If Hughes had pulled the players off the pitch…

[MattyRangers]

If a manager took a team off because a player was racially abused, would he be a laughing stock ?

Nope and rightly so. I dont see how a player beign racially abused can be compared to a ref giving a 50/50 decision wrong?

One is fundamentaly wrong and a predetermined act of discrimination, whereas the other is the viewing of a real time scenario wrongly. Hardly comparative.

[paulmason]

Its the principal of taking players off the field, not the reason why.

[QPRDave]

Not absolutely positive on this but think when women were throwing themselves under horses, they weren't topless as well
Bearing in mind women showing their ankles were complete sluts i think if they had gone topless the ruling classes would have had a eppy

[MattyRangers]

Its the principal of taking players off the field, not the reason why.

Fair enough, can see your angle and agree to a certain extent, just my own personal views on reasons for players to be dragged off differs from yours

[Kirill]

Its the principal of taking players off the field, not the reason why.

What would that principle be based on if the reasons are not open to debate?

[paulmason]

Matty, nothing changes if you don't force it and the way these incompetent refs ruin games needs changing and it will take something like a team being withdrawn, to get the ball rolling. If England did not appear for the 2nd half in the last world cup, i think we would have goal line technology now, but as they did, we haven't and we won't for a long time.

[paulmason]

What would that principle be based on if the reasons are not open to debate?

Ask Matty, he is the one who said it would be pathetic, not me.

[cross it Dave]

We would not be a laughing stock, the vast majority of the other 91 clubs are as sick of the football authorities in this country as we are.

We have had a bellyfull of bad decisions this season, and all the FA do is stick their fingers in the ears and sing la la la.

Yesterday our game was refereed by an individual who had a vested interest in seing us lose, having such strong ties with Bolton Wanders, who at the FA sanctioned his appointment, it was either corupt or complete incompetence by them.

Clubs like Queens Park Rangers are completely irrelevant to the FA, but we pay their wages

The FA and FiFA, who are more corrupt, its anyones guess.

[brightonr]

Matty, nothing changes if you don't force it and the way these incompetent refs ruin games needs changing and it will take something like a team being withdrawn, to get the ball rolling. If England did not appear for the 2nd half in the last world cup, i think we would have goal line technology now, but as they did, we haven't and we won't for a long time.

100% agree Paul. Just as if Uncle Neil (formerly of this parish) had taken the Palace team off when Stuart Attwell was behaving like Stuart Attwell a few years ago, Clint Hills goal against Bolton would have stood.

Thing is Matty, it's been going on for years. Remember Roy Carroll for United (surprise surprise) against Spurs? Nobody ever complained or acted anywhere near strongly enough, which is precisely why all these years later, the exact same things keep happening.

Slightly off the point I know, but wasn't Danny Murphys tackle tonight just superb. Sadly, Mark (look at me) Clattenburg was in the vicinty and it resulted in a penalty and a goal that should never have been.

[MattyRangers]

Hmm, the more I think about it I spose youre arguement does make sense.

I was really looking more at the "here and now" short sighted side of things; ie if players were pulled off we would look like a bunch of quitters and, IMO, would be become a laughing stock (may not be the case, just how I picture it panning out if ever happened). But then looking at the bigger picture, thinking of the examples you 2 (Brighton & Paul) have said, I spose it is true in that if we just poodle along, have a little whinge about the decision in question then do nothing, will things ever change?

Obviously it'd be alot better if such changes were made without the need for such measures as pulling players off pitch, but thinking about it, maybe that is what it would take for anything to be done.

You may be in the process of changing my opinion on this matter lads....

[QPRDave]

Look bottom line is the big 4/5 run this league, the reason the big money is paid is because they play in it, this not my view but the view of the FA imo.We play in the FA premier league, and they also look after the refs.If we upstarts and others try to do this type of thing the big 4/5 will threaten to set up a breakaway European superleague, and then all the money will dry up, this is what the FA fear, and don't forget the big boys would then cherry pick any clubs left and our FA would be left with no money or clubs.
Now i could be wrong but that's my take on it, there's nothing we can do except put up with it.

[stainrodisalegend]

Not sure decisions have got any worse tbh. Just think there are a lot more replays, media chatter and message board comment. But given that there is so much more attention, and so much more riding on these decisions, it makes the use of technology essential. I actually think having big decisions referred upstairs wd add to the entertainment and drama, as it has in test cricket.

[brightonr]

I can understand your point of view too Matty and you are right in as much as we would get slaughtered by the politically correct, limp wristed sandal wearers.

But then, upon realising that in fact we were making a stand for the good of the game as opposed to throwing toys out of prams, our actions would attract a lot of support and sympathy and things would be looked at rather sharpish.

Problem is, where do we stop, because of course it would open up a whole new range of reasons to take action over. Personally, I'm all for banning the likes of Ashley Young and Andy Carroll for a year in order to set precedents and stop this blatant cheating that is ruining the game.

[stainrodisalegend]

Love the idea that the Suffragettes went topless and even more the comparison between a dodgy ref decision in a football match in Manchester and the battle for freedom in Africa. Where is our Mandela to start our revolution?