Mark Cooper 8 Game Ban

[Theythinkitsallover]

Well said Liverpoolann. Totally agree, but i hope she does come back to Holker st.
Keep her well away from MC and in doing that.....she could run the line on the Popular Side.
im sure she would get a good reception!

[prague bluebird]

If there is a chance she would run the line on the Popular Side I might get myself over for that, could be more fun than the football.

[Desmond2-2]

Well said Liverpoolann,you enjoy football and the banter that happens within the game, you have embraced it and I salute you. If this linesclown returns to Holker street , I will give her grief.

[Suffolk Blue]

I am all for equal opportunities etc for women but this lady needs to grow a backbone.She thought remark directed at her.? She should have said possible head injury more important than his opinion now shut up or I report you.Too delicate a flower and just reinforces some men’s view that women shouldn’t be involved in game as officials .Hope she never comes Holker st again she will get plenty of criticism/ banter etc from sections of support.Cooper been dealt with very harshly.Far too much political correctness in the world.

Whilst many of us would share some of these sentiments, the reality is of course that "political correctness" is as much a part and parcel of life in football as it is elsewhere. Indeed if you talk about this to your kids you will often find that "political correctness" is now viewed as the social norm. In this world that we perhaps weren't born into but now live in you will be judged as much in terms of what you say and how this is interpreted as opposed to what actions you actually take. You will also be judged retrospectively for actions that might have been taken many years ago when standards may have been different. Like it or not.

Bearing that in mind, to make any kind of audible defamatory comment towards an official - especially a female one in a sport that is desperately trying to encourage equality in its ranks represents rank stupidity. Had the EFL actually conducted a proper enquiry at the time rather than letting the whole thing drag on, then we'd have been looking at a newly appointed manager after three games in charge of the club being suspended for an 8 game period for abusing an official. I'm not sure this forum would've been so understanding.

The truth about MC is that whilst he is clearly a competent coach, a fact that I think is still considered so by the bulk of his squad (and seemingly by the Board), he is clearly a man who's interpersonal skills are not what they should be. That's not even a speculative opinion. Its evidenced in every interview he's given over the last few years and his [SwearFilter] relationships with club officials, players and the media over the years. Historically his relationship with fans at each of his previous clubs is also pretty mixed.

In those things that matter on the field of play I still think he is by far the best manager technically we've had since Evatt. In terms of everything else he come across as a complete dinosaur.

[Bigfathoss]

So if the lines person had identified as a man , would it be sexist ? What a load of rubbish. The words ‘you need to realise’ are totally superfluous and I would say are directed at the person not the sex of that person . If he’d said it to a male linesman it means exactly the same thing. Linesperson saying she felt it meant he thought she shouldn’t be there. Complete rubbish but for goodness sake if you take offence at that stay at home ( and do the washing ! ) .

Would he have said it to a man? No. Therefore it is bloody obviously a sexist remark. Case closed.

Why would he have not said it to a man? No part of what he is reported to have said referenced or inferred anything to do with the gender of the person with the flag.
Is 'man-up' sexist?
Is 'man on' sexist?

[Steeley]

So if the lines person had identified as a man , would it be sexist ? What a load of rubbish. The words ‘you need to realise’ are totally superfluous and I would say are directed at the person not the sex of that person . If he’d said it to a male linesman it means exactly the same thing. Linesperson saying she felt it meant he thought she shouldn’t be there. Complete rubbish but for goodness sake if you take offence at that stay at home ( and do the washing ! ) .

Would he have said it to a man? No. Therefore it is bloody obviously a sexist remark. Case closed.

100%

[Hitthebar22]

I am all for equal opportunities etc for women but this lady needs to grow a backbone.She thought remark directed at her.? She should have said possible head injury more important than his opinion now shut up or I report you.Too delicate a flower and just reinforces some men’s view that women shouldn’t be involved in game as officials .Hope she never comes Holker st again she will get plenty of criticism/ banter etc from sections of support.Cooper been dealt with very harshly.Far too much political correctness in the world.

I get what you are saying, and personally don't disagree. However, "The rules" are not subjective. It's not what she felt at the time, or what Cooper did or didn't intend at the time. The test of whether something is discriminatory is an objective one - not exclusively influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing the facts. It's how things could/would be interpreted in a general sense. That was Coopers downfall at the tribunal. Whether the assistant ref felt aggrieved or not was technically irrelevant, so backbones don't come into it. Judgement of the circumstances by her might have been relevant, and seems to me she overreacted. I saw it, but couldn't hear anything that was said. I have no doubt that when the the assistant referee was appointed to that role, she would have been told by her mentors to be alert to any sexist abuse, and that she should expect it to happen.

[blumooncrab]

Would he have said it to a man? No. Therefore it is bloody obviously a sexist remark. Case closed.

100%

Could he have said it to a man? Yes of course he could.

[chipmunx]

it is all rather stupid to be honest;-
So if any manager (or player) says something like "do you not know the f***ing rules" they get a 3 game ban for abusive language.
but if they were to say "give us a break linesman" and the "assistant" happens to be a woman they get a 8 match ban for sexist comments.....

[Steeley]

100%

Could he have said it to a man? Yes of course he could.

He could have, but would he have? Two different things.
Whether it’s overly sexist or offensive is debatable, but I think it’s quite clear the comments were insinuating something relating to her gender.

[Moribund]

Would he have said it to a man? No. Therefore it is bloody obviously a sexist remark. Case closed.

Why would he have not said it to a man? No part of what he is reported to have said referenced or inferred anything to do with the gender of the person with the flag.
Is 'man-up' sexist?
Is 'man on' sexist?

You know the answers, and you know why he's been charged.

[Fazered]

The whole thing is pathetic. Get a life. Am I really expected to think about every word I say in case it offends someone? Not happening folks

[Jeeby]

Too many people wandering around trying to find the next politically correct nugget, it's a sad world.

[EL CHAS]

For centuries in this country the law has applied equally to everyone. In these modern times of Identity politics different groups want special treatment all in the name of equality. In fact it only causes inequality. Imagine the furore if Marcus Rashford and his mother had been abused and assaulted at the boxing on Saturday instead of Foden.At the end of the day abuse is abuse and it should not matter who is abused. 99.99% of the population are throughly decent and treat all groups and minorities with respect anyway.The middle classes and left wing intellectuals believe that the great mass of people are ignorant Neanderthals who are incapable of behaving like decent human beings. Part of Coopers punishment is to undergo a face to face reeeducation course. What utter nonsense. The first step towards Uighur style concentration camps. Resist!!

[Bigfathoss]

Why would he have not said it to a man? No part of what he is reported to have said referenced or inferred anything to do with the gender of the person with the flag.
Is 'man-up' sexist?
Is 'man on' sexist?

You know the answers, and you know why he's been charged.

I do know the answers , yes...and the answer is that none of those are sexist. I suspect he has been charged because a female official has made a complaint and the authorities are shit-scared of the woke culture.
The reason that things have become this bloody awful is because people haven't turned around in the past and said 'give your head a wobble'.