The negativity, anger and frustration leaped off the pages. The mood following the weekends matches was dictated by the headlines that screamed loudly at the reader before the article was even perused. Ronaldo hits out at the ref. Wenger puzzled by the decision. Inside the stories told a much deeper story. "Maybe they dont want Real Madrid to win this Liga," said Ronaldo after his side lost 4-3 to Barcelona in Sundays El Clasico. Just what we need, another accusation that a referee wanted a team to win over another. It was supposed to be a weekend where two of the elite games of the European football calendar could be digested, enjoyed in a way that entertainment is supposed to be sampled. Chelsea were sensational against a hapless, under-prepared Arsenal and Barcelona were just a little bit better than a fantastic Real Madrid in a game played at a breathtaking pace. There were so many storylines to get into, or so you would think. Instead many of the headlines were about a man who didnt even play. The game is officially out of control. Andre Marriners incorrect decision to send off Kieran Gibbs instead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was unfortunate but shouldnt be surprising given the amount of players who crowded around him the moment a penalty kick was given. El Clasico referee Alberto Undiano Malenco, who made a number of big decisions including a sending off and the awarding of three penalty kicks, was also asked to make split second decisions with players in his face. Many of those players were the greatest in the world but are also the greatest at playacting and conning officials to get one over on the other team, yet when things do not go their way they want to know why the official got it wrong. Except he may not be wrong at all. If he is guilty of something, he is guilty of seeing something different to the accuser. Sometimes, like Marriner at Stamford Bridge, (for the second time this season I might add) he is very wrong and then the real people who lose out are those who follow the game so closely. The greatest thing, for me, about the supposed beautiful game has always been how much emphasis is given on what happens on the field between the players. Go to any pub close to a football ground and listen to the conversations about their favourite team. So often, these fans are not blinded towards their own players. Instead, they are as educated as the people sitting in the press box being paid to cover the sport. They talk about tactics, position switches and refer to their encyclopedic mind when referring to past games. They do not talk about a sport they love by referencing point spreads or how many fantasy points they got that week. Yes, gambling and fantasy sports play a part in their fandom but it is not at the top of their list of priorities like it is fans of other sports. There is so much that happens for them to analyze during 90 minutes that they can, and do, talk about the game for a week until they watch another one. This is what should be happening after Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0 and Real Madrid 3 Barcelona 4. It will be hard to find any games played at such a high level (by three of the four teams anyway) this year than those. And, yes, I am aware it is a World Cup year. Some of the skill on display in those games was absolutely absorbing as was the pace and tempo. Yet, while we watch such brilliance no thought is given to the referee in the middle of it all until we expect him to make a split second correct decision to ensure fairness. It is an utterly irrational expectation. Here is a game played by 22 of the most exceptional athletes in sport, throw in a rivalry, later in the season, add tempo and speed alongside theatrics and plain old fashion cheating (lets call it what it is) and then place one man, usually much older than most of the players, who is expected to supervise all of them and ensure they stick to the rules by making immediate decisions. Its a process that would be laughed at if the sport were to be created today with rule makers demanded he gets more help. Its a small four letter word that would solve many problems at all levels. Lets help the officials. Lets start on game-defining moments. For as much as we all love the game it is clear that a match, more often than not, only has a handful of these from start to finish. Goals, penalty kick decisions and red cards. No sport can look to get every decision right but the fact that the major game-defining ones are still not getting solved while the game is happening is laughable. Why should a fan or a player leave the game knowing (not thinking) his team were wrongly punished for a significant game-defining moment? A goal, a penalty kick decision and a red card all come at the stoppage of the game on the whistle. At this time, one simple rule needs to be implemented. "No player can approach the referee at this time allowing him time to run to his assistants and communicate with the fourth official if he thinks he needs help to make an absolute decision." This doesnt require technology or long pauses. It simply gives officials time to ensure they get a clear game-defining decision correct without having a bunch of petulant players all throwing their toys out of their pram in front of his face. Think back to the last time you made a massive decision in your workplace. Were you asked to make it in less than a second with people pointing and shouting in your face? Of course not, because it is ridiculous. So why does soccer allow it? It is not a thing exclusive to sport where emotion and competitiveness can be quoted as an excuse for some of the disgusting behavior on show. Many other sports do not tolerate such abuse towards officials and allow them time to express themselves and get things right. Look at rugby union where captains only are allowed to talk with the referee and where all game-defining decisions (tries, sendings off, etc) can be reviewed between officials. Not every goal needs to be looked at this way but the sport desperately needs this to be an option to give officials time and stop players from constantly affecting their decision-making with abuse. Until that happens stories will continue to flood our newspapers and favorite internet sites about poor refereeing because the petulant babies got in front of a microphone after the match to moan some more. Just make sure you dont feel sorry for any of them. They have created the mess and now have to play a massive part in cleaning it up. Wholesale New England Patriots Jerseys . Ferguson told Uniteds in-house TV channel on Saturday that he has no immediate plans to walk away from the game, and that he still hungers for more trophies even after 25 years in charge of the club. New England Patriots Jerseys Outlet .C. -- LeBron James called comments on an audio recording of a man identified as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling "appalling" and said hes not sure if he would suit up for the remainder of the NBA playoffs if he played for the Clippers. http://www.cheappatriots.com/. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Cheap New England Patriots Gear . CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (Pistons): Yes they got Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings in the off-season and Andre Drummond is a beast (teams are kicking themselves for passing on him - he rebounds and block shots every game - thats two more discernable and significant skills than most guys in his draft class), but dont for a second discount the impact of having a savvy veteran like Billups on your team. Authentic New England Patriots Jerseys . - The Toronto Blue Jays have optioned pitchers Kyle Drabek, Chad Jenkins and Sean Nolin to triple-A Buffalo.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jered Weaver had no problem sitting through two long delays Sunday on his way to a 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. There was a 19-minute wait after lightning struck a nearby power substation, causing some lights to go out at Tropicana Field. Even before then, the Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher watched his team score five runs in a 46-pitch first inning off Rays starter Jake Odorizzi. "I played a little catch in the cage to stay loose, but I guess you cant complain too much when they put five runs on the board in the first," Weaver said. "It makes it a little easier." Mike Trout, who had three hits and stole a base, hit an RBI double to key the big inning, which also included an RBI single by Howie Kendrick after a 13-pitch at bat. "I dont remember that. That was yesterday," Kendrick joked after the game that took about four hours. "It was one of those things where the bases were loaded and you want to try to get something done. He was making good pitches, I was able to foul some off. Im glad it ended the way it did," he said. The Angels took two of three and handed the Rays their first series loss since early July. Weaver (12-6) gave up six hits and four walks, but only two runs in six innings. He is 4-0 lifetime at Tropicana Field and unbeaten in his last nine starts. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his sixth save with the Angels. It took 20 minutes for Odorizzi (7-9) to get the first out of the game. That came after two walks, Trouts double and consecutive singles by Josh Hamilton, Erick Aybar and Kendrick. "It started bad and didnt get any better in the first inniing," Odorizzi said.dddddddddddd. "You start a game like that, I didnt give our team any help at the start." The first of two sacrifice flies by David Freese and a double by Efren Navarro drove in the final two runs of the first inning. Trouts second hit and Freeses second sacrifice fly drove in runs for the Angels later in the game. James Loney, who has reached base in 22 straight games, had three hits and drove in two runs for the Rays. Tampa Bay left 12 runners on base. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Outfielder Collin Cowgill (broken nose) could be activated from the disabled list in the next couple days. Rays: Catcher Ryan Hanigan (strained left oblique) felt soreness after his first rehab game Saturday with Single-A Charlotte and has been shut down for a week. ... Right fielder Wil Myers, out since May 31 with a broken right wrist, could start a rehab assignment Saturday. ON DECK Los Angeles: The Angels start a four-game stretch against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a two-game road series Monday night. The Angels have won 15 of the last 22 games between the teams. Tampa Bay: The Rays open a 10-game road trip Monday night at Oakland. Manager Joe Maddon and the Rays often set a theme for the teams road swings, and this one is James Bond formal wear. BOWDEN BALL College football coaching great Bobby Bowden threw the ceremonial first pitch. He won two national championships at Florida State. 13 MORE Kendricks at-bat in the first, which included 10 foul balls, was one of two 13-pitch at bats in the game. Logan Forsythe walked on the 13th pitch from Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen to load the bases in the Tampa Bay seventh. 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