The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog, comes as referee Rob Styles, awards Manchester United, a controversial penalty, at Old Trafford.
Football: Rob Styles - Penalty!
It's the Manchester United-Bolton Wanderers clash at Old Trafford. The game is poised at nil-nil, when Bolton defender Jlloyd Samuel, tackles Ronaldo, in the penalty box.
To everyones astonishment, referee Rob Styles awards United a penalty. Samuel has taken the ball, and Ronaldo has fallen over. Styles has seen the incident differently. One wonders if it was Bolton attacking, and a similar incident had occurred, whether the man in black, would have made the same decision?
In many respects this was a goal for Sir Alex Ferguson. For his regular and persistent comments about officials, and their supposed favouritism and bias towards United's rivals, are designed to put pressure on referees. Pressure that will lead to them making decisions, like the one Rob Styles made yesterday.
Perhaps a referee visiting Old Trafford, wants to prove that he is not biased. Or, wants to court favour with Sir Alex. Show that he is one of the good guys. Subtle psychologies, founded on the need to be popular.
It's not easy refereeing, when 70,000 are wanting every decision, to go their way. And one of the game's best ever managers, is on the touchline, monitoring your every move. But, as a referee, you have to be aware of the subtle pressures that await you. And you must also be aware, as a referee, of any potential emotional weaknesses, that can trip you up.
Without that awareness, the pressure of the moment, can confuse even the clearest of minds. And Sir Alex Ferguson, will continue to claim, that referees favour his title rivals!
