26 February 2002, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. [

The League Cup final starts here.

Originally, the League Cup final and FA Cup final were played at Wembley Stadium, but because Wembley Stadium is currently being rebuilt, the League Cup final was placed at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Cardiff Millennium Stadium, which is also a very good stadium in England.

Otherwise, it will not replace Wembley Stadium as the venue for the League Cup and FA Cup finals.

Although there was all sorts of controversy before the game, there was no problem for Jack to be the referee of this match. Tottenham's opposition had no effect at all.

It rained from the morning on the day of the game, and the temperature was not high, so it was cold inside the stadium.

"Andrew, is there any other way?"

It's raining, it's not a big deal. The drainage system at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was excellent, and the light rain didn't affect it at all. Not to mention this little rain, even if it is several times heavier than this, the Cardiff Millennium Stadium can handle it. It's just that today's weather is too cold.

The low temperature, coupled with the rain, makes many people uncomfortable.

"Why don't you close the dome?"

Andrew is the head of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Because the weather conditions are really bad, Jack is looking for Andrew and wants to ask him if there is any other way.

"Close the dome?"

Jack paused, not immediately. The so-called closing of the dome means that the entire stadium is closed. At that time, the stadium will become an indoor stadium.

In the history of English football, no final has ever been played indoors. This includes FA Cup finals, League Cup finals and even the Community Shield, none of which have ever been played indoors.

Even if it's raining heavily.

This has something to do with the tradition of English football. The tradition of English football is one of great appreciation of physical confrontation. Also appreciate the players against nature. So the dome won't be closed just because of the slightest thing.

Of course, there is also a reason that many stadiums in England do not have the design of closing the dome.

But the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is designed like that. The dome can be closed. However, if the dome is closed, the Carabao Cup final will be the first major indoor match in English football history.

Jack can't help but think about it.

"What's the temperature now?"

"Around zero."

"Zero degrees. Zero. ”

Jack is going to make an assessment, to assess the current situation. The temperature in Cardiff in February was not low, although it was late afternoon, and the temperature should have been around three to four degrees.

But today it rained and the temperature was between zero and one degree.

When it comes into contact with rain, it becomes very cold. This is not a common occurrence in Cardiff. Jack looked at the fans who had already started looking for seats and made a decision. He said to Andrew, "Andrew, I agree to close the dome. ”

"I see."

Jack decides, and Andrew just has to do what he is told. It's not a big deal anyway. The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff has been built since then. There was little chance to close the dome, and this time there was such an opportunity, and Andrew was even happier. Because he was able to show the world the advanced things at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Soon the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff began to close its dome.

"Close the dome, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is closing the dome right now. It looks like the referee decided the weather was not suitable for playing in the open air today. Today's weather is indeed bad, mainly because the temperature is too low and a little cold. ”

The League Cup final, this match was Andy. Gray and Martin. Taylor's partner commentary.

These two are two of Sky's best commentators, and certainly two of the highest-paid commentators in England. Like Andy. Gray, when he was a player, won the Champions League with Aston Villa.

He's a very good player.

But on achievement. His achievements on the pitch are nowhere near as good as his achievements in front of the camera. After switching careers to become a commentator, he quickly became one of the best commentators in England.

Just look at his salary.

His contract with Sky TV is calculated on a weekly basis. Andy. Gray's weekly salary is £20,000, and Sky TV alone earns more than £1 million a year. It's just Andy. Gray's earnings from Sky TV commentary.

Millions of pounds, in the current Premier League. On the players, they can be regarded as mid-stream.

Andy from income. Gray is more than the BBC's Mortensen and also more than his partner Martin. Taylor. He is currently the highest-paid football commentator in English football.

Of course like Andy. The income of a famous narrator like Gray is not just the income of a narrator. There are also some TV reviews, newspaper reviews, and even some advertising revenue. This adds up to more than two million pounds a year.

"A lot of people say that the referee of the game, Jack. Referee Lee is always accompanied by controversy. There is always no shortage of news about him. I think it's well deserved. In the midst of the controversy, he officiated in the League Cup final, but he didn't expect to catch up with such weather. The dome was closed. He has once again made history in English football. The first major tournament to be played indoors. ”

Martin. Taylor laughed as he spoke.

"yes. Jack. Referee Li will have news wherever he goes. is more star than a star, and is definitely a star in the refereeing world. ”

Many fans who entered the stadium were very surprised. Because they are also used to watching games in the open air, they didn't expect today's League Cup final to be played indoors.

But they were just accidents and novelties, and they didn't have any other ideas.

"The players from both sides were already in their positions and they followed the referee into the pitch. Jack. Referee Lee shook hands with the head coaches of both teams and looked at Hoddle's face. Hehehe. ”

Originally, Jack didn't have to communicate with the coaches of the two teams before the game. Because it's not a rule, it's not an unspoken rule.

But when Jack came out, Hoddle was the first to come over and greet Jack. Jack was already in the midst of controversy, and of course he couldn't snub Hoddle at this time.

Otherwise, he will really sit down and not wait to see Tottenham. That would be bad for Jack's reputation.

Hoddle took the initiative to greet Jack and then shook hands. But the expression on the face is poor. Jack wanted to throw up. If you are so reluctant to greet me, why should you be pretending? It only made Jack even angrier.

But again, Jack can't favor one over the other. So after Jack and Hoddle finished saying hello. Immediately shook hands with Blackburn's head coach Souness. Souness was once one of the top stars in English football.

He was the core of the midfield in the heyday of the Liverpool dynasty and made great contributions to the Liverpool dynasty. Won three European Champions Cups at Liverpool. At the time, it was known as a "violin-playing beast". Even if he later became a head coach, the results were not too bad, but it was still okay.

However, Souness and Tottenham have a relationship.

Souness was a member of Tottenham's academy and only played one game at Tottenham before moving to Middlesbrough. Souness should be said to have made his mark at Middlesbrough, having been taken away by Liverpool.

Souness is a tough guy on the field, but after becoming a manager, his temper is quite mild.

"The game is about to start. Now for some tidbits before the game. Martin, what do you think of this game? ”

'There is a lot of hope for Tottenham.

Martin. Taylor gave the answer directly. "You see, Tottenham's results in the Premier League this season are not very good, it looks like there is no possibility of getting a Champions League place, and it is very difficult to get a place in the UEFA Cup. That being the case, the Carabao Cup is the only title they can fight for, and they can also play in the UEFA Cup. On the contrary, Blackburn Rovers have a very serious relegation situation this season and may be relegated if they are not careful. ”

"yes."

Andy. Gray nodded. Kind of supporting Martin. Taylor's point of view. "Before the game, Coach Souness said that he was more concerned about relegation than the League Cup final. I think for Blackburn Rovers to win a League Cup. They were delighted. But even if we don't win the Carabao Cup, there is not much disappointment. ”

"But that's not Jack. Referee Lee? Tottenham had been questioning Jack before the game. Referee Lee is an Arsenal fan. Also write reports. Hopefully we can change the referee for this game. ”

Martin. Taylor saw that there was still some time left in the game and began to talk to Andy. Gray. The commentators in England were very formal during the game. Or maybe they're all serious, so the England commentators are very boring in the game.

Because when they explained. It's all long numbers. They are very sensitive to numbers, what records, how many goals the team scores, how many goals the players score, etc., are all their forte. Many of them blurt out these things, and they don't need to look up information at all, which is their forte. But they lack passion and humor, and in the eyes of some ordinary fans, there are only dry commentaries.

Compared with the passionate commentators in South America, the fun is much worse. But when it's not time to play, they joke too.

"Arsenal fans? If Jack. Referee Lee is an Arsenal fan and I'm sure Vieira will definitely refute it. ”

"Hahaha."

Andy. Gray was referring to Jack's red card for Patrick Vieira when he was in charge of an Arsenal game last season. Jack not only sent Vieira off, but also sued Vieira at the referee's committee.

It was because of Jack's report that Vieira was banned for several games. Arsene Wenger had a big opinion of Jack at the time, and the whole Arsenal fans didn't want to see him.

Unexpectedly, Tottenham fans this season think that Jack is an Arsenal fan, which is a very funny thing.

"But in this game, all the media is watching Jack's performance. After all, there was so much controversy before the game. ”

'Yes, it's really rare in the history of English football. That is, Jack has such a controversy. ”

In the League Cup final, it is indeed the first time that a referee has such a storm before the final. After all, it is all too rare for one side to want a different referee before the game. Therefore, it is also a matter of great concern. The media is also concerned about how Jack will enforce the law in this game.

If this game, Jack is really unfavorable to Tottenham's penalty, and then Jack will not be able to jump into the Yellow River. At that time, Tottenham will have a lot of words on the side, and they will definitely chase after Jack. For Jack's refereeing career, it must have had a big impact.

Of course, if Jack performs well in such a competition, then Jack's fame will definitely go further.

"Toot-"

Jack looked at the game time and blew the whistle for the start of the game.

It's been almost eight years since Jack was qualified to referee, and this is the first time he has officiated such an important game. Jack has not even officiated the promotion play-off final of the lower leagues until now, but he can reach the League Cup final in one step, which is a huge test for Jack.

Although Jack always thought that he had a big heart before the game, he was not afraid or nervous at all. But after really standing at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Jack was still nervous. Anyway, it's a League Cup final.

"The referee blew the whistle for the game. Hello everyone, this is the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. I'm Andy. Gray, I'm partnered with our old friend Martin. Taylor. We're talking about the 2002 League Cup final, which was between Tottenham and Blackburn, so let's look forward to a good game. (To be continued......)