Wotton injury - the referee nearly had blood on his hands

[Fitzhugh Fella]

One thing that really disturbed me yesterday was how the referee bottled it when Wotton got almost decapitated seconds before the final whistle. He looked like he had been assaulted by a freight train and went down poleaxed when the Burnley player crashed into him. IMO the ref then bottled it and blew for time rather than deal with what looked to me like gbh. At first, what with the pitch invasion no one bothered with Wotton including the weasel of a ref who was too busy scampering to the safety of the tunnel. It was only the frantic reaction of a Burnley player who waved the physio to come on asap that saved what at the time looked like an unconscious player being in serious danger of swallowing his tongue.

 

Of course things were not helped by the masses of fans now hurtling onto the pitch, some of whom encircled the prostrate Wotton. I really was quite concerned at the time and am relieved he is apparently OK. It really was a cowardly piece of reffing by a man who did his utmost to save his own bacon without worrying about his own responsibilities to the players.

 

Incidentally, although Wotton lacks many things as a player he has given his all recently and in the last 15 minutes yesterday was playing like a man possessed - hence nearly getting his head knocked off. He certainly appears to have leadership qualities, something missing when he has not played.

[saint_ed]

Agreed Ron, he can't pass for toffee but adds something we most certainly lack, that being leadership on the field.

[benjii]

Agreed - I've never seen a ref run that fast in my life.

 

He left his linos trailing (not surprising seeing as they both looked about 65).

 

I thought the decision to blow up at that point was terrible too. Seemed like he just thought "meh, I've had enough of this now, let's blow up".

[OldNick]

One thing that really disturbed me yesterday was how the referee bottled it when Wotton got almost decapitated seconds before the final whistle. He looked like he had been assaulted by a freight train and went down poleaxed when the Burnley player crashed into him. IMO the ref then bottled it and blew for time rather than deal with what looked to me like gbh. At first, what with the pitch invasion no one bothered with Wotton including the weasel of a ref who was too busy scampering to the safety of the tunnel. It was only the frantic reaction of a Burnley player who waved the physio to come on asap that saved what at the time looked like an unconscious player being in serious danger of swallowing his tongue.

 

Of course things were not helped by the masses of fans now hurtling onto the pitch, some of whom encircled the prostrate Wotton. I really was quite concerned at the time and am relieved he is apparently OK. It really was a cowardly piece of reffing by a man who did his utmost to save his own bacon without worrying about his own responsibilities to the players.

 

Incidentally, although Wotton lacks many things as a player he has given his all recently and in the last 15 minutes yesterday was playing like a man possessed - hence nearly getting his head knocked off. He certainly appears to have leadership qualities, something missing when he has not played.

Yep a good assessment Duncan. He didnt know what to do. In a way it mayu be a good thing as it cannot be counted as a pitch invasion by the fans stopping the game. Why fans go onto the pitch to celebrate a relegation lord knows

[Huffton]

I saw the challenge quite clearly and to be fair to the Burnley lad I don't think there was any malice in it, it was just one of those challenges where a head hits somewhere it isn't supposed to and comes off worst. Totally agre about the ref though, to not stop the game immediately was nothing short of criminal, especially seeing as two players were frantically calling the physio on.

Not sure what the refs name is but we've had him numerous times over the last few seasons, he's been awful every time.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

How is Paul by the way? Looked really worrying to me.

[JustMike]

One thing that really disturbed me yesterday was how the referee bottled it when Wotton got almost decapitated seconds before the final whistle. He looked like he had been assaulted by a freight train and went down poleaxed when the Burnley player crashed into him. IMO the ref then bottled it and blew for time rather than deal with what looked to me like gbh. At first, what with the pitch invasion no one bothered with Wotton including the weasel of a ref who was too busy scampering to the safety of the tunnel. It was only the frantic reaction of a Burnley player who waved the physio to come on asap that saved what at the time looked like an unconscious player being in serious danger of swallowing his tongue.

 

Of course things were not helped by the masses of fans now hurtling onto the pitch, some of whom encircled the prostrate Wotton. I really was quite concerned at the time and am relieved he is apparently OK. It really was a cowardly piece of reffing by a man who did his utmost to save his own bacon without worrying about his own responsibilities to the players.

 

Incidentally, although Wotton lacks many things as a player he has given his all recently and in the last 15 minutes yesterday was playing like a man possessed - hence nearly getting his head knocked off. He certainly appears to have leadership qualities, something missing when he has not played.

 

spot on!!

[OldNick]

How is Paul by the way? Looked really worrying to me.

lost his front teeth

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

lost his front teeth

 

Surprised he didn't do a Viafara, just pick them up, give them to someone on the sidelines and carry on!

[T.REX]

It was a farcical end to a farcical game. The referee failed to keep any kind of control over proceedings - at one point he tried to get the burnley wall to move back 10 yards and when they didn't budge, he just gave up and let the free kick be taken. I know its a bit of a cliché now about the respect campaign; but, referees like that must earn respect and he simply didn't.

[the boy from saints]

There was still about a minute to play and I thought we had one last chance to win the game with a free kick. Couldn't understand why it was all over at that point. Couldn't understand the 3 minutes injury time at the end of the 1st half either. A seriously sh*te ref.

[rockhill]

Just incase the ref want to know how he is!

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/article.php?page_id=11712&cp=24

 

 

And a reminder about Using excessive force

 

http://www.ratetheref.net/blog/view/25/letting-things-slip-or-just-getting-careless%21

[Lord Duckhunter]

I set my watch for the injury time and it was about 1 minute short. The Ref was a disgrace, however by running on the pitch our "supporters" have given the FA/Ref's assesor a get out. I'm surprised there was not more of a fuss made about the lack of time. One thing's for sure, he'll not make the Premiership and Old Trafford with time keeping like that.

[new_zealand_saint]

The Referee was Mike Jones, and I belive we had him for the Wolves game where he sent off Jason Euell for a nothing challenge. I agree with the first post that he bottled it, and he has no authority over the game at all. As a qualified referee I felt embarassed after that performance yesterday.

 

If you wish to make a formal complaint about him click on the link below, I know I most definately will be.

 

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/WhoWeAre/ContactUs/ComplaintsProcedure/Player/FARelatedComplaint.aspx

 

hope that helps.

[niceandfriendly]

They put up the 4 minutes of injury time when the clock was on 89minutes 29seconds, they didn't play anywhere near enough added time.

[Saintandy666]

Yer, I was pretty concerned as well. It's not often you see the manager run on like Wotte did.

 

The referee was pure ****e yesterday, I predicted within the first 10 minutes of the match that it would all boil over and it did. He had no authority and didn't stamp his foot down when he should have done to book one of the burnley players earlier on. Utterly useless, and it's only going to get worse as you go down the leagues...

[WestSaint]

There was a bit of confusion at the end and even their goalie was not sure whether the game was over or not. I did not realise it was full time but I did see Wotton had been injured. Almost simultaneously with the injury the pitch was invaded from the Kingsland and the game was never restarted.

[Appy]

The Referee was Mike Jones, and I belive we had him for the Wolves game where he sent off Jason Euell for a nothing challenge. I agree with the first post that he bottled it, and he has no authority over the game at all. As a qualified referee I felt embarassed after that performance yesterday.

 

If you wish to make a formal complaint about him click on the link below, I know I most definately will be.

 

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/WhoWeAre/ContactUs/ComplaintsProcedure/Player/FARelatedComplaint.aspx

 

hope that helps.

 

Lee Mason was the ref for the wolves game.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

There was a bit of confusion at the end and even their goalie was not sure whether the game was over or not. I did not realise it was full time but I did see Wotton had been injured. Almost simultaneously with the injury the pitch was invaded from the Kingsland and the game was never restarted.

 

No the ref blew the whistle for the end before the invasion - of that I am sure. Most of the crowd didn't realise until they saw the bench staff and the players shake hands.

[Tamesaint]

Lee Mason was the ref for the wolves game.

 

The guy yesterday was Mike Jones. According to my lad , he was in charge at the home match v QPR.

[ShirleySaint]

No the ref blew the whistle for the end before the invasion - of that I am sure. Most of the crowd didn't realise until they saw the bench staff and the players shake hands.

 

Agree, I didn't realise the game had ended until I saw one of the Burnley players shake the referees hand. People were gathering along the front of the Kingsland at this stage waiting for the game to end, but nothing happened until people realised that a free-kick was not going to take place. At that point some people started to cross the barriers and it was only after one or two had evaded the stewards that the actual pitch 'invasion' happened.

[ladysaint]

I am pleased Wotton is ok it did look bad and I have never seen a manager run on the pitch so fast to see that he was OK. I never heard the final whistle and was sure we had at least a minute left to play.

[obelisk]

No the ref blew the whistle for the end before the invasion - of that I am sure. Most of the crowd didn't realise until they saw the bench staff and the players shake hands.

That is as I also saw it. I reckoned the ref bottled the chance to award Saints a free kick with at least another minute to play but the pitch invasion happened some moments after he blew for full time.

[Give it to Ron]

One thing that really disturbed me yesterday was how the referee bottled it when Wotton got almost decapitated seconds before the final whistle. He looked like he had been assaulted by a freight train and went down poleaxed when the Burnley player crashed into him. IMO the ref then bottled it and blew for time rather than deal with what looked to me like gbh. At first, what with the pitch invasion no one bothered with Wotton including the weasel of a ref who was too busy scampering to the safety of the tunnel. It was only the frantic reaction of a Burnley player who waved the physio to come on asap that saved what at the time looked like an unconscious player being in serious danger of swallowing his tongue.

 

Of course things were not helped by the masses of fans now hurtling onto the pitch, some of whom encircled the prostrate Wotton. I really was quite concerned at the time and am relieved he is apparently OK. It really was a cowardly piece of reffing by a man who did his utmost to save his own bacon without worrying about his own responsibilities to the players.

 

Incidentally, although Wotton lacks many things as a player he has given his all recently and in the last 15 minutes yesterday was playing like a man possessed - hence nearly getting his head knocked off. He certainly appears to have leadership qualities, something missing when he has not played.

 

Absolutely spot on, I have done a fair bit of refereeing at youth level and I thought he was atrocious although its a tough job and you can never win.

 

After 20 minutes a mate of mine who sits a few feet away shouted to me that he felt the league had almost directed him not to let us win!

One occasion one of our players was kicked up in the air the ref never spoke to him just waved him away. He then booked one of their players for protesting over a free kick.

Its ok to break a leg but not to appeal....it felt like everytime we tackled we got booked then they walked away scot free.

Ok a bit paranoic but when you battling away for survival that how it looked.

Paterson may have been fouled but the swan dive was theatrical and almost as though the ref couldnt wait to give that penalty.

I sit along the 6 yard line and the second goal was offside - the ball played to the far post I looked straight acros as he kicked it and he was a foot offside. It was not a free kick against us anyway as James was fouled earlier in that incident.

No excuses for not winning we had the chances and blew it but the refs first half perfprmance was shocking IMO.

[exeter_saint]

sounds like the ref at exeter yesterday, what a joke he was! he was so scared there was going to be a pitch invasion (why? they hadnt even won..) that by the second blow of his full time whistle he was literally half way down the tunnel! none of the crowd, players or linos quite knew what had happened!

[Saints Mad Si]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/article.php?page_id=11715

 

Looksand sounds bad, out for the forest game not that it really matters!

[benjii]

Get well soon Paul.

[Rocker268]

I hope he gets better soon in the last few home games he has been urging the team on, something we have lacked all season and something we will need next year.

 

It looked like an unlucky challenge nothing unusual, I didnt even hear the final whistle because the ref was off so fast, the coward.

 

I have massive amounts of repect for the Burnley player though who stayed by Wotton calling the physio and holding back the Saints fans to allow the physio and officials room.

 

I think 4-4-2 with Wotton and Gillet in the middle would work well next year so hopefully he will make a quick recovery.

[Bailey]

Looked a nasty one and was very concerned for his well-being, especially with the fans running onto the pitch.

 

Glad that he's going to be OK though, and I can only echo the thoughts of FF.

 

The ref was poor yesterday and I was very disappointed with the way he dealt with the Wotton injury.

 

Yet another committed performance from Wotton and although he's not the best player we have, you can't fault his effort.

 

We could really use his leadership skills next season, and I have no doubt he'll prove to be a decent player for us.

[musesaint]

Relieved that Wotton will apparently be OK

 

But that Ref ...FFS!

 

...every time I've seen him he has been utter sh*ite! ......some of his decisions yesterday were totally ridiculous ...for them as well as us!

 

And the sight of the little weasel scampering for the tunnel as he blew the whistle with a man clearly down and seriously injured sumed up the pathetic little twa*t's performance

[benjii]

I hope he gets better soon in the last few home games he has been urging the team on, something we have lacked all season and something we will need next year.

 

It looked like an unlucky challenge nothing unusual, I didnt even hear the final whistle because the ref was off so fast, the coward.

 

I have massive amounts of repect for the Burnley player though who stayed by Wotton calling the physio and holding back the Saints fans to allow the physio and officials room.

 

I think 4-4-2 with Wotton and Gillet in the middle would work well next year so hopefully he will make a quick recovery.

 

Absolutely - would like to see James get a go aswell in midfield next year. Holmes on the left, McClaggon, Thomson etc. battling for a place... think our midfield could be fairly strong.

[smithy]

lost his front teeth

 

No he didn't.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

No he didn't.

his back teeth?

[The Majestic Channon]

No he didn't.

 

 

No, his teeth were pushed up into his gums.

[benjii]

So maybe he couldn't find them?

[benjii]

Or perhaps his gums were pulled down over his teeth?

[smithy]

his back teeth?

 

 

My mate spoke to him after the game, he was a bit smashed up, a few stitches etc. I didn't speak to him personally, but he did look vey p!ssed off.

 

Most of the other players seemed in good spirits considering they'd just been relegated. JPS was quite friendly.

[Saint Fen]

Get well soon Paul, certain other of our players would never have the bottle to get in where it hurt.

[eelpie]

I set my watch for the injury time and it was about 1 minute short. The Ref was a disgrace, however by running on the pitch our "supporters" have given the FA/Ref's assesor a get out. I'm surprised there was not more of a fuss made about the lack of time. One thing's for sure, he'll not make the Premiership and Old Trafford with time keeping like that.

 

The ref was the poorest I've seen this year, which takes some beating.

 

However, although I agree with yours and others' views on his weak performance, I think he may have inadvertently saved us from further fines. Because if the match had not ended but been stopped by the pitch invasion, might we not have been in very serious trouble with the FL?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

[NickG]

think the invasion would only have happended after whistle

[Saint_Jonny]

 

Jesus..surely if this was any sort of illegal coming together the opposition player should be prosecuted? I didnt see the incident so I cant comment.

[benjii]

 

Jesus..surely if this was any sort of illegal coming together the opposition player should be prosecuted? I didnt see the incident so I cant comment.

 

What, you mean if Clarke Carlyle had wlaked up to him in the street and nutted him? Yes.

 

I can confirm that is not what happened though.

 

Good pic though. Reminds me of Terry Butcher.

[Legod Third Coming]

Absolutely spot on, I have done a fair bit of refereeing at youth level and I thought he was atrocious although its a tough job and you can never win.

 

After 20 minutes a mate of mine who sits a few feet away shouted to me that he felt the league had almost directed him not to let us win!

One occasion one of our players was kicked up in the air the ref never spoke to him just waved him away. He then booked one of their players for protesting over a free kick.

Its ok to break a leg but not to appeal....it felt like everytime we tackled we got booked then they walked away scot free.

Ok a bit paranoic but when you battling away for survival that how it looked.

Paterson may have been fouled but the swan dive was theatrical and almost as though the ref couldnt wait to give that penalty.

I sit along the 6 yard line and the second goal was offside - the ball played to the far post I looked straight acros as he kicked it and he was a foot offside. It was not a free kick against us anyway as James was fouled earlier in that incident.

No excuses for not winning we had the chances and blew it but the refs first half perfprmance was shocking IMO.

 

Precisely what I have just said to my brother. The penalty was a total joke - the player should be Tom Daley's new partner!

[Saint_Jonny]

I meant red carded and or prosecuted by the rozzerz. If your a footy player and you lay someone out cold on the footy pitch, the police will still get involved and do you, you know!

[Saint Charlie]

Wotton is a whole hearted player exactly what we need for L1 combined with some creativity and pace. A good leader.

[Jonnyboy]

Precisely what I have just said to my brother. The penalty was a total joke - the player should be Tom Daley's new partner!

 

Too right, it reminded me of that mcdonalds advert (?) with the most blatant dive ever

[Fitzhugh Fella]

The Guardian has a good write up of the whole incident and a picture. It mentions how the ref left the pitch with great haste leaving a prostrate Wotton on the pitch. Worth a read because it also mentions some other interesting facts like a FA investigation into the missing £40m.

[eelpie]

think the invasion would only have happended after whistle

 

(errror edit)

Edited 27 April, 2009 by eelpie

[eelpie]

think the invasion would only have happended after whistle

 

Before the whistle there were chants of 'On The pitch' from Northern, and crowds were already amassing off the pitch edge in front of the police and stewards. Fans were definitely at the edge when the whistle was (weakly) blown. No-one really knew if the whistle was for the injury or end of match. Supporters circumnavigated the police and came on to the pitch via the Kingsland corner. I could see very clearly. At that time the fans were out of order imo.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Before the whistle there were chants of 'On The pitch' from Northern, and crowds were already amassing off the pitch edge in front of the police and stewards. Fans were definitely on the pitch near the edge when the whistle was (weakly) blown. No-one really knew if the whistle was for the injury or end of match. Supporters circumnavigated the police and came on to the pitch via the Kingsland corner. I could see very clearly. At that time the fans were out of order.

 

Eelpie - the first chants of "on the pitch" only came when the police and their dogs emerged and formed a line in front of the Northam end. Also the pitch invasion did not start until a good 30 seconds after the ref had blown his whistle, mainly because most of the would be pitch invaders did not realise the game had ended. Most assumed it was for the foul on Wotton.