Easy to point the finger at refs but they're not the only ones to blame

Football Food For Thought / Paul Moon / 26 November 2009 / 4

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">

Andre Marriner was the man in charge when Manchester United visted Anfield and Jamie Carragher hauled down Michael Owen but stayed on the pitch.

"Transparency, honesty and for all officials to be full-time are central to key reforms."

Paul Moon tells us why referees in the Premier League aren't perfect but then again, neither are those abroad. Plus why players, managers and the governing bodies aren't doing as much as they can to help the men in the middle.

Officiating football matches has not kept pace with the game it serves but now there is a new menace to contend with. Sophisticated and systematic cheating has woven itself into the fabric of the game. The situation is now so serious that only the employment of video technology can counter it.

Casting cheap and malicious jibes at referees has been a perennial spectator sport but this has also got significantly worse. Blasting referees and their decisions are commonly used to divert and disguise the manager or his team's inadequacies or to realign and curry favour with the fans. Some just show a remarkable ignorance of the laws of the game while pressure can often vent anger before a thought process is registered.

One accepts that in a world where financial results speak loudest, actions are compromised but football players and managers must recognise that they have an unconditional duty to protect and preserve the great game that rewards them. One manager who recently made headlines for his criticism of referees, most notably Alan Wiley and Andre Marriner, was Sir Alex Ferguson.

His criticism of Wiley regarding his fitness has been discussed elsewhere but for what it's worth, I disagree with his interpretation of Law 12, which was at the centre of his dissatisfaction towards Marriner and his performance in Manchester United's recent defeat at Anfield. He wanted referee Marriner to send off Jamie Carragher when he hauled down Michael Owen. The way I see it, Owen neither had full control of the ball nor was moving towards the goal thus not fulfilling either condition of denying 'an obvious goal scoring opportunity'.

The current standard of refereeing in the Premier League is sub-standard and there is much to improve on but it is a myth to suggest it is better in other European leagues or indeed other competitions. Roy Hodgson (long-standing member of UEFA's technical committee) and David Moyes have been horrified with their experiences in the UEFA Europa League this season and this with the controversial extra assistants.

There are calls for an elite pool of referees or even an academy but with help from governing bodies and the correct mindset some simple objectives can be implemented straight away. To date referees have been allowed to hide and not explain their decision-making processes. This must end. Contemporary professionalism must replace archaic posturing and preening. There ought to be another look at fast-tracking ex-footballers into the ranks. Retrospective action needs adaptation to fit fair and just conclusions.

Transparency, honesty and for all officials to be full-time are central to key reforms. Assistant referees should have their job redefined and contribute more, including issuing binding decisions in their quarters. Passive poodle- like behaviour should be replaced with a dynamic proactive approach. Some have suggested four assistant referees would help matters but that sounds complicated and confusing and where would the numbers end?

In between matches referees should be found at football grounds and academies liaising with the PFA, discussing key issues of the day before releasing information back into the public domain. The PFA has a real responsibility to motivate their members into understanding etiquette, ethics and the laws of the game. Compulsory testing to measure awareness of their sport would reveal the scale of the problem.

They should be backed up with "cojones" from the Football Association. Managers should receive an automatic ban if guilty of talking about referees through the media. Those who do should be banished to the stands with progressive penalties starting at three matches with no right of appeal. They would have a right to a formalised grievance procedure and be promised a full and frank reply. Conclusions to be aired for public consumption and education.

Much can be learned from the Rugby Union model where they prefer prevention to cure. Talking to players in a clear and precise manner helps control a flowing game. Their refreshing honesty is in direct contrast to football. If the highest possible standards are to be achieved, radical changes in approach and direction are needed. Denial of technology has now taken on tragic proportions, it must be used and it must be used now!

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(4)

ray | 26 November 2009

all refs are only human every one makes mistakes he has a lot to control, and its about time to move on and help the refs, use cameras this wont slow the game down but speed the game up and will get rid of all the cheats ,and divers .
Paul | 07 December 2009

Ray
Thanks for your comments. I was very interested in what Gordon Taylor (PFA) had to say in response of the article:

Paul
If you speak to referees and the Football Association their attitude is that professional players at the top level whilst far from perfect in general are good role models for the grass roots game and we have been very pleased with the support of the players for the ‘Respect’ campaign.

As the game has become faster than ever before, referees need to keep up with the game together with the assistants and I feel the decision in the France v Ireland game has left FIFA with no alternative but to introduce technology to aid the referee in the same way that this has been brought into other sports such as rugby union, rugby league, cricket, tennis and American sport and neither has this affected the entertainment or been unaccepted by the crowds.

Regards

Gordon Taylor OBE
Toffeeman | 08 December 2009

Why is it that when a Referee in rugby gives a decision All, I repeat All the players accept this decision .No one waves a finger or goes face to face with them and argues the case . So do I see it that Rugby players are more professional than Football players ?

The Managers and the Players are to blame
Brian Clough would not allow any of his players to argue or to foul-mouth the referee at any time .
This unprofessionalism or cheating as in some cases should be dealt with by a special unit even after the game has finished ( like a stewards Enquiry ) and if they are found guilty of any offence then they should be dealt the ban or fine that fits the crime , if the Managers and the players can;t be professional then they must take the consequences .
Peter Jones | 09 December 2009

I could not agree more with the article.Regarding the technology,football should be using it,all the armchair referees at home have been using it for years,so why not the referee on the pitch!