We all make mistakes Phil, especially referees

Sometimes admitting you've made a mistake is one of the hardest things in life. It's fortunate, then, that saying you're wrong is actually going out of fashion.

Recently I had to attend one of those seminars for people caught breaking the speed limit in a 30mph zone. It was nothing like I was expecting.

A group of us shamed drivers gathered in a small building up near Cribbs, waiting for the condemnation to begin.

I was certain it would involve taking turns to sit in a darkened room with two burly police officers, forced to watch clip after clip of innocent-looking schoolchildren.

The films would then stop, as the officers leaned close to grow: "You could have ploughed one of those sweet kids down, you piece of scum," followed by a beating with some sort of driving manual.

It was nothing like that of course. We drank free coffee and nibbled on biscuits as two council workers gently explained that, well, it might be a good idea not to speed, and listed the reasons why.

The worst thing that happened was being quizzed on the highway code, and getting most of the answers wrong.

The people who conduct these seminars have realised that finger-pointing and moralising just won't work.

Sport reflects life, and nobody accepts criticism very well these days.

Joe Kinnear's famous 'bleep' press conference this season, when the censors had to go into overdrive, is a good example.

Cast your eye over the tabloids any Sunday or Monday, and it's clear managers and players are adept at blaming someone else.

But Chelsea boss Phil Scolari caught my attention this week though, when he launched a rant about the performance of referee Mike Dean at Stamford Bridge as Arsenal turned the match on its head to win 2-1, Robin Van Persie equalising from an offside position.

"He is human and he can make a mistake, but the offside has killed my team," frothed Scolari.

"I just want them (the officials) to say they are wrong, because I am wrong when I put some players in, or the players are wrong when they make a mistake in front of goal or are not covering.

"These are all wrong, but the referee is never wrong."

Phil needs to spend a bit more time in England methinks, because as we all know, it's acutally the other way round.

Managers are never wrong, and referees never get it right.

As soon as Phil picks that up he'll fit right in.