Referees

[Westwood52]

I can’t stand Liverpool FC ;probably because I grew up with them winning the League nearly every year.However,how can that be a penalty for Everton’s second goal ? TAA is just lying on the ground,when Calvert Lewin just goes over him.As to the Sheffield U penalty claim;on balance it clearly is a penalty;although I can understand the Ref missing it in real time.But thats what VAR is for isn’t it ?
It was funny last week in the Test,when the Indian 4th umpire completely screwed up DRS.The cricket wallahs have been harping on about how efficient DRS is over VAR,then that happens.TBF in both instances it’s the official behind the screen who screws up the decision not the technology itself.
I have long argued and for once agree with Souness that it is the process in developing referees that has gone wrong.When we were able to go to Reading games,historically if we had more than three good referees across a season,we were doing well.At EFL level some are absolute shockers.

[JR]

Personally I’m glad the introduction of VAR hasn’t lessened the debate on refereeing decisions.

I was anti-VAR (and still am), with one of the main reasons being that I felt the base assumption that perfect refereeing decisions is good for the game, was incorrect.

As football fans we love debating about the ref and listening to phone-ins and pundits agonise over decisions. At times we hate decisions that go against our own team, but it’s part of what we love about the game.

[Jack Celliers]

Football has always been better with better referees, and that is still true with VAR. However, better referees are not necessarily going to produce more decisions that you agree with, because so many football decisions are subjective.

I thought that Calvert-Lewin was brought down by Trent's thigh and it was a fairly clear cut penalty, but with the Sheff Utd handball the ball hadn't travelled far enough for it to be a penalty. For me the red card was the controversial one - 50 yards out ffs.

[SCIAG]

Firstly WWFS

I can’t stand Liverpool FC ;probably because I grew up with them winning the League nearly every year.However,how can that be a penalty for Everton’s second goal ? TAA is just lying on the ground,when Calvert Lewin just goes over him.

You’re describing a foul. There is no need for any trip to be deliberate. Trent was lucky to stay on the pitch.

Disagree strongly on the quality of referees. Suspect the main reason Souness thinks there is an issue is because he’s an idiot who has never refereed a game in his life or even looked at a law book. There’s only been one or two shocking performances from our referees this season, so they’re more consistent than Joao but less consistent than Morrison. There will always be things we disagree on, but the laws give the referee an awful lot of discretion. I haven’t seen any performances that have made me think that someone is the new Michael Oliver or Anthony Taylor (although the game where an opposition player got sent off for handling on the line probably comes into contention) but aside from the game where we had four penalties turned down in the second half (at least two incorrectly) I can’t think of many times a referee lost control of a game or made an awful decision.

[Franconian Royal]

Have to say that the refereeing in the UK has been atrocious for many years.

I mean, just look at the pool of Prem refs, they are the same idiots every week. I'm not even sure that any of the refs played footie, let alone know the rules properly.

I'm going to give my 10p worth and call me names all you like. I think he refs that we've been assigned in recent weeks have been at the bottom of the bottom. There were numerous 50/50s at the weekend where I thought that the ref gave too easily. Was João fouled numerous times by Fry at the weekend? Yes, I think he was. What happened to protecting the players? Fry was literally pushing him around. This is probably the reason why Porno and Moore had a go at the ref at HT.

In my opinion, VAR should also be used in the FL as well as Prem. It's not right that there are contentious decisions every week and we don't have VAR to fall back on. BUT, and this shows that I've been playing Footie Manager for too long, it should be used properly and not just for the sake of it. IF, the decision is still too hard to decide on, then VAR shouldn't be used to solve that issue (whether it be pen, red card, offside goal etc).

[Snowflake Royal]

I'm not even sure that any of the refs played footie, let alone know the rules properly.

LOL

Like most of the players have even looked at the laws of the game let alone know them. Half the managers aren't a lot better.

[Nameless]

There’s good and bad refs. Unfortunately they often get judged by people with no qualifications to make that judgement. People who think that ‘not having played the game’ is any reason why referees aren’t able to do their job , and don’t see the irony that ‘not having referees a game’ seems to be no bar to slagging officials off.
Refereeing is hard, and it must’ve about the only sport where those participating actually go out of their way to make it harder ! The prevailing attitude amongst players and managers is shockingly poor and getting steadily worse. Referees do not set out to make wrong decisions but players and managers set out to cheat....

[paultheroyal]

it is nothing to do with developing referee's. Referee's are as good now as they were back then. If there is a slight drop in standards its because they are recruiting them young and they are starting out to young so you are not getting the mid 30s guy coming through like you did back in the 90s etc.

This debate about promoting ex players needs to stop too. They will never pay anymore and you are not going to get an ex pro from League 1 earning 2k a week taking up refereeing for £400 a match or running the line for half of that either.

Refereeing and decisions are scrutinised so much more now making the problems in spectators eyes worse than it actually is. Years gone by you would argue about a ball over the line, a blatant push by a player missed for a penalty but now we seem to be debating the odd tackle here and there.

[paultheroyal]

Have to say that the refereeing in the UK has been atrocious for many years.

I mean, just look at the pool of Prem refs, they are the same idiots every week. I'm not even sure that any of the refs played footie, let alone know the rules properly.

I'm going to give my 10p worth and call me names all you like. I think he refs that we've been assigned in recent weeks have been at the bottom of the bottom. There were numerous 50/50s at the weekend where I thought that the ref gave too easily. Was João fouled numerous times by Fry at the weekend? Yes, I think he was. What happened to protecting the players? Fry was literally pushing him around. This is probably the reason why Porno and Moore had a go at the ref at HT.

In my opinion, VAR should also be used in the FL as well as Prem. It's not right that there are contentious decisions every week and we don't have VAR to fall back on. BUT, and this shows that I've been playing Footie Manager for too long, it should be used properly and not just for the sake of it. IF, the decision is still too hard to decide on, then VAR shouldn't be used to solve that issue (whether it be pen, red card, offside goal etc).

This comment is full of soundbites, cliches and pretty much anything else other than actual content or facts to back up what you are saying. 99.9% of ref's have played football at some time in their life. Referee's are treated atrociously behind the scenes, literally like the bottom of their shoe. Not allowed to speak to the media, blanked at boardroom level and we see the disregard and abuse they take from players and fans week on week. Yes you have the elite refs who are paid a fair wage at Prem Level but end of the day it is a hobby or second job to those at Championship level.

Whether phone calls at home (hope you can sleep at night) letter in post (we know where your daughter lives) followed home in car needing police escort are all worth it for the total lack of respect they get is a matter of opinion. (all those things i have experienced).

Refereeing more than now need to be cut some slack.

[paultheroyal]

Best referee in the world....



and then there is the treatment of Darren Drysdale.

[Nameless]

Have to say that the refereeing in the UK has been atrocious for many years.

I mean, just look at the pool of Prem refs, they are the same idiots every week. I'm not even sure that any of the refs played footie, let alone know the rules properly.

I'm going to give my 10p worth and call me names all you like. I think he refs that we've been assigned in recent weeks have been at the bottom of the bottom. There were numerous 50/50s at the weekend where I thought that the ref gave too easily. Was João fouled numerous times by Fry at the weekend? Yes, I think he was. What happened to protecting the players? Fry was literally pushing him around. This is probably the reason why Porno and Moore had a go at the ref at HT.

In my opinion, VAR should also be used in the FL as well as Prem. It's not right that there are contentious decisions every week and we don't have VAR to fall back on. BUT, and this shows that I've been playing Footie Manager for too long, it should be used properly and not just for the sake of it. IF, the decision is still too hard to decide on, then VAR shouldn't be used to solve that issue (whether it be pen, red card, offside goal etc).

This comment is full of soundbites, cliches and pretty much anything else other than actual content or facts to back up what you are saying. 99.9% of ref's have played football at some time in their life. Referee's are treated atrociously behind the scenes, literally like the bottom of their shoe. Not allowed to speak to the media, blanked at boardroom level and we see the disregard and abuse they take from players and fans week on week. Yes you have the elite refs who are paid a fair wage at Prem Level but end of the day it is a hobby or second job to those at Championship level.

Whether phone calls at home (hope you can sleep at night) letter in post (we know where your daughter lives) followed home in car needing police escort are all worth it for the total lack of respect they get is a matter of opinion. (all those things i have experienced).

Refereeing more than now need to be cut some slack.

Bad treatment of referees is nothing new. I qualified when I was very young (there was actually no minimum age at that time and the local RA asked lots of questions at FA level to find out if I could qualify, and then if I could ref and as there were no rules anywhere they just let me get on with it). I was doing a youth game at Prospect one Sunday and on the next pitch was a match involving the son of a former Reading player. The father was watching and took exception to a decision I made. He shouted from the touchline (remember his son was playing in the other game), after the game he marched on to the pitch and had another go at me and then as I was changing he burst into the dres8ng room and carried on his abuse. I was about 14 and he was big guy but I told him to get out. His response was ‘do you know who I am ?’. I did, but wasn’t going to,pander to his ego so I said I didn’t and told him Imwould report him and asked his name. I walked away and I did report him but despite support from the RA the BBFA did absolutely nothing. Heard so many other stories of refs at all levels getting horrendous verbal and physical abuse with little support. I think it’s better now- as a club sec we had a few issues and had a zero tolerance policy for coaches, players and parents who abused officials.

[Snowflake Royal]

Best referee in the world....



and then there is the treatment of Darren Drysdale.

brought it on themselves alongside the authorities by letting players get away with treating them like dirt and eroding standards of sportsmanship and fair play.

[bcubed]

Warnock says after Swansea game

The officials are just not good enough

Rare 'greed with Colin

[Rusty royal]

Football needs rugby union stile refereeing, only the captain can "talk" to the ref. It is rare that a rugby player "argues" with the ref and they are man enough (the ref) to admit a fault after the game. I agree that sometimes mistakes are made but players make it to easy for the ref to make that mistake, how can the 4th official (on pitchside) give a penalty from the halfway line, it's absolutely ridiculous. If (var which is too complicated) or a match monitor (mic'ed up) was up in the stand within the commentary area, they would have a better view and could just say "penalty" "corner" or whatever decision was needed. Perhaps it would stop a lot of refereeing mistakes, plus better training for them.

There is far too much money in football these days and it has ruined the game I used to love, playing and watching. Give me rugby every time now (yes I played and watched a lot of that too)

[Tails]

It’s another couple of contributory factors the pace and style of the game (less ‘hoofing’/more tight/technical play) as well as what contributes a foul.

More camera angles to pick up more things as well. The technical advancements in broadcasting gives us more evidence to subjectively review.

I can’t see any tangible evidence that things are worse than at any other point in history....but I do tend to find this view for most things held typically by the older generation (no offence).

[Millsy]

I think they should make people who want to be referees go through some sort of training so they learn the rules and how to implement them. Surely we can't just continue to go by people being referees because they own a black kit and are free on a Saturday.

[Nameless]

Football needs rugby union stile refereeing, only the captain can "talk" to the ref. It is rare that a rugby player "argues" with the ref and they are man enough (the ref) to admit a fault after the game. I agree that sometimes mistakes are made but players make it to easy for the ref to make that mistake, how can the 4th official (on pitchside) give a penalty from the halfway line, it's absolutely ridiculous. If (var which is too complicated) or a match monitor (mic'ed up) was up in the stand within the commentary area, they would have a better view and could just say "penalty" "corner" or whatever decision was needed. Perhaps it would stop a lot of refereeing mistakes, plus better training for them.

There is far too much money in football these days and it has ruined the game I used to love, playing and watching. Give me rugby every time now (yes I played and watched a lot of that too)

The 4th officials can’t give a penalty, that isn’t their job. Your concept of how the current officiating works seems a little off ! The VAR decisions are made from a studio near Heathrow using the dozens of camera angles available.It’s not a bloke sat by the pitch just giving his opinion !

[paultheroyal]

I think they should make people who want to be referees go through some sort of training so they learn the rules and how to implement them. Surely we can't just continue to go by people being referees because they own a black kit and are free on a Saturday.

so you think referee's appointed to local league matches and beyond just turn up on the day after a bit of googling perhaps?

Dont follow detailed weekly course, undertake an exam, regularly assessed, work through the leagues etc etc?

[tidus_mi2]

From my experiences going on a referee's course when I was an older teenager, this is what I found, bear in mind this is more than 10 years ago now so my memory might be a bit hazy:

1) Course was pretty straightforward, maybe a bit too easy.
2) There was nothing in place like shadowing or learning from more experienced refs which I think would be very beneficial.
3) There is very minimal protection for referees, I was taking matches for U10 teams but could hear every insult being yelled from the sides, I have much thicker skin now but back then it was hard to take and I did end up quitting less than a year in.

I think that more money needs to go into training referees as from my experiences it wasn't really a well funded thing, just one day my school offered the course to anyone who was interesting and you showed up in a room with everyone else and undertook group training sessions.

Protection would be massive I feel as there must be many like me who don't really develop that thicker skin until they are a bit older and it's why I have massive respect for the ones who do make it, especially the women as they probably get much worse than I ever did.

Until we do more to improve our training of referees we'll only ever have a limited pool to ever pick from.

[bcubed]

I think they should make people who want to be referees go through some sort of training so they learn the rules and how to implement them. Surely we can't just continue to go by people being referees because they own a black kit and are free on a Saturday.

so you think referee's appointed to local league matches and beyond just turn up on the day after a bit of googling perhaps?

Dont follow detailed weekly course, undertake an exam, regularly assessed, work through the leagues etc etc?

I am pretty sure it was a joke