2002 World Cup referee Byron Moreno has been approached by the Professional Game Match Officials Board to become its new chief refereeing officer.
He’s set to replace Howard Webb who is set to resign following the video assistant referee (VAR) error in Saturday’s Premier League clash between Tottenham and Liverpool because he just can’t be bothered with this sh*te.
DAEJEON – JUNE 18: The referee Byron Moreno gives a penalty to South Korea during the South Korea v Italy, World Cup Second Round match played at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon, South Korea on June 18, 2002.
Moreno is most known for his handling of the 2002 World Cup Round of 16 match between South Korea and Italy during which he disallowed a perfectly good Italian goal for offside.
The Ecuadorian official returns to football after serving 26 months in prison for attempting to smuggle 10lbs of heroin hidden in his underwear through New York’s JFK airport.
Moreno fought off stiff competition from Chelsea’s 2009 Champions League semi-final with Barcelona ref Tom Henning Ovrebo and Gamal Al-Ghandour who received a car from then FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon in exchange for decisions favourable to South Korea during their 2002 World Cup quarter-final clash with Spain.
‘I watched the Luis Diaz offside call and it’s probably the worst decision since I stuffed 10lb of smack down my trunks and walked through customs at JFK’, Moreno told Paddy Power News.
‘Everyone at PGMOL would like to thank Howard Webb for his service.
‘We had a whip round this morning to buy him a Manchester United season ticket as a leaving present’.
Asked if felt he was the right man for job, Moreno said:
‘Despite the fact I’ve been embroiled in a World Cup match fixing scandal and was suspended from refereeing Ecuadorian football matches – Yes, Ecuadorian football matches! – for a similar offence, people stop me in the street and tell me I couldn’t do any worse than the current lot in Stockley Park’.
‘Some people in the game might disagree with a South American match fixing drug smuggler being appointed as PGMOL’s chief referring officer but I would ask those people to consider the alternative. Anthony Taylor. I rest my case’.
Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has escaped FA punishment after claiming Tottenham had ’12 players’.
The FA said:
‘Mac Allister has crossed the line but fortunately for him, Darren England forgot to draw the line. Decision, no ban’.
*Paddy Power’s breaking news coverage is 100% nonsense, but you knew that already… didn’t you?
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