Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

THE Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich must thinking that football is a puzzling sport.

Since taking over the Stamford Bridge club nine years ago, the Russian has coughed up million and millions of pounds and has casually sacked a host of high-profile managers for failing to come up with the present he wants the most – a Champions League trophy.

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 job of being a football referee is becoming more difficult every day and recent controversy over who should and should not be sent off for two-footed tackles is not making things any easier.

Indeed, it's almost becoming a witch hunt by television as pundits pour over, frame by frame, every contentious tackle.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

FOOTBALL can be a deliciously wicked game at times.

Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium was awash with celebration before they faced bottom club Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.