As an SWFC fan, that result was actually better than I expected – and the Leicester fans’ support for the SWFC cause was amazing. I’ve also got massive respect for LFC as you’re probably the last genuine “outsider” club to win the Football League / Premier League, before it turned into what (in my opinion) is now a closed shop decided largely by the size of the clubs’ bank accounts.
That aside – the first Leicester goal looked clearly offside. The linesman didn’t need VAR for that one – the player ran back into play from an offside position and either just missed or slightly touched the ball, but was still involved. Then Baz was sent off for two yellow cards – first for dissent, second for a “reckless” challenge where he was actually moving away from the player and only made contact because of the other lad’s late movement. Both decisions were purely at the referee’s discretion.
I don’t get how any LFC fan can’t admit the first goal was offside, or that Baz’s sending off was harsh given both yellows were subjective calls. The first yellow came right after a blatant miss by the linesman, and we’ve had plenty of goals ruled out for far less involvement from an offside position. I know the realistic Leicester fans will see that as a gift from the EFL, and the more partisan ones will call it sour grapes – but from our end it was poor officiating.
And this is the thing about the Championship – it’s the points dropped because of dodgy officials in those cold Tuesday nights or midweek winter games that get forgotten by the end of the season, but they’re what count in the promotion race. LFC might not feel it yet, but over the season you’ll be on the wrong end of plenty of bad decisions – because bad officials are the one constant in this league.
Baz, by the way, is Mr SWFC – he could’ve taken a last big-money contract at Championship level, but stayed here on far less to support the club and keep his family in Sheffield. For him to be sent off in that manner, after we’d already conceded a questionable goal, was a real kick in the teeth.
And yes, I’ll say it – the EFL have the ability to make financial fair play proactive by checking clubs’ finances before approving deals, but instead they go in after the fact, hand out points deductions and fines, and make bad situations worse. We’ve been there – missed promotion twice, broke the rules, took a deduction and a transfer embargo, couldn’t replace players, then lost them for free when contracts ran out. Add in the deduction, and relegation was pretty much guaranteed, even though we fought to the final game.
Anyway – credit where it’s due, Leicester are a strong side and will be up there. I just hope next time we get a fairer run from the officials.
