You can count the number of times you’ve been to a game and NOT blamed the referee for something on one finger, but yesterday’s shenanigans were laughable. Unless you support Watford, Chelsea or Wigan…

It all started at Vicarage Road and Danny Shittu’s disallowed goal in the opening stages of Watford’s play-off semi-final first leg tie against Hull City. Shittu was adjudged to have fouled Hull stopper Boaz Myhill. He didn’t. He can’t help being the size of Shrek; if he goes for a header people are bound to get bundled. The goal was disallowed and Hull ran out 2-0 winners.

Then to Wigan’s JJB Stadium (nice pitch, by the way…) The only person that didn’t see Rio Ferdinand’s hand ball was referee Steve Bennett. He definitely saw Paul Scholes’ second bookable offence, though, a deliberate foul. Yet the balding official didn’t send the midfield schemer off.
Why? Even the pundits in the Sky studios couldn’t explain it.

Watford now face a two-goal deficit and an away leg to follow. They might not have beaten an impressive Hull side, but a one-goal lead after five minutes would have changed the complexion of the game. Would United have won the game had Scholes been sent off? Chances are United would have won the league anyway given Chelsea’s draw with Bolton, but that’s not the point.

Referees are only human and mistakes are inevitable. So why not help them? Every other sport uses video assistance, and they say our leagues are the best in the world. Not on today’s showing…