Letter from the Brentford FC boardroom, 20th January 2009
Dear Supporters,
To say that I was shocked to hear that Nathan Elder’s appeal against his sending off on Saturday was dismissed is a massive understatement. No one to whom I have spoken to who witnessed the incident thought that Nathan’s sending off was deserved and that includes the Notts County manager Ian McParland!
If one studies the incident you can see that Nathan is looking at the ball the whole time and is simply using his arms to assist him to gain momentum to jump. You see footballers at all levels using this method to jump. In addition the defender’s arm pushes into Nathan under his upper arm (near his armpit) forcing his arm up and into the defender’s face. It was simply a coming together of two competitive footballers.
If the FA deems this a dismissal then this should result in hundreds if not thousands of footballers being sent-off this and every weekend, at all levels, across the country. It is plainly ridiculous.
The rules of the game are built around a natural justice and I believe that the FA’s endorsement of Referee Attwell’s decision actually goes against this spirit of this. I am sure the FA have their reasons for wanting to “fast track” Mr Atwell as a referee but their blind support of “their man” (who has been involved with a number of controversial decisions this season) does their reputation and credibility no favours and certainly does not help the good of the game.
Of course referees have a difficult job and the FA’s Respect campaign is a valuable initiative to give them support and help retain them within the game. In my view respect is a two-way process; you cannot just have it one-way and with this decision the FA have lost my, and I guess many other supporters’, respect. The FA would have my respect if they reviewed this decision objectively, held their hands up and said, “Sorry the referee got this decision wrong” but they have not done this. Yes, I’m biased as a Brentford supporter, but I also know I’m capable of being objective, particularly in the “cold light of day.” So why can’t the FA do this too?
Can we do anything to help Nathan avoid his ban? Realistically no, there is no further appeal process. We can however do something about where the FA appears to be taking the game with this decision. Their blind support of referees and their disregard for fair-minded supporters and natural justice is not for the good of the game. I know the Club’s Chairman Greg Dyke will, on behalf of the Club, be pursuing this matter further with the FA. I urge all of you as to do the same (contact details for FA) not just as Brentford supporters but also as supporters interested in the good of the game.
Let's work together!
Jon Gosling
Comments can either be sent to me on or directly via comments page.
21st January 2009