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Joining our perennial jackleg Wayne Rooney is Premier League Official Mark Clattenburg. Before I continue, I feel that it is important to let the readers know I am an unapologetic Manchester (or Blankcheckster) City fan.  Even though our oil money has yet to lead to major results on the pitch, there is just something about those baby blue kits.

Before I spend hours spouting my Man City love we should return to the jackleg at hand, Mark Clattenburg. In a recent fixture between my beloved City and Bolton, the fiery Craig Bellamy received a second yellow card and was sent off the pitch in the 64th minute of a 3-2 game with City down a goal. Clattenburg pulled the yellow from his pocket to penalize Bellamy for “simulation,” called diving or taking a flop here in the states.  I have three major problems with his decision.

1)  Bellamy was fouled!

If you really plan on tossing a player out of the game for diving, you better be damn sure it was a dive. Hopefully Clattenburg got a chance to look at the game tape and see Bellamy was clearly fouled by Paul Robinson while attacking the penalty area from the left flank. Of course, Clattenburg was behind the play and decided Bellamy took a dive without consulting his second or third officials. You have one job on the pitch Mr. Clattenburg, I suggest you do it.

2) No one in the stadium, including the fourth official, the television announcers, or fans like myself watching the game had any idea Bellamy was playing with one yellow card.

As soon as a watched Clattenburg pull a red from his pocket after the yellow, I had flashbacks of 2006 when Eddie Pope was wrongly sent off the pitch against Italy for a second yellow card. In both cases, Pope and Bellamy had no idea they were even playing on a yellow card. Everyone on the pitch was shocked to see Bellamy sent off because he was never shown a yellow card. During a post game interview, Clattenhurg said Bellamy had received his first yellow for arguing after Bolton took the lead 3-2. In soccer, yellow cards are a big deal, just like technical fouls in the NBA. When a player receives one, we all should know about it.

3) Personal Dislike played a role in Bellamy’s ejection

Reports from Man City have said that Clattenburg was making negative comments about Bellamy in the tunnel before the start of the second half. It is quite evident that Clattenburg seemed to have a personal vendetta against the fiery Welshmen. I got news for you Mark, this isn’t the NBA and you’re not Tim Donaghy. You cannot start tossing techs on Rasheed Wallace just because you don’t like the guy.

Mark Clattenburg, you had one job to do and you blew it. That makes you a jackleg.  Enjoy your time with your boy Wayne.