Marcus Rashford ‘CLEARLY DIVED’ – and Man United benefit from referees ‘feeling the pressure’, says Chris Sutton, as Ian Ladyman identifies the cheaters in the Premier League on It’s All Kicking Off

Chris Sutton has argued that referees are feeling the weight of the crowd at big clubs after insisting that Marcus Rashford dive to win a penalty for Manchester United in their 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.

Sutton questioned whether referees are biased in favor of big clubs Mailsport football editor Ian Ladyman on the brand new podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off’.

Co-host and Premier League winner Chris Sutton said Rashford ducked to win a penalty after a challenge from Forest midfielder Danilo.

Sutton added that the referees feel the pressure on them when they perform at Old Trafford.

“I just think there’s a lot of pressure on them, they feel it,” Sutton said.

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‘Stuart Attwell awarded the penalty and it was Rob Jones in VAR. So I understand why Stuart Attwell awarded it in real time but then Rob Jones should be strong enough to look at it and he had all angles to see Marcus Rashford dove clearly and this is not a clear and obvious as far as I’m concerned lying error. I’m worried, that’s total nonsense.

It’s a penalty or it’s not a penalty. It was a dive, I think you’ll agree. That’s why it shouldn’t have been awarded.’

Ladyman then asked: ‘When you played, when you went to Old Trafford or Anfield or Highbury, as a player did you feel like you were playing for a smaller club like Norwich, that you were running lean against it with the referee? ?’

“Yes, absolutely, because I think the weight of the crowd, the referees and some referees are stronger than others, but I think it’s a human thing, isn’t it?” Sutton responded.

“And I think over the years at Manchester United we’ve seen the pressure that Alex Ferguson always puts on referees. But people have to make their own decisions.

But if you just look at what happened in Manchester United’s first two home games this season, Wolves and Nottingham Forest, big decisions have been made, and decisions that, frankly, most of the country are baffled by. .’

Mail Sports Football editor labeled both as ‘ridiculous decisions’ but insisted that both were due to ‘human error’ and not bias in favor of Man United.

Ladyman said: ‘I put this up in a debate on Twitter last night and it generated some interesting responses to what football fans think.

Mark D says: “There is a home bias among umpires in all sports, as was proven by the COVID season, as away team wins increased”. He is clearly referring to the fact that there was no public support.

United only conceded three penalties last season. That surprised me. If you look at the list of penalties awarded last season, United are at the very bottom, I think 18th.

Sutton responded by stating that home crowd pressure influences umpires’ decisions during matches.

‘Yeah, look, everyone has an opinion. I mean mine is umpires feel the weight of the crowd pressure and that’s, you know, that affects them,” Sutton said.

‘And look, I don’t think so, that’s what I stand for. And I’m absolutely sure I’m right about this.’

Ladyman emphasized the challenge for umpires in officiating games, with each player seeking to gain an advantage for their side.

“What we need to talk about is the fact that every time a referee enters a Premier League football pitch at the weekend, he is tasked with officiating a game where 22 players are cheating,” said Ladyman.

“They all cheat. When you were a player, you all cheated. They all cheat. When you were a player, you were all of that.

Sutton interjected, “How dare you.”

Ladyman continued, “You have that end of the scale and you have that end of the scale. But as far as I can tell, all football players are somewhere in the middle. They all cheat and referees have to deal with that.’

Sutton argued that the diving deterrent should be strengthened to prevent players from throwing themselves to the ground in the penalty area.

‘I don’t like it when people say: that’s smart play. I really don’t like that,” Sutton said.

“I think when it goes against their team, all football fans across the country are absolutely furious. It has to stop.

And I’ve said this many times before. The deterrent must be very strong. When you give players a three-match diving ban, they know they really need to think about it.

“I thought Marcus Rashford was discovered this weekend. We’ve seen that Harry Kane was a master of diving. Now he has gone to the Bundesliga and can go diving there. Mo Salah has been diving.

“It’s all over the Premier League and players look weird.”