Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

IT was probably of little consolation to Roberto Martinez, the manager of Wigan Athletic, when referees chief Mike Riley apologised for the appalling mistakes made by officials during their 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.

Both Chelsea goals were clearly offside and at the time Martinez branded the decisions as “disgusting.”

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

THE managerial merry-go-round at Chelsea has again hit the headlines but a fascinating BBC television documentary recently revealed a mess at another London club.

QPR: the Four Year Plan was sanctioned by F1 motor-racing mogul Flavio Briatore when he bought Queens Park Rangers in 2007.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

THE English political scene is currently awash with rows over bankers' bonuses and tax-avoidance schemes for public servants.

Money certainly does make the world go around but there seems to be tiny chink of common sense appearing in professional football.