History tells us that managers who verbally abuse referees are on a hiding to nothing.

It rarely, if ever, leads to them changing their minds and generally just ends up with said boss fined, banished to the stands or both.

But sometimes, just occasionally, you can sympathise with a manager who loses it with a referee.

On Sunday Wigan boss Paul Jewell did just that, letting referee Phil Dowd have both barrels for failing to give his team a penalty and allowing an Arsenal goal to stand despite being clearly offside.

“Dowd has cost our team the points. It could cost us 50 million,” Jewell fumed after the game ended 2-1 in Arsenal’s favour.

Just to make things worse he also claimed Dowd had spent the game swearing at his Wigan players.

“I do not mind because it is a man’s game but then he is telling me that I will be sent to the stands for having a go at him. It cannot all be one-way.

“If he wants to take my conduct to the authorities then I will take his language to my players to the authorities as well,” Jewell said.

And he has a point. Undeniably. Whether or not he expressed it eloquently or in the correct manner is a completely different issue and one which I am sure the FA will look into with their customary passion and vigour when it comes to easily punishable people.

But don’t be surprised, whatever Jewell’s punishment, to see more and more managers making outbursts like his over the coming weeks. Next season the money in the Premiership pot goes up massively and staying in with the big boys is absolutely essential.

There will be a lot more 50 million pound games between now and May. And, no doubt, a lot more 50 million pound refereeing errors.

World Cup bid

England’s probable bid for the 2018 World Cup seems to be gathering pace with the government now promising it will back the Football Association if it decides to throw its hat into the ring.

A new study has shown there would be numerous benefits – both in terms of revenue and legacy – to England hosting the world’s biggest sporting event. Crucially, for the politicians, the study also indicated there would be widespread public support and enthusiasm for the bid – making it a vote winner.

“The FA will, in due course, make their decision. What Gordon Brown and I are showing today is that a World Cup bid would have unqualified government support,” Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announced on Monday.

It is now looking increasingly likely that the FA will decide to bid in 2010 when the process starts although they would announce that intention sooner to help start generating support.

With the tournament set to return to Europe in 2018 after a probable South American venue in 2014, I would say England will be odds-on favourites to win the bid.

And it’s about time the English won something in the football world.

Beckham comeback

The comeback kid just keeps on coming back.

Just a few weeks ago David Beckham’s career as a proper footballer seemed to be over. He announced he would be moving to LA Galaxy from next season and, as a consequence, his current boss said he would never play for Real Madrid again.

However, on Saturday Capello relented, picked Beckham and the former England captain repaid him with a goal and a man-of-the-match performance.

“I am happy that Beckham scored. He played a great game and deserves the credit. As I said before, the mark of an intelligent person is one who knows how to rectify his mistakes,” Capello said, thereby pronouncing himself the most intelligent person in the world.

Not only has the turnaround for Becks come domestically but there is now a very strong rumour that he is about to be recalled by England for the two crucial qualifiers coming up in March.

With Steve McClaren’s back against the wall he needs all the experience and ability he can get his hands on. And a fully fit, fully firing Becks may prove just too tempting to resist.

If it does happen then I will have nothing but admiration for the lad for proving me, and many, many others, totally wrong.

We wrote him off. He just got on with making sure we were wrong. Head down, hard work, no questions asked.

A true, model professional.

Contact James on: [email protected]