I don't know the actual statistics but in recent matches I've watched there have been about two decisions every match that could have been called either way and involved a possible goal. Given that less than two goals are scored per match on average, this means that most matches are decided by the referee. That makes a mockery of the sport really. But what can be done?
1. Meritocratic reward for officials. Those who consistently make the correct decisions get the most pay. Those who do not get less and end up in charge of lower league fixtures. 2. Try to get VAR akin to the rugby TMO system (transparency to the audience, speed of decision turnaround etc) ASAP.
I've said in the past that I feel referees need to be physically elite athletes like footballers, I know that refs currently undergo training regimes and do bleep tests to simulate being able to get back and forth but when you look at the actual shape of some of the guys who ref our matches it's hardly surprising to see them making calls 20-30 yards away from incidents. A referee should be as fit as the standard of footballer they are reffing, not just a guy who is deemed physically fit enough to can jog about for 90 minutes. Being fit and being an elite level athlete are completely different. Video technology also needs to be improved and then properly implemented, I fail to understand how refs when using the VAR system took minutes to make a decision yet us at home can see a replay within seconds and determine the correct outcome before counting to 10.
I think refs should have to come out after games and explain their decisions. They’d soon cut out as many mistakes then.
Treat officials with more respect and we'll get better officials. Who'd want to be a ref at the moment? They're absolutely shat on at the top level and it filters down. Introduce the rugby methods to regain some control and make the job more desirable. Only then might we get a few more non-masochists who want to do it. As DH says, the fitness levels are also pretty shocking. Grabbing up youth players that have failed to make the grade at academy level would probably be a good idea to address this. I've seen a ref for each half of the pitch suggested too and it might be worth giving it a trial.
One ref in each half. A senior ref in the stands with the VAR technology. This guy is a retired field ref whose experience is currently rejected as he can't run around anymore. This is a rule change - the senior ref is not on the field and he gets to overrule the on field ref.
And Michael Oliver...... and Mike Dean - oh yes, Mike ****ing Dean... and Martin Twatkinson..... and Neil Swarbrick...and Graham VAR Scott...... and........
We always get that stats on players distance per game but not the ref ,it would be interesting to compare them
Something needs to be done to stop certain clubs being given the benefit of doubt over others, I`m sick and tired of results being influenced by referees. Just look at Liverpool for example, they are in a CL final on the back of several incorrect game changing decisions going their way against both City and Roma.
It's telling how some teams have benefitted far more from officials forgetting what the offside rule is this season, for example for this season the tally is something like... Man City: for 3 (vs Watford, Arsenal and Spurs) against 1 (vs Saltypool) Arsenal: for 3 (1 vs Stoke, 2 vs Spurs) against 1 (vs City) Saltypool: for 3 (vs Bournemouth, Burnley and Man City) against 1 (vs Watford) Chelsea: for 2 (vs Leicester and West Scam) against 0 Man Utd: for 1 (vs Leicester) against 0 Everton: for 1 (vs Stoke) against 1 (vs West Scam) Spurs: for 1 (vs Swansea) against 3 (1 vs City, 2 vs Arsenal)
Transparent timekeeping. Time wasting is an absolutely massive problem. (1) Even if the ref adds on the right amount of extra time, once the clock reaches 90 there seems to be an added desperation in the team that is losing that is not compensated for by adding on time. (2) Refs never add on the right amount anyway, in some cases they are many minutes under. Solution: have the ref's watch run the stadium clock. This means everyone knows firstly exactly how much time is left and secondly exactly how much time has been added on and when. If refs were seen when and when they don't add time on, it would be a great incentive for them not to be conned by the cheating (for that is what it is), and apparently giving more time to certain teams, less time to others. They will probably say they don't, to which I say fine, if your match watch was in the public domain then you can prove how unbiased you are.
On a similar note, can we have an end to the amount of stoppage time being dictated by whether the game is on Sky or not? The average game has three or four minutes of stoppage time at the end, and only really exceeds this if there's been a noticeable delay such as a player needing to be stretchered off - yet it seems every live game has a minimum of six minutes of time added on in spite of no such obvious delays, which makes it look like the ref's got Sky or BT in his ear demanding they get their money's worth from the match. It also has to be asked why refs rarely seem to be bothered with stoppage time at the end of the first half, usually only adding a minute or two even if the first half ended 3-3 with two players being stretchered off, which would dictate a good five minutes would need to be added on.
And that is just offside goals, which are matters of fact, what about all the other incidents that are the opinion of the referee, soft penalties gifted and certain penalties refused, players given the benefit of doubt and given a yellow card when it should be a red, players let off with a second yellow because it might upset Jose or Klopp etc. All this goes a long way to influencing results, especially in tight games.
In the Champions League it seems there is always just 3 minutes injury time no matter what, even when there has been 6 substitutions and a few injury breaks.
for me it is the lack of consistency. I watch near identical fouls in a match yet only one gets carded or only one gets called as a foul. If a foul that deserves a card happens in the first few mins it rarely gets given yet if it happened after 20 mins it would. I watch players screaming in a refs face, kicking the ball away and stand in front of the ball to stop a free kick yet no cards are shown even though that is the rule. Time wasting can go on from minute 1 but will only be punished in the last 5 mins. Keepers have 6 seconds to stop holding the ball but are allowed up to 20 plus seconds yet no additional time is added. Some rules such as handball and offside are simply stupid. If the ball hits a players arm and his arm is away from his body it should be a free kick or a penalty. Offside is offside in the penalty box in my opinion.
One thing I noticed in the Italian press is that match reports don't just rate the players but also the referee - yet over here the only time the referee's performance is rated is when the papers are looking for the most convenient excuse for England capitulating at another international tournament which definitely has nothing to do with some of the dreck we're told will lead the nation to glory. Considering how Uber sack drivers whose rating drops below four stars, if The FA saw referees routinely being rated less than 4/10 that will either give them the hint that maybe their officials aren't up to the task...or they'll just hide behind "bringing the game into disrepute" as per usual.
Time wasting is easy to deal with and would improve the watching experience for TV viewers, so I don't get why they haven't addressed it. Enforce the current rules about goalkeeper handling times. Start off next season and dish out some bookings. Simple. Allow physios to come on while the game continues, only stopping if there's a clear head injury or something similar. Book anyone who picks up the ball when a decision goes against them. It's the same as booting the ball away.
If you get a free kick you should not have to wait for the ref to blow his whistle. Just take it. If the other side are not ready,tough.
Time wasting is infuriating. keeping the ball by the corner flag is fine but a keeper holding the ball to 20 plus seconds is simply a joke. Taking nearly 30 seconds for a goal kick or a throw in or a corner is simple to deal with but nothing is done. When West Brom came to Wembley Foster was warned 3 or 4 times by the ref who constantly tapped his watch from 15 mins onwards but didn't book him until the 85th min. We may not have won anyway but doing nothing just rewarded West Brom. Bizarrely, the ref booked one of their defenders who went down injured for time wasting and he was subbed due to the injury but still refused to book Foster
