the powers controlling the EPL will decide, this year’s experiment with Leicester was wonderful. Let’s let Norwich run with the system next year. They won’t give the title to Norwich, but they will tilt it that way. I suspect they will institute a couple of tilts, or maybe 3, and see how things play out. Tilts that aren’t working, will be abandoned so as to not provide much statistical evidence of their presence.
Its clear many on this site have a problem with the refs generally and in relation to Arsenal specifically. I dont know whether this is true or not and have an open mind about it. I can more easily get my head round the notion that refs are a problem generally but have trouble with the anti Arsenal bias notion. Quite simply I cant see what the purpose would be of an anti Arsenal bias. I could get my head around the notion if it were Barca but fail to see what would be the point of officials singling out Arsenal. The answer to the question of refereeing competence could be solved by the increased use of technology and having a second referee like American football. The game is so fast now and the players so adept at cheating that having another pair of eyes might reduce the number of game changing clangers that happen week in week out.
Bard, indeed the increased use of technology would help, as long as everyone (not just the ref) could see the technology.
In terms of how Type III match fixing ran in Italy, Juventus were asking friendly refs and assistants to be biased against their immediate top four rivals when they had the chance. So they were looking for more decisions against Milan, Inter and any of the regular top four other than themselves. In the end the situation got very confusing because those other top four teams also started indulging in the same process.
Luvyourclub – I agree with you, and would be delighted if you could set up the sort of site you say.
I predicted west Ham would be slowed down to ensure that it gives greater chance to the sleeping giants to acquire top four. a late weird penalty at Chelsea and now of recent a dubious red card rescinded after the game. the new predictable upcoming tactic is play both Arsenal and West Ham to a draw because someone has a difficult game and besides Leicester will be given every chance to get by unlucky Sunderland. the AAA will be baying for our blood. Dean, Atkinson, new love pawson, and Taylor will referee at least 2/4 among those games
bard
“The answer to the question of refereeing competence could be solved by the increased use of technology”
Next season in the FA cup and maybe the League Cup also. Watch out for it.
It’s worthwhile to look at some of the biggest scandals from recent years and see how they came to light.
Panama papers join Snowden and Wikileaks as the work of whistleblowers.
The newscorp revelations and expenses scandal were the work of journalists.
Fifa was an FBI probe although at least one good investigative journalist had been covering the material for years. The subprime mortgage crisis and whole mess of the financial crash is something I can’t remember the details of at this point. Safe to say it involved endless regulatory failure.
Those are the options,really- whistleblower, journalist, powerful external body. Companies and organisations pretty much never ever reveal their own serious wrongdoings. The BBC almost did it with Saville, but then didn’t.
I suppose you could say any person or organisation capable of serious wrong doing is extremely unlikely to be good enough to come clean at any point and will fight till the end to protect themselves.
The problem we have here is that there’s no FBI or similar who is ever likely to take an interest in little ole PGMOL, it’s very hard to imagine any of our journalists ever getting the idea to investigate them (the few good ones are occupied with more serious targets), and a tiny, secretive group massively limits the chance of anyone talking from within.
If, and it’s still a big if, there’s any actual corruption, only a few need to be in on it; the rest could be accomplished by pulling on levers of power and manipulating people to act in a certain way.
I know what I’ve seen over the years is undoubtedly wrong but think it may stop just a millimetre or two short of outright corruption : power, self-interest, human weakness, bias, unspoken agreements, unpleasant ruthless characters might just be able to accomplish the same thing.
I don’t know if all Untold readers have seen this, but last week the premier league ran a great article on the official site:
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/apr/010416-colin-trainor-on-arsenal-expected-goals.html
It’s by a football stats analyst who uses the expected goals model to show just how improbable it is that Arsenal is not top of the league based on our performances. Since there have been pleas on this site for proper analysis in mainstream media, I think that the premier league should be commended for publishing the reality while other outlets have used our poor results for their ‘Wenger out’ propaganda.
The article also speaks of how Leicester have been getting results that defied their poor underlying numbers and many analysts have been baffled by this as they expect Leicester to revert to the norm, but the one-nil wins keep coming. I suppose it’s because the statistics don’t account for defenders being able to constantly handle the ball in the box, stopping likely goals and avoiding punishment. Plus not having penalties called against them while they seem to be able to get penalties called for them at will.
The premier league has given us the statistical analysis which alone has enough to create suspicion about results. Based on our own observations and articles on here it is clear that most of us believe some refs have been influencing results and investigation is greatly needed.
So many are asking for an indipendent site that has no links to Arsenal and exposes the “potential” bent practices in our league should look no further then
http://footballisfixed.blogspot.co.uk/
This blog has been going on for years and providing information on how and why these things are bias not just against Arsenal but also for example this season Chelsea, United and City no name just a few of the usual big hitters and tilted in favour of other teams.
I suggest reading through the current stuff and the Archives, there is also a twitter feed that you can follow if you are into that sort of thing.
People always say ‘but why Arsenal? They don’t care about Arsenal’. 1. Wenger has spoken out against doping in football and endorses blood testing as opposed to urine testing because it is quicker and way more accurate. 2. Arsenal under Wenger have been seen as a threat (stupidly so) to the big brands of the Premier League and Champions League because the club believes in promoting youth as opposed to hyperbolic brand-boosting signings every year. They would rather have as many ‘big names’ as possible playing in live televised games rather than teams like Dortmund and Arsenal who seem to be more football purists than corporate puppets.
I realise that our club is huge now and plays its own part in corporate football, but teams like United Barcelona Madrid Munich are the guys they really want to see in all the finals and title run-ins.
FIF is certainly a very interesting, if slightly disturbing read.
Read on there recently how Andrew Jennings…a long term thorn in Blatters side has said that apart from Panorama and the Sunday Times, the British media have done precious little to take on Blatter, FIFA, corruption despite all the evidence, and the fact that England were on the losing end of all this.. I even read that the BBC initially wanted to leave FIFA well alone after being threatened over licences to broadcast a World Cup, though of course they did in the end go ahead with the Panorama program.
So, if there is corruption, a complicit….or cowardly media certainly helps. Our media clearly favour certain teams, leave the refs alone….and can certainly be silenced.
So the media stay quiet, as mentioned, we get nothing out of the PGMOL, the clubs that are benefiting, or maybe have…or know they will benefit arent going to say anything. It seems Arsenal as a club dont want to rock the vote. The WOB wont have it there is anything wrong with the refs, perhaps in their mind, this lets Wenger off the hook, or maybe they see what some of us see…the refs giving Arsenal…and Wenger a hard time…of course Arsenal under Wenger doing well is not on the agenda of the WOB so the refs….and media may be helping their cause
So, not many to stand up and expose this,though I still believe the scenario of a foreign journalist working with a disgruntled whistleblower will one day surprise us all.
On the Barca refereeing, quite shocking. It was almost like watching Leicester, the decisions they were getting
The Leicester thing I just see as something that will eventually clean up English football in a big way. I’ve never seen so many ears pricked by the potential of doping/ref corruption in football.
I mean, Vardy’s had his wrist (whole forearm actually) bandaged the whole fucking season. Even my skeptical mates are laughing at it.
Tilted 2
How might tilt have been implemented this year?
I think a decision was made that Leicester be allowed certain liberties on the playing field, and that they should be given enhanced odds of obtaining penalties. Another possibility, is that the governing body would either not investigate, or would deliberately botch investigations involving drugs with Leicester. I do not think that Leicester would have been told this, but this would be a way to tilt the system in their favour.
The idea of enhanced odds on penalties is one that can make money. If you were a bookie, and you knew that Leicester would have one or more players in the Top-N scoring before the season even started, could you have made money on this?
Let’s not think Norwich. Let’s think another N team. Do you think there are any people in sport, anywhere in the world, who could not make a lot of money if they knew today that the odds of Newcastle winning the EPL next year was not something like 1 in 20, but more like 1 in 4?
Is this how TV networks can afford to pay 5 billion for EPL TV rights? That this year was a demonstration project?
Tony
Keep up the good work! The only way this will change is constant pressure and voices speaking out!
Gord,
Interesting point the networks using betting to supplement income so they can afford the broadcast rights.
Leicester is owned by King Power a Thai company. That is a connection that ought to be investigated as the Thai are big gamblers on EPL games and there are plenty of them that would like to change the odds.
thierryhenry22
Seems the healing is a bit behind schedule
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/467193/Leicester-Jamie-Vardy-pain-barrier-broken-wrist
Honestly, though, think that is probably a red herring. I’ve half a memory of Ljungberg playing for an age with a cast on his wrist. Before that, I have an even weaker memory of a housemate and Southampton fan at uni joking about Benali wearing a cast for years on end.
If someone were to tell me that certain doping causes breaks not to heal I might feel differently, but until then I’m not sure the cast is suspicious.
And, if FIF is correct, Peter Lim….of Valencia, Gary Neville and Salford FC fame also has an illegal…and secret 20% stake in Leicester.
Have not read this anywhere else BTW.
Anthony Taylor refereeing Sunderland Leicester….Mike Dean looking after Spurs…against Utd this weekend.
The wrist bandage – well there are several ways of administering…..
Read somewhere that the odds of Leicester winning the league were 5000-1 in Aug, so assuming someone put a few quid on them doing it then they’re in line for a bumper pay day.
@Tony
Maybe people don’t like to answer questions closely related to them?
Think about it. The British media, if I recall well, started with anti-Putin headlines after Panama Papers had leaked. Fingers were pointed at his relatives, friends, best man etc. Cameron’s father, however… Well, you get my point.
That’s why England won’t have a Calciopoli. It would be a nail in the coffin of their moral superiority over more successful countries. “Yes, Italians have won four World Cups but at least we don’t do match-fixing.”
Then again, remember how Sir Chips Keswick reacted to the question about 3 million pounds paid to Stan Kroenke’s company?
Surprisingly, quite a few people did.
I hear some even bet £20 or more. (They probably were in the know).
The doping issue is a whole other can of worms. There will be a ton of stuff coming out from Spain if they get access to all those test results that have been hidden. All kinds of sportsmen and women are implicated. Is doping rife in football again I have no idea but it wouldnt surprise me. With so much money floating around and the enormous physical demands of the game its a risk worth taking especially if you are also a half wit. I cant believe there is any organised doping at Arsenal. Wenger’s been consistent in his condemnation of it throughout his career.
“That’s why England won’t have a Calciopoli. It would be a nail in the coffin of their moral superiority over more successful countries”
I am not so sure the UK is, or should be claiming moral superiority any more,such activity has proven costly on many levels in recent years, but,I do know what you mean when it comes to matters of corruption….it cant happen here and all that…
Theres that, and also the fact, should such a scandal occur, it would cost owners, investors, journalists, pundits,agents, bookies, and all the hangers on an absolute fortune as the value of the English game plummets. Thats why I cannot understand the fact some…yes you Mike Riley…are not even subtle about certain things. Whether such things are bias , or corruption can be debated, but both could cause irreparable damage.
I would imagine Arsenal know exactly what is going on, and thats why a previously vocal figure like Wenger is told from above to keep quiet….if there was such a scandal in England, the value of the big clubs, including those innocent of any scandal would probably half…or worse overnight. The Kroenkes, Glaziers, Petroboys and Liverpools lot would not like that.
The Guardian and Channel 4, both took up the tale of Ian Cameron’s will. This was in 2012, with the probate of a £2.74 million, with David Cameron being left £300,000.
Blairmore Holdings was registered with the HMCE, and their Board meetings were also held at Close Trustees in Switzerland.
It is legitimate to ask, where did the £300,000 originated from?
As for Sir Chips Keswick, Arsenal Holdings plc is an affiliate of KSE. Stan the main man is owner and chairman, with Jim Martin and Bruce Glazer, the superiors, to whom the Arsenal Board report to.
Jim Martin (Chief Executive) and Bruce Glazer (Chief Financial Officer), expect to be paid for their input! He who pays the piper, calls the tune.
Nobody mentions the Arsenal 4-0 up and ends Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4?
The BT insider’s are said to have put bets on at 5000/1 at the start on te season on Leicester winning the league MR Linekar among them. I also wrote on this site that there was talk on a 20% stake bought secretly of Leicester shares which seems very odd indeed as it was not reported to the proper authorities at the time. Questions need to be asked and answered about how this whole season has spanned out and not just for Arsenal but for the whole of English football. I’ve a feeling that those questions will be asked sooner rather than later with a decent honest open journalist (there are still a few) who will break this wide open not just for the sport but for the people who spend their hard earned money supporting their team and who expect the field to be even and not tilted in any teams favour. The supporters of all clubs deserve the truth and I hope that we all get it.
@Notoverthehill
First thing that Guardian had published was connection with Putin-related people.
Keswick’s answer was indefinite. I think that Arsenal supporters had the right to know why Arsenal paid money to Kroenke’s company for “variety of services”.
If we take your idea that Kroenke has exclusive right on Arsenal and merge it with the theory about Arsenal being accomplices in keeping the status quo, that suggests Kroenke’s responsibility should not be overlooked.
I find it interesting that there are no effective collective bargaining rights for the players beyond what has been won in the European courts.
I find it appalling that the FA is so uninterested in improving refereeing standards in England. It is a complete abdication of responsibility.
@Tony,
Excellent article and keep up the great work, one day everything will come to light hopefully!
@Rich,
In regards to doping and injuries, it depends on the type of PEDs used. Anabolic steroids may lead to more nagging injuries, fractures, and poor healing afterwards. HGH on the other hand will help recovery times.
For all that did not read or see Linda´s response please read. Linda you seem to have some truthful words their about the odds on Leicester winning. Glad to know people are seeing the truth for what it is.
@linda keep searching for the truth you are on to something
@Mandy FIF does at times make for a disturbing read but, I would rather no the truth then live a lie
Dont disagree there Truth.
Correction *Know, typing in the dark
Truth will be revealed
I won’t stop till it all comes out. Other’s are now knocking on the door wanting to know just what has been going on and it’s gathering momentum. If Arsenal don’t win the EPL we want it to be because the are beaten by a better team and not an assisted one, as do other supporters of the EPL teams.
Linda
What will you not stop doing till it all comes out??
And i take it that you mean that it is leicester that are the assisted team,how stupid will you look if spurs finish above us as well?
John true except that would lose a lot of people a lot of money
John, Spurs will NOT finish above us. Stop being paranoid and start believing. Remember, sometimes the more you look the less you see… The more you look at the league table and follow the fear of the unknown, the less likely it will be to you that Arsenal will finish above them. Not that it is that important though. I just want to point out that seeing doom for this team at every rough patch never works. This team has come good and will again. They may not necessarily win the league this season, but I don’t think that is because they are as crappy (manager and all) as many would have us all believe.