Sadly, quite a few times this season, the fate of our beautiful game has been decided by ‘contentious’ referring decisions. Epic clashes, classic rival matches born of blood and sweat have lived quite up to expectation, until a sickening moment has defined the rest of the match, ensuring the fans and analysts forge the classic displays, the inspirational performances and the sumptuous display of courage and team spirit, as the referee’s decisions have left such a bad after taste in the mouth of spectators, that the delicious meal is forgotten

Please get me right here, I am not taking a swipe at referees nor am I baying for their blood, like some rowdy quarters in the footballing fraternity. I am doing quite the opposite actually, quite the contrary. I am mourning the loss of potential thrillers. I am despairing at the memory we will carry of the games which could have very well given us more to remember. I am disgruntled with the stellar performances we will forget, inadvertently choosing to dwell on the ‘shocking turn of events’

Manchester United and Liverpool was a classic, the expectations – huge, emotions- sky high, the occasion- momentous and magnanimous: the coincidence of that being the first match after the verdict of the inquiry on the Hillsborough disaster. It began well, Ryan Giggs and Sir Bobby Charlton with a respectable gesture toward the Kop faithful, “we will walk with you”. The racism row- put to bed, as Suarez shook Evra’s hand. Everything was set and the energy was unparalleled.

The first half lived up to its billing. Tense, and energetic, Liverpool played with a purpose, much unlike the unmotivated and never achieving bunch that they are *no offense*. They came out of the blocks a different team. United were, well, they were the United as we have become so used to seeing, ‘lack-lustre’ and casual.

That aside, it was a good game. I don’t doubt Shelvey’s red card was due (arguable- I know, but I’m convinced there is no place for that kind of medieval tackle in the modern game anymore), he was pumped up, the occasion got the better of him, he threw in quite a couple of rash tackles, back talked the referee and gestured his arms when warned.

He did too much, and the scissor action in his tackle, coupled with the force he used was enough to warrant dangerous play, and use of excessive force. He was given his marching orders. Still with ten men, Liverpool took the lead, deservedly, Gerrard, scoring and dedicating his goal to his departed cousin. United responded well, Rafael curled in a wonderfully finessed shot, which mimics, perhaps betters the stunners in EA Games’ FIFA 13.

The game was box to box, well fought, until Valencia bundled over with minimal contact, similar to what Torres got from Evans. United converted, and a classic game, which we would have surely remembered went down to a contentious referring decision. That decided it.

It does not stop there, the Italian Classico, as I prefer it; fell on the same day as the ‘el-Classico’. A few like me chose to watch the former over the latter. It turned out to be a bad decision. Whilst it was a poor quality game, it became unfortunate that Milan were denied a goal which should have stood, and a clear penalty after Robinho was fouled in the box. It’s not a game I would have personally remembered, but it is game that meant a lot for the ‘shattered’ AC Milan team. Had they got the victory which they deserved, their season could be a different story.

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