Of course he's being punished. He dared to speak the truth and acknowledge the effort and expense that fans go to. Can't do that at the top of our game. Can't tell the superstar icons that they may have to actually thank the fans who've paid money to watch them! Can't possibly voice common sense regarding ticket prices, it spoils the illusion that fans should be grateful to pay £62 to watch Gervinho and Giroud miss open goals. Silly linesman. Football is going down the pan. AMF.
He's right, but it's not his place to be telling players what to do after the game's finished. I'd of told him to piss off.
Was going to post something similar Sambatyke, think you're spot on. Another recent example of this whitewashing approach was when ESPN felt it necessary (or were possibly pressured) to apologise following the Mansfield-Liverpool cup game, after the commentator (was it Jon Champion?) called Suarez a cheat for his blatant handball goal. The funniest bit about it was that in their statement ESPN began by talking about how they encouraged their commentators to not be afraid call it as they see it, then proceeded to rap the bloke's knuckles for something like 'going too far on this occasion' when all he'd done was describe what was there for all to see. Had to laugh.
The fans didn't shell out all that money and travel the length of the country to support the linesman though. I don't usually applaud the match officials but on this occasion I think he was absolutely spot on and will probably get the backing of 99% of fans.
I don't actually think he was trying to make any kind of point or insult/annoy the players. I think he was just giving Lescott an honest reminder. If Barry had said to Joe Hart 'eyup Joe them lads have paid £62, lets go thank them' there'd be no fuss at all. Don't think there's any difference really, linesman was just saying 'thanks for shaking my hand but its them who've made the effort not me'.
I think you're right. They shouldn't need one but he was just reminding the players that the fans deserve some recognition.
It's not the linesman place to remind them, he isn't their school teacher. It's not the players fault they get paid a fortune, I wouldn't turn it down. If the linesman spoke down to me like that before I'd even had chance to go over to the fans I'd tell him to f-ck off!
Like what? He wasn't aggressive, controlling, demeaning, insulting. Where in what he said was he having a go at the players or their wages?
