Manchester United were better than Arsenal over two legs in the sides’ Champions League semi final, that cannot be denied, so to discuss the performance of the referee in the second leg seems almost by the bye.
However, I cannot help but feel that he had a negative influence on the game, and at such an early stage as to directly alter the tone and direction of the match.
United did outclass Arsenal and the scoreline of 3-1 on the night was a true reflection of the difference between the sides, but two of his decisions – each affecting both sides in a negative manner – had direct influences on the game that should never have occurred.
The free-kick awarded for Robin van Persie’s ‘foul’ on Cristiano Ronaldo would not have been given in the first leg. Claus Bo Larsen officiated the Old Trafford encounter and did not tolerate Ronaldo’s incessant attempts to win fouls in and around Arsenal’s penalty area – his dismissive attitude towards the winger was a breath of fresh air and made for a flowing game.
Roberto Rosetti, on the other hand, fell for it and awarded the set piece from which Ronaldo scored United’s second. The goal came at a pivotal time in the game, with Arsenal having gone a goal down three minutes earlier.
It can be argued that any manner of incidents affects the course of any game, but when the referee is one of them it makes for frustrating viewing, from anyone’s perspective.
As the game progressed it became ever more apparent that United were deserving finalists and were the rightful claimants to a spot in the showpiece in Rome, but Rosetti then managed to dampen even their evening.
Sending Darren Fletcher off for what was a legitimate challenge on Cesc Fabregas was a rash decision, and most importantly the wrong one. Referees are put on the spot and required to make calls without the benefit of replays from different angles, but the case in hand was not a difficult one. The fact Fletcher will now miss the final is a harsh consequence of another needlessly over-zealous referee.