someone tell me what was said by both redknapp and gray. i was at old toliet so obviously dont know
At HT, Richard Keys asked 'In the current climate was Mascherano potty to question Bennett's decision to book Torres.
Gray said 'What climate?', so Keys said, after all that was said about Ashley Cole reaction to getting booked this week.
Gray said, 'so you can't talk to the referee now?' He then went through the incident, 'Torres has taken a couple of kicks, from Scholes, and then Ferdinand brings him down. He's asking the question of the referee.'
Redknapp interjects: 'He wants a bit of protection.'
Gray agrees and says, 'Steve Bennett sticks the card up, why? That appointment worried me from the moment I heard it. Now Mascherano, watch, he comes across, is this a man that's out of control, or raving? He's saying "what's happening?" Does a player deserve to be sent off for that?'
Redknapp says 'Because he'd already been booked, I think you're running the risk, especially as what happened with Ashley Cole. I'm not trying to be righteous, I was playing a few years ago and there's a lot of passion in the game, but players have a responsibility to act, because kids are watching everywhere.
Gray says, 'So you can't say "What's happening?"
Redknapp replies 'You can, but by running 20 yards...'
Gray, '...Look he's out of control now, had he been like that when he went to the referee, no sympathy whatsoever, but not only do players have responsibility, the officials have responsibility not to ruin the game either and to be big enough to be able to control the football match.'
Redknapp says, 'He'd been booked.'
Gray continues, '...and that referee, I'm sorry, I don't think he was big enough to control that situation as he should have done.'
Redknapp says, 'I agree, I think Steve Bennett lost control when he booked Torres. But as soon as that happened, Mascherano he's been booked, he's made another foul, he run 20 yards past Alonso to get involved, I just think he should have just stayed out of the way there was no reason for him to get involved. You're running the risk, especially at the moment, because every Premier League player, the way that the game has gone this week with what Ashley Cole has done, is risking getting booked or sent-off.'
Gray, 'Lets sanitize the game!', Redknapp, 'It's not about that...',
Gray, '[Mascherano] sees his main striker get hacked down twice and then to compound it pick up a yellow card.'
Redknapp, 'He was running the risk, surely you've got to think to yourself, I've already been booked.'
Gray, 'If he was ranting and raving I'd agree with you, but he said "What's happening?", so Steve Bennett sends him off, well done Steve.'
Keys says, 'Steve Bennett was watching last week when Ashley Cole got booked, and Keith Hackett said today he should have done something about that, he should have entered the field of play and sent him off. Is he edgy, is he on tenter-hooks for having been fingered for a lack of responsibility the other night?'
Gray says, 'Well if you've just been whacked by your boss, then I guess you are a bit edgy. Whether that influence what he did there, I have no idea.'
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In Gray's analysis after the game, Keys asked about Torres, 'Were Man Utd were a little physical with him today, was that what he was complaining about when he got booked and that sparked Mascherano's sending-off?'
Gray said, 'I don't think they were. First and foremost, Mascherano was really disappointed with his booking, that rattled him we could tell that from the minute it happened. He slid in on Scholes, a lot of referees would have let it go, Bennett decided that he wouldn't...he decided that he'd book him, and he was rattled by that Mascherano, you could see that in his play. I think that when Torres,...Steve Bennett has his own unique way of refereeing a game, it's not mine, and a lot of people would say he was 100% right. I don't think he was...'
'...As Torres gets the ball he's hit there by Ferdinand, he gets up, wins it again. Scholes has a little hack at him here, doesn't get it. He gets past [Ferdinand] here and he's just knocked out of the way. Now, Rio Ferdinand knows what he's doing, this is a player you don't want up and running at you. So [Torres] is about to say "You booked Mascherano a minute ago"...roughly..."what's happening?" He's pointing roughly where [Bennett] booked Mascherano. Mascherano is on his way over now, I don't know what [Torres] is saying there [Torres is making a 'mouthing' gesture with his hand]. And Steve Bennett just decides, right I'm going to book you. I mean to me, unnecessary. A proper referee would have had a word and say "Listen Fernando, I know how you feel, let's get on with the game."
Keys' says, 'When you say "proper" you mean a different referee?'
Gray, 'Well a different referee then. Now, I've listened to Jamie [Redknapp] and Tony [Adams], and I agree with them that [Mascherano] should have stayed away. Forget that, he didn't.'
Key's says, '[Bennett's] saying I'm sending you off isn't he, go away.'
Gray, 'But is that aggressive?'
Keys, 'Well it's not, but he shouldn't be there.'
Gray, 'No, no. Are you telling me that Steve Bennett is going to send off every single player that comes up to him and says, "What's happening?"
Keys, 'Well maybe in a week like this, when there's been a reaction to Ashley Cole's misbehaviour at White Hart Lane. Steve Bennett was there as 4th official and was criticised by his own boss. He's got to react to that himself.'
Gray, 'But it doesn't make that right, why? Ashley Cole should have been dismissed, no question about it. If Mike Riley had done his job, he should have sent Cole off. His treatment of the referee was a disgrace. To turn his back on him like that - whether you like referees or not - was wrong, ill-advised, and he shouldn't have done it. He should have been sent off and that would have been the end of it. But if your telling me, you go up to a referee, and standing in front of him you say "What's happening?", not aggressive, there's nothing in that attitude that's aggression...he didn't swear at him, so where are we going with this game?'
Key's 'We're in a situation where if a player's booked he shouldn't go and noise-up the referee because he's going to send you off...'
Gray says, 'What's happening? What's happening? What's happening?...Send me off! I mean, do me favour Richard, I'm sorry. There are problems in the game and Ashley Cole was an unpleasant part of modern-day football, but if we're going talk about sending a player off for going up to a referee and saying "What's happening?" and the referee cannot handle it and reacts like that every time, then we've got a problem.'
Keys, 'In fairness to Ashley Cole he did apologise.'
Gray, 'Yeah, but he was wrong, totally wrong. This is a different situation. Jamie was right, [Mascherano] was wrong to go there, but he went and all he was saying was "What's wrong?" because he was thte one that got booked and often in these situations it is the player who thinks he's been booked harshly who goes to a referee and says, "What's going on, you've booked me, why this?"
Keys, 'You know what Tony Adams said earlier, he's in the Brian Clough school, just stay away...'
Gray, 'Tony Adams, I remember when he called the toss heads, and he argued with the ref that he'd called tails...'
Keys, 'A lighter moment to leave something very serious.'
Gray, 'It was serious, the games were built up today...I know Sir Alex isn't concerned, and people at home will say he should have stayed away, but if Steve Bennett is going to start sending off players for saying "What's happening?"...and I'll tell you another thing, in the second half, a player went up to Steve Bennett and gave him a verbal volley. Industrial language, right at him. Right? And nothing.'
Keys, 'Which one?'
Gray, 'I'm not telling you, it's not my business to get them into trouble, but that's what happens. So suddenly, if you say "What's happening?" to the referee you get sent off and if you give him a verbal volley, you don't.'
Keys, 'Enough.'
