Ladies and gentlemen, this weekend you’re in for a real treat at fortress City Ground. Not just because the mighty Port Vale roll into town, but also because you get the honour of witnessing one of the greatest misnomers of all time. Yes folks, it’s our turn for Andy D’Urso.
Fans will remember him best for an incident in his first full season as a Prem ref back in 2000 at Old Trafford. He was hounded and chased all over the pitch by five Man Utd players in their game against Middlesborough, when he had the audacity to award the visitors a penalty. The pictures shown on TV made D’Urso look like a startled rabbit caught in the headlights. Let’s just say neither the players nor the ref did themselves any favours that day. He also booked Blackburn’s Barry Fergusson twice in a game against Southampton and failed to send him off.
Earlier this season he failed to allow a legitimate goal by Fulham’s David Healey, even though the ball had clearly crossed the line. D’Urso appealed, successfully, against the decision to relegate him from the Select Group of referees in 2004, but he was not selected for a single Premiership match in the 2005-06 season. Since then he has hardly taken charge of a Premiership game.
Last season he took charge of three games involving the Reds. They were the 1-0 away win at Gillingham, the 1-1 away draw in the FA Cup at Salisbury and the 1-0 home win against Yeovil. In 44 games last season he booked 99 players and issued 4 red cards. So far this term he’s taken 20 games and issued 36 yellows and just the 1 red.
Mr D’Urso who hails from Essex, will be ably assisted on the lines by Mr. N. Smith and Mr. G. J. Sutton. The 4th official will be Mr. G. C. Law. God help us.
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