Leighton Phillips is sent off as trouble on and off the pitch dominates the headlines but look a little more closely and the real issue is the poor standard of refereeing that plagued football. The problem was typified by the notorious but still FIFA nominated official Clive Thomas. Never far from controversy, Thomas awards a 25’ penalty to Everton after Duncan McKenzie “brushed past” John Gregory. Cue justified protests and a booking from the renowned thin skinned and self important official. Television replays, which Thomas claimed would prove him right, did anything but. Yet the official continued his rule undaunted by his error sending off Leighton Phillips for a “gesture” in the final minutes. After the game, Thomas would justify his action on the basis of what looked very like personal pride, hardly the position an impartial referee should take, let alone the self-styled “country’s top official”. Villa would have lost regardless of Thomas’ performance but something desperately needed to be done about the standard of officiating in 1978.