The scene: Manchester City v Manchester United in the Carling Cup Semi Final first of two legs. The away team, United were winning 1-0 and looking comfortable. The referee decided that a blatant dive by David Bellamy (City) was worthy of a penalty award and, in spite of the fact that all the world could see nothing happened, gave it, converted by Tevez. Score 1-1 and a prime example of a games result being decided, yet again, by a blind official. He then rubbed salt into United’s wounds by giving a corner when the ball had obviously gone out for a United goal kick. This was converted by Tevez. 2-1 to Manchester City was the final score and the referee, Mike Dean, should be struck off the lists for such an abysmal sequence of events which, effectively, decided a football match. The players, clubs or managers did not decide this, but an individual referee who could not see the wood for the trees. I would also point out that another blatant dive, this time by City defender Richards went unpunished by the referee. If the referee decided that it was indeed a dive, why did he not yellow, or red, card, Richards?

Officials decides results, not players, not managers, not clubs and certainly not tactics. No manager in the world can prepare a team for the decisions of such an imbecile as Mike Dean.

I would also like to ask what will be done about the missle thrown that hit Patrice Evra, the United defender?