It’s A Reffing Conundrum
Apr 28th, 2011 by 'holic
Apologies for the late post. I have just been watching Thomas Vermaelen complete a very satisfactory ninety minutes for the reserves in a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. Surprise, surprise there was a refereeing controversy when Aliadiere was brought down in the box by the United ‘keeper but then adjudged offside, from a backpass!
That comes on top of dark mutterings that followed the officiating at last night’s El Farcico that got me thinking, yet again, about the standard of refereeing generally at the moment. It is no secret I feel that standard has dropped considerably, but at the same time I have to accept that the poor beggar last night had little chance of coming out of a theatrical performance beyond anything I have ever witnessed on the field of play with any credit. Barca and Real together produced the worst exhibition of card-waving, diving, play-acting, injury-feigning and general snideyness I think have witnessed.
The excellent Football Farrago put out an interesting piece the other week in defence of the man in the middle, and some valid arguments were contained therein. The idea about the refcam is one that older readers will recall has already been tried, sort of, back in the eighties. Referees were mic’d up for a couple of Arsenal games and followed by a dedicated camera for an eye-opening documentary. I don’t think too many were surprised that Tony Adams proved to be a star of the show, screaming “You ****ing cheat” at the man in the middle at the Den and picking up a deserved booking into the bargain. Even better his antics at Anfield when Liverpool were awarded a free-kick on the edge of our box, Steve McMahon started bleating to the referee, and then melted when our Tone enquired. somewhat forcefully, “Do you want some as well?”
The reference back to the eighties is an interesting one, I think. Up until then unless you actually went to games every week then your experience of football was a couple of highlights shows which maybe covered ten to twenty minutes of half a dozen games. There were weeks where you didn’t even get to see your team at all. Usually only the most blatant of errors were highlighted, and the presenters, keen to maintain the image that the authorities were in control of the upstart players, were largely full of praise for those who ‘let the game flow’ or officiated ‘in the spirit rather than the letter’ of the law.
Excuses covering up mistakes they could have been, but at the same time I think the amount of energy expended by players in those days (few matches were high-tempo for ninety minutes), allied to the fact that cheating was certainly far short of the excesses displayed today (it happened, but rarely), may well have made the game easier for a man not far short of his fiftieth birthday to keep up with and control.
Today though the game is played on watered carpets, with a lightweight ball, by finely-tuned athletes who have also developed the dark arts of seeking advantage by any method at all times. I’ll accept that our poor old referees today have a much harder job on their hands. I also think it is time they were provided with some help from the authorities. Every game in the top flight these days can be viewed for ninety minutes, then replayed over and over. The football watching public has permanent and regular reminders of the performance of the players, and those supposedly in control of the games.
It is frankly now indefensible that technology is not more widely used at the highest level. Nobody wants games to be stopped for minutes on end, but I don’t think it is beyond the wit of man that a video official could call the man in the middles attention to factual errors during the course of a game, and within a reasonable space of time go back to overturn those errors.
That is just the beginning though. It is wrong that after matches the referee submits his report, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred nothing further can be reviewed because ‘he saw it and dealt with it at the time’. It has to be right that the match officials can sit down with a ruling official or panel after the game to review issues, possibly overturn cards wrongly issued, or award cards for incidents that could not be clearly seen at normal speed in one viewing.
Whether you consider them incompetent, or just prone to human error, surely now is the perfect time to provide the useless sods (only kidding, sort of!) with help that is readily available? Football will be a better game for it.
59 Responses to “It’s A Reffing Conundrum”
first?
Way Hey! That’s my hat trick in the bag! Drink for everyone in the bar please barman!
Oh wait… it’s empty! lol π
Hello Mark.
This one is on me π
Will ref for good wages.
I’ll have a nightcap thanks Mark.
Good piece ‘holic. Let’s not forget for once France is ahead, at least when it comes to video review of games for disciplinary matters.
Tres bon, Ollie π
Good old YouTube
Once again holic, top blog.
I have been musing over this seasons failings once again, and can’t quite simply shrug off the monumentally crap decisions we have seen, not just this year either.
Saha being 2 yards offside, AA scoring the winner v S’land, RVP the same against the LWC’s (arguably)… all just for starters
So perhaps our woes aren’t just the lack of Plan B or a couple of players not putting the shift in… it’s the collective thing, one week it’s this, the next week it’s that.
Lucky old Arsenal eh? π
Have a pint back mate π
Tell you what that Ref!cam piece is brilliant, whoever wrote that is a genius…
OK onto my serious points – I disagree that refereeing has got worse. If anything I reckon it’s got better, it’s just that with so many camera angles and countless replays, youtube videos and internet forums for fans to castigate officials, small mistakes are magnified a hundred times.
It’s like newspapers reporting on knife crime, burglaries, rape and the like. Recent statistics actually showed crime has actually decreased in recent times, but because of the blanket media coverage we FEEL like it’s got worse. Especially if you’ve been the victim of a crime. Personal experience often masks larger trends – like a football fan seeing a referee give one penalty that shouldn’t have been, which resulted in his team losing to a late goal. He forgets all the dodgy decisions that went for his team. It’s almost like George Orwell’s double think.
Re. video technology, I’m with Platini. Leave it alone, let sports like cricket and tennis use it, where physical contact is never an issue. It’s great at deciding ‘black and white’ issues like whether a ball had crossed a line, but I can’t see how it can be used for fouls. Slow motion often actually makes it harder to determine whether a foul was committed, as it’s difficult to see how much force was administered. How much does it take for Drogba to fall over? How much SHOULD it take? A camera can never tell you that.
Maybe offsides could be monitored by a camera, but even then we’d probably have pub debates about whether the guy’s left bollock was making him offside or not.
Overall, I say give the referees more training, more money, and more power. If they got the nod from FIFA/The Fa/whoever, I bet they’d love to send off moaning, swearing players as they’ll instructed to do in the laws of the game. If one season, in the first round of games 60 players were sent off for arguing, they’d soon realise it’s not that hard to act like rugby players and accept the official’s decisions, even if they know he’s wrong. This would have to be implemented worldwide, so maybe it’s out of the question, but I think it’d solve the ‘problem’ (I use inverted commas because I don’t think it really is a problem, it’s been created by Sky TV, tabloid papers and drunk/bitter fans).
Oh and by the way, I missed the 80s documentary because I probably wasn’t born then – can I get hold of it somewhere?
Brill find Holic π
Not sure it’s an 80’s documentary FF, I think it’s ‘Football Years’ screened during the 90’s & 00’s (2 series), it was on Sky and Bravo.
I refuse on moral grounds/can’t afford to buy a Sky subscription
Looking at our kit that is 1988-89, Mark. Millwall were promoted for one season. Lively day that was.
It was a Channel 4 documentary, The Man In Black, possibly screened 1990.
The standard has got worse. I put it down to the poor home support at The Grove.
Heh π
Only joking.
On a train home from work. I will call back later with my comments.
I think the National Hockey League (NHL) in the United States has a great system that should be adopted by FIFA. There’s a “control room” where all matches are viewed in real time by a number of officials. If there’s a questionable call during any game, the ref signals he would like it reviewed and they look at the replays instantaneously in the control room and the correct call is relayed to the ref in less than 1 minute in most cases…often times less than 30 seconds. With wireless technology being where it is, the ref wouldn’t even have to leave the field of play to get the correct ruling on a call. It would certainly make sense to use this type of technology for questionable offsides, penalty, or red card decisions.
It doesn’t make sense that officials are unaccountable. It’s bad enough when they make mistakes, but it’s far worse when they are, in effect, both cops AND robbers.
Steve “One Minute to Go” McMahon whined in the face of Tony Adams? I’m not surprised. Adams should’ve grabbed him and thrown him to Niall Quinn, thus saving Quinny the three-year wait for the incident that led to the song “Niall Quinn’s Disco Pants.”
I’m not sure who I dislike more, Steve McMahon or Steve McManaman, the yutz who predicted a 3-1 win for England over the U.S. during ESPN’s World Cup coverage, and then had to have Mike Tirico tell him who Bill Buckner is. But then, what does he know? He played for Real Madrid! Probably a whiner and a diver, too.
Great post holic.
Mourinho is an antagonistic egomaniac who does not play football in the right spirit-playing such defensive tactics at home backfired on him.
I do have some sympathy for his players though. Barcelona play a very intricate technical game preventing their opponent from having possession of the ball.
There has always been a tendency to marvel at their skill but completely ignore the other side of their tactical set up-how does one team retain possession of over 70% of the time the ball is in play- against a team like RM or even us this is an extraordinary statistic.
There is no doubt that diving, feigning injury and unfairly milking refereeing decisions are integral to the very effective pressing tactics of Barcelona’s. When they get tackled-they dive, roll over, feign injury-and invariably convince the ref to give them a free kick or more. Its a great way to keep possession when you have lost it.
Perhaps there is an accumulation of pressure on refs in Barcelona’s big games- largely orchestrated by Barcelona players which results in opponents being sent off for minor infringements-like RVP for example and Barcelona players going unpunished.
Assuming the refs are not corrupt-and I althoughI don’t think you can accuse without evidence-some of these refs do seem to favour Barcelona FC unacceptably.
I am not sure there are refs out there who are fit enough or strong enough to penalise these tactics of Barcelona-and FIFA does not have the nerve to mic up refs and tackle the Barcelona players diving.
Does Eufa not need to develop an elite school of excellence for refs?
But the bias of referees in favour of Manchester United is equally obvious-over 12 points gifted by referees this season terrified of giving penalties against them. Their players have an enormous advantage over their rivals. The pressure on refs in Britain is largely conducted off the field by the Scottish bully and a very captive media.
The obvious question which you don’t raise is that of corruption-is that why FIFA are so dead set against technological aids?
“Does Eufa (sic) not need to develop an elite school of excellence for refs?”
That’d be a great idea – but only when they start paying them accordingly too. At the moment refs earn about Β£30k a year I think, a bit more if they get a final or two.
Going back to the discussion on the protest, my major beef with the club is the contracts our young and often “reserve” players are on.
Care to join me in a drop of claret/
CoYRRR’s
Cricket & Rugby have video-based decisions, so why not Football ?
I know it needs thought and consideration, but I’m in favour.
Holic
My thoughts for what they are worth,
Referees have a very difficult job,no question about it,they have to make a decision based on one viewing of an incident,and it’s not surprising that they get some wrong.
They are also between a rock and a hard place with virtually all players well versed in the dark arts of blind side tackles/elbows/diving etc.
Then surrounding referees and waving imaginary cards,pressuring them to book/send someone off.
In a lot of instances a Referee doesn’t have a lot of room to move decision wise,particularly if he is unsure if something is deliberately commited or is accidental.
Let’s give him 2 more strings to his bow.
1,Introduce the Sin Bin,similar to other sports like Rugby Union and League,this would allow the Ref another option for players constant swearing/harrasment/card waving etc.
10 mins on the sidelines for constant offenders and the
Managers would soon be telling their players to behave and show the ref some respect.
2,Introduce an ‘ On Report ‘ option.
This will also allow the Ref with difficult decisions,and not wishing to
ruin a game with a send off,to put the offending player on report when the incident occurs,which can then be reviewed by the Match Commitee after the game.
Players can then be Cited or cleared depending on Video evidence.
The system seems to work well in Union and League and whilst not perfect,it has made a difference to player behaviour.
I am not advocating using either of the above for clear violent conduct where a red card is the only punishment,only use it for what it is intended.
This would make the ref’s job a lot less stressful and would certainly make players more accountable for their actions/behavior.
Cheers
Clive
Totally agree Holic!
I was once told that knowone wants to be responsible for changing laws!
So they remain the same! π
Wow thatβs 3/3 of my points touched upon. The world is not perfect but these fine tweaks are the difference for a championship side.
Even Hansen had to admit he was becoming a Gooner. That’s because we have humbled him over the past two seasons. Interestingly enough he stuck the following statement within his pre-match review:
“They should have had penalties given against them at West Bromwich Albion and Blackpool that could have proved crucial, Wayne Rooney’s elbow was missed early on at Wigan and Nemanja Vidic should have been sent off when they were losing at West Ham United.”
Its clear Hansen didn’t want to open the issue too much. He sounds like an intelligent man on paper. There was no way he could over look such blatant facts!
A Lemon and lime Volvic should do please Barman!
As for decisions down at the Camp Nou? π
Whereβs the supporters Association when you need them? π
…I feel so sorry for the lads. They’ve had it tough. I know I almost cringe everytime I watch a 50/50 challenge nowadays.
But then how do you then defend high up the pitch?
Possession works for so long (in the prem) but then you have to deal with in your face tactics.
I know Alex Song has the right idea (just ask the Legendary Gordon Strachan). However not everyone has that sort of upper body strength to throw around (just ask Jack ;))
..There you go, that’s it for now… π
I think you make some great points Holic. I never ever thought I would say this but I actually have a fair bit of sympathy for the officials. I think their job is 10 times harder for many of the reasons raised above. I do get very annoyed when I hear managers complain about decisions when they clearly send their players out with a certain brief. I do not exonerate us from that either. Alves yesterday was a prime example. He was hardly touched and fell to the ground screaming. When he hit the ground it was as if someone had stuffed 10,000 volts up his arse the way he jumped up again. Players con refs all the time. Players cheat all of the time. Until that stops I do not see how the officials can be held totally accountable.
I do think technology should be used. Nothing annoys me more when watching the game on the box and they talk about an off side. Then, with the use of technology they establish that a player was 17cm offside? Quite frankly if that is how marginal you are talking then if you are not going to use technology then don’t moan at the officials. Just get on with it.
I think we can learn a few things from rugby. I would definitely bring in a time keeper. The ref then can stop the time every time there is a substitution or an injury. That would put an end to the ridiculous practice of making 2 separate changes in injury time just to waste time. It would also stop events like those against Liverpool a few weeks ago. I would also only allow the captain to approach the ref. Anyone else gets a straight yellow card. That would soon stop it.
I agree with the retrospective part as well. I think all games should be reviewed. If there are cards to be handed out then so be it. That sounds a dangerous thing to say and no doubt in the initial stages it would cause carnage, but in the long run players would soon learn. 10 games into a season if you had 4/5 players already suspended then you would not be making those mistakes again.
We all know it goes on and we all know it goes on at all clubs. Personally I hate all of the diving. I find it embarrassing. But I struggle to see how we can really criticise officials too much when players are schooled and briefed in that way.
They have no viable excuse for not using cameras to help the referee. There really is no down side, the ref gets some help, faster calls, the ref doesnt get a verbal beating, and above all, ACCURATE calls. For f***s sake just use the cameras they use for replays, thats more than good enough. Are you telling me they cant use any of the cameras littered around the field to make life a little easier for everyone. The only reason I can come up with for not doing so is the most obvious, if you can prove its the wrong call then you cant get the specific outcome you wanted. Frankly I’m not much for conspiracy theories, I try to keep my paranoia down to a healthy limit, but either some refs seriously have an agenda, or there are some very rich men pulling the strings behind the scenes
If “Fin” is right, and they use video replay for rugby, then, damn it, use it for football! Especially against clubs like “Stoke City RFC”!
Holic,
Good post on a very important topic.
I think the refereeing is a disgrace, primarily because:
1. there is no consistency
2. there is an abject lack of respect for the ref
3. the cheating culture of diving and simulation is allowed and fostered
The administration must intervene. The last world cup was a comedy. It was a joke. The league this year was the lowest standard of refereeing I have ever seen. Its a multi-billion pound industry and we can’t even get the refereeing right…!
In the past, referees were allowed to use their own discretion, and this worked better because rational referees could make rational decisions. Now we see a lad last week booked because he raised his shirt to commemorate his late father who died in a motorcycle accident, yet the referee had to book him because of some stupid rule. Idiotic.
If a bunch of rugby players can play a game whereby all the big decisions are generally always right – with a sense of respect for the ref – then there is no reason why this can’t be replicated in soccer. It just needs higher standards from the administrators. How long more must people suffer and wait?
@Joe – Do you really think the refereeing at the South Africa World Cup was a joke? I thought it was the best officiated tournaments I’ve seen. Didn’t see a clearly (I’m talking one that I was pretty sure about upon first viewing) incorrect offside decision until about my tenth game, and overall there were only handful of obvious errors. Re. the final, I think Howard Webb did a brilliant job. Maybe he should have sent De Jong off, but he’s admitted he would have, had he seen it properly. He can only give what he’s seen, and he saw 99% of it in that final.
Le Boss made a lot interesting points at his press conference today!
Here’s an excerpt:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-wembley-defeat-was-a-turning-point
Holic I definitely agree with you in that there is a glaring need for video technology to be used in football to correct refereeing’s most obvious errors. The only drawback I can see is manager’s inability to deflect the reason for the loss onto the referee. Wenger for that reason alone might be opposed. (Sorry Arsene, you know I’m a member of the AKB brigade!)
GT. Just read the AW comments. I guess that finally tells us the the talk of mental strength was all rubbish then? Something I think that deep down we all knew anyway. Let’s hope that is dealt with ASAP.
“Surprise, surprise there was a refereeing controversy when Aliadiere was brought down in the box by the United βkeeper but then adjudged offside, from a backpass!”
Aren’t you just a biased Gooner? No mention of the fact that in the first half Shea should have been sent off?
@GoonerGerry
“But the bias of referees in favour of Manchester United is equally obvious-over 12 points gifted by referees this season terrified of giving penalties against them. Their players have an enormous advantage over their rivals. The pressure on refs in Britain is largely conducted off the field by the Scottish bully and a very captive media.”
There you go again! No mention of the Brummies goal against us which was an offside AND a foul. No mention of the CSKA London game, where Sideshow Bob should have been sent off and the softest of penalties was given against Utd? No mention of the Rafael red at WHL which was not even close to a red? No mention of Carragher’s ‘tackle’ on Nani, which was only a yellow?…These are just the ones off the top of my head. I’m pretty sure if I search more i’ll find dozens other ‘bias TOWARDS Manchester United’ decisions.
And yes, I agree that something needs to be done about the refereeing. Video replays are used in Rugby, which is arguably a ‘faster’ game than soccer, yet i’ve not really seen how it affects the game so badly.
Excellent post, ‘holic
1.Video technology should be used to rule out an offside goal.
Question now is the stoppage in the game. Purists don’t want an interruption to the flow of the game. How long will it take to review a goal (by an official off the pitch) to deem a goal as illegitimate? I would guess about one minute. If it’s too tight to call, the original decision ie., the goal stands. I think this can be implemented.
2.To award a legitimate goal which was ruled out as offside, is not feasible because the defenders may have stopped defending when the flag was raised. So that scenario, we will have to depend on the ref to make the right call.
I can’t think of any other options
3. Review of offences after the game
Here, an official has to review a match and any offenders who were unpunished must be given appropriate suspensions Re:Rooney elbow
4. I agree with Steve T about the yellow card for any other player approaching the ref other than the captain. When you can give a yellow card for excessive celebration, then this can be implemented as well
Steve T –
Yeah keeping with the theme of pre-end of season debating as much as I possibly can, the very minor adjustments will definitely need to be addressed.
My guess is that a lot of AW’s mid season comments are made for a psychological purpose in an attempt to install belief in the players.
If I’m being honest, the same enthusiasm which I had before the CC final was different afterwards.
Maybe sometimes when you are placing all of your energy and expectations into one area in life, you then may not be fully mentally prepared for that sudden switch needed within the following fourteen days, in particular another major setback and then a big game three days later, especially if you’ve never been in that position before (you could also add influential key absentees).
I’m not to attempting to make up excuses, but another analogy could go something like this; although it’s still mathematically possible for three teams to win the league, only one know at this stage they will. π
I think Lemon and Ginger Tea should help me to fully wake π
Just to address video technology a little bit, there is a very fine line when it comes to what should be considered a penalty or not.
That is when it should then come down to the refβs decision making.
Pundits often reiterate that it takes them seconds to analyse an incident.
After an incident has been analysed, the Ref needs to make the right decision and then some.
This could possibly serve as a deterrent and reduce the number of dives and at the same time increase the number of chance!
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2011/04/29/001725_obraniak-prend-deux-matches.html
usual example. As I say, week in, week out, these things happen over here.
The incident doesn’t have to be played and replayed on television, or highlighted in any other media; they just go on with their job.
Morning All, this is a great way to stay away from weddings on the telly.
Really good post ‘Holic and helps to unite Gooners of all persuasions as we can all finally agree on something π
Most of the above posting reflects my views too.
Technology is the only way to help the refs keep up with the speed and ‘dark arts’ of the modern game. It’s reliable and fast and with just a little organisation would hardly interrupt the flow of the game, if at all. In any case, there’s usually a stoppage over any difficult decision as players rush around arguing, pushing and shoving and posturing, so what’s the difference?
There doesn’t seem to be any clear and reasonable argument from the FA, UEFA or FIFA to not use technology. Maybe they enjoy a little of the ‘dark arts’ themselves?
Mmmm….
‘Holic we seem to be in need of more new dilithium crystals.
There seems to be a random capitalization of letters going on. or is it just my creaking laptop?
No, must have been me. Please ignore….
Give them help?
I guess me and the guys will have to put away the pitchforks and noose then….. π
3 things that they could do straight away that would improve the game:
1. Red card for blatant cheating – it may take a while and some mistakes would be made along the way (and we would have to take our medicine like everyone else) but it would ultimately stop it.
2. Goal-line technology – already available and effective in other sports and if used, Fat Frank would have another international goal to his name π
3. Retrospective reviews for violent conduct irrespective of whatever is in the referees report.
Wednesday’s behaviour by both sides was an embarrasment to the game.
I’m on holiday – is the bar open?
…maybe Graham Poll would make a good video referee π
Oh yes, it’s open zico. Unlike the MC which is locked – can’t think why? π
…. good point BTW, esp. #3. Joey Barton and the mutants from The Potteries beware.
TS – I can only assume that there has been some mal-administration at your local sorting office.
Thanks for your cheque btw, it bounced when it hit the doormat!
@Red-devil
I like your style. Of course referees aren’t biased. Maybe some of them allow the,selves to be bullied sometimes but on the whole they are just trying ti give what they see. Saying it’s all fair and it evens out doesn’t fit with the script though does it? Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and now Man City fans need something to blame when thing don’t go their way. Blaming a referee is an easy way to let off a bit of steam and keep up the illusion your team’s actually the best. *Awaits angry response from Gooners*
@47.
No angry response from me. I think we have had some poor decisions but we fans can be very selective with out memories at times. We never seem to remember when things go our way but as soon as something goes against we are the most sinned club in the world. In life we seem to live in a blame culture now so taking responsibilty may be alien to some. For me personally it drives me nuts.
Well, if the bar is open I’ll have a drink before I leave from work then..or just after..Not really sure if it’s after or before since I’m posting from work π
Cheers
FootballFarrago: you fcuking eejit, everone knowz reffs h8 Arsenal!!1!! π
Kidding aside, I think that having the refs review games on video afterwards and then reporting yellow/red card offenses as well as rescinding yellows/reds would be a very good idea. Also, give a yellow card to anyone who protests against a decision unless it is the captain and said captain addresses the ref in a civilized manner.
TS: in the lunch room here at my workplace, we have a tv and someone had switched it on and it was of course showing the wedding. There was about ten of us around it and while all the females around the tv were going “ooh, I want to see her dress!” I and all the other males were going “bloody hell, it must be a pain to try to drive anywhere in central London today with all those roads being closed off”…
Lars @ #50
Heh! The Management is next door cooing misty-eyed in front of the TV, bless.
I’m listening to the Arsecast (intro is very dark), typing this post and getting on with some other work. Who said men can’t multi-task?
Right, getting bored of ‘Cesc’s off’ and ‘Refs need help’. Bring on Sunday and a rip-roaring, blood-curdling football match vs The Mancs. By god we need a win!
Footballfarrago,
I guess we agree to disagree. Despite the fact that I think Webb tried his best to make a spectacle of the game in the final, his goodwill was taken advantage of by the Dutch. The Dutch knew that no referee would want to send players off in arguably the biggest football spectacle in the world. De Jong and Van Bommell should have been sent off. In truth, Webb bottled it and would have garnered far more respect if he dealt with the Dutch approach to the game in the manner it deserved. The game ended up being an eyesore for all football fans. The same with the fiasco on Wednesday. Physical abuse, diving, abusing the referee, faking injury, trying to get other players booked,…..etc – should not be tolerated at any level and should be severely punished. Its no coincidence that this shit doesn’t happen in Rugby, because its just not tolerated. Rugby is administered and refereed in a more competent manner, through the use of video technology, sin bins, citing players who have misbehaved and retrospective action being taken when necessary. Its not perfect, but its a damn site better than the consistent errors we see week in week out in the PL and major tournaments.
Ronaldo earns over a 200k a game. Do you think that I should pay money to watch him behave like a fucking 2 year old child as soon as someone brushes against him? Do players like Ronaldo, Drogba, Rooney – really need to resort to this behaviour? If your/my son grows up to be a talented player, what do you think he’s going to do if he gets tackled in the penalty area when he’s being watching prima donnas like Ronaldo get away with diving?
Cheating is endemic in the game and it needs to be ruthlessly stamped out if the game is to have any credibility for the next generation. And this all starts with how the game is administered and refereed.
Great article Holic – a hugely important one at that..!
I agree with every single word Joe, bravo.
How anyone can think that Howard Webb had a good game at the world cup final beggars belief.
Re: Lars@50, When you suggest to “give a yellow card to anyone who protests against a decision unless it is the captain” I must say it sounds like a good idea. The main consequence of this would be Nani immediately being given a permanent yellow card!
Trouble is most of the review panels are manned by ex-Scum players.
Would n’t be too clever for us
Referees do come in for a lot of criticism and so does the game in general these days for the way that players surround referees, swear at and argue with referees, dive, feign injury and make horrendous, career threatening tackles justified by some pundit declaring, “I think he got a bit of the ball there” and so on.
The answer lies almost entirely with the referees and the sports governing bodies. First the existing laws must be fully understood and ruthlessly applied. Surrounding a referee, swearing at him or her and arguing with him/her is dissent and warrants a yellow card. The bad tackles demand a yellow card because it is a tackle which is ‘careless, reckless or using excessive force’. The law makes no mention of the ball so whether or not the player making the tackle ‘got a bit of it’ or not is irrelevant. Careless, reckless or excessively forceful tackles should be punished with a yellow card. If yellow cards were given as a matter of course rather than only in the more extreme circumstances things would soon improve.
A law should be made – if it doesn’t already exist – that only the captain can speak to a referee and then only to ask a question seeking clarification, not in order to argue or dispute a decision.
I remember Brian Clough once saying (and his teams almost never argued with a ref or caused any sort of trouble) that the way to stop bad behaviour from players is to fine the manager. Worth considering perhaps?
The problem isn’t so much bad or incompetent refereeing, although mistakes are made of course because refs are human, but weak, inconsistent refereeing and a reluctance to apply the letter of the law. I sometimes think that refs are far too friendly with the players and they fail to keep a distance between themselves and the players. It is much harder to book someone you’re friendly with. It is commonplace to see players – especially from certain teams – cosy up to the ref before a game or at half time and this should not be allowed. There is no need for any player, other than the captain as outlined above, to speak to a referee before, during or after a game. They are not and shouldn’t be mates.
If referees haven’t got the respect of the players it is because they have lost it, because of the way they fail to keep order on the pitch because of a reluctance to apply the laws of the game and an apparent desire to be mates with the players rather than just do their job. Referees in Rugby have more respect because they command it because of the way they conduct themselves and do their job not because they want to be mates with the players.
norfolk dumpling has hit on a very important point: television pundits DO affect the way games are refereed, and they have no right.
… at least so long as referees listed to television pundits as the rest of us do.
Had video technology been available to the referees of today’s Chelsea-Tottenham match, both Chelsea goals would have been disallowed without question. Arsenal can point to many games this season which would have had altered results if critical decisions could be reviewed.