Last week, we put together a post regarding the immediate impacts of Platini's takeover of UEFA (see: http://footballisfixed.blogspot.com/2007/02/platini-practises-what-he-preaches.html).
We were awaiting the announcement of this week's Champions League officials to clarify our view of any potential structural adjustments. We've now solved it and we're trading it. We are always quick off the mark due to our holistic sector overview.
Only Mike Riley of the English officials has been selected for the Champions League 1/8 Final 1st Leg matches and, by some distance, Riley is the most kosher of the English UEFA roster. Only 4 of the most recent 103 UEFA Cup and Champions Leagues have utilised English Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB) referees and two of those events were dead rubbers. The Italian and Russian refs also continue to be blanked - neither country has been given any appointments since Platini's election.
At least UEFA recognises the manipulative influence of Bennett, Webb and Poll and suitably sidelines them.
We look forward without much optimism to the PGMOB becoming as virtuous as UEFA.
PS Post Match Update - Mike Riley produces 11 yellow cards in Roma v Lyon - a Champions League record. The PGMOB officials just won't let it lie...
