I think its fair to say that almost every fan of every club in the country thinks the standard of match officials and their decision making is pretty poor, but what needs to be done to improve it? Is it a case there not fit enough? Are they afraid to make crucial decisions for fear of retribution in the media or from the FA? Or is it just a simple case of not being up to the job? What technology would you bring in to help remove the errors? Should they be wearing mic's/camera's like there rugby equivalents? Would TV reviews help them out? Would fan's welcome interruptions to ensure the right decision was made? If you where in charge of the ref's association, what would you be doing to improve the standard and reduce the errors?
well they had similar problems in rugby didn't they until the ref on the pitch was miked to someone watching a video of what happened, facts passed to ref on pitch, he gives out punishment or none if the case warrants it, no argument. may not eliminate the problem entirely as video refs will make mistakes at some point or missed something i should imagine, but still better than the crap we have now, and at least it will eliminate any bias if such a thing exist out the game.
1. Summer courses and seasonal courses including: a) Intense physical training (they must be physically fit enough to get into the right positions to make calls) b) Mental training to improve their decision making and their reaction times. c) A legal-like course to ensure the referee's know the ins and outs of the laws of the game and the laws of the FA. Definitions of fouls, tackles, extraordinary circumstances, foul play, unsportsmanlike behaviour, etc. Case studies, examples, scenarios. They must be prepared to make those calls in high-pressure situations. If this is too much, they aren't fit to choose that career path. Pay them a bit more if you have to, but these are standards that aren't being met anymore. The further we move from this, the more commonly accepted poor officiating will be. They are paid large amounts of money to do a lot less than the hard-working people that watch the sport. The job is hard but you don't exactly go to school for 10 years to get a degree do you? I'm sure there are many young men who would snap at the chance to do this. In terms of technology, not too much. Goal-line technology is fine as that is nearly impossible to adjudicate in the moment. Mic's should be on and streaming live to the internet where anyone can pick it up. Transparency is vital. Post-match reports should be available to the public, as well as explanations of controversial calls from the referee. To protect them we can have stricter punishments for players who go over the line, which would be determined by a panel of players, managers, referee's, and fans. Post-incident, there should be a committee put together to discuss why the call was made and whether or not that was the right call. This committee should have a mix of people who are involved in the game and should have many different viewpoints. The decision of this committee should be the end of it and unless the club decides to appeal a decision, any further comments should be met with punishment to the person making them.
I would add to the above: 4th Official. He's there and has technology to hand. If the Head Ref (on the pitch) is not 100% confident in the call he can ask for assistance. Pre-Match briefing. To be given to each team by the Ref wherein he sets out HIS authority and how he will or will not accept approaches or comments by the players. All players to addressed by their surname only.
The FA should employ referees from around the world instead of sticking to British volunteers. That way they can hire the best.
I don't think the refs do a bad job actually considering. 22 players spread across a large are moving fast... many of whom are trying their best to con you. It stinks when refs make bad decisions but I'm amazed they get as many right as they do. I think a 4th official with video benefit would be good... automating somethings (like technology that knows when goal is scored... or any line is crossed) will help. I even think you might be able to automate offsides. Could players be made to wear locator chips with a bright led bulb on the neck of their shirts? Perhaps an accelerometer on the ball?... bulb on neck lights up when in an offside position from last kick of ball? Dunno how feasible that is... or could a computer program be written to analyse rules like offside? Maybe... All in all though... as much as I hate being hard done by refs I think they do a good job given the circumstances. You wouldn't expect a golfer to always hit a hole in one... you can't expect a ref to go a game without making one or two mistakes.
I think giving refs an extra option "green card" to send someone to a sin bin for 2 mins would help too... for times when a yellow is too harsh. 3 greenies and you're off.
We have a 3 card system in Hockey. Green Card is a warning, similar to a football yellow. Yellow Card is a sin bin. The umpire has the option of how long the player if off the pitch for, usually for 10-15mins. It is possible to receive more than 1 yellow card and if the 2nd yellow for the same offence as the 1st it is likely that the player will be sitting the rest of the game off. Red Card. Permanent sending off, removal from the playing area and a banning for 1-6 months depending on the offence. These are usually given for deliberately hitting someone (normally with the stick) or threatening someone (Usually the umpire) or general violent behaviour. Rare and in all the years I've never been a game with one, however I do know of a few occasions they've been given. System works for us, the sin binning gives players a chance to cool down and stop whatever it is they keep doing that got them the Yellow in the first place. Plus the umpires (we have two) have the ability to move the freehit forward 10 meters if the opposition argue with a decision, this can be repeated as long as a player is still arguing (I've seen hits be moved up right in the other half). It can take you from having an attacking advantage to having to defend. This system helps the umpires keep control of the game and most games remain very civil, more so at the National and international levels. Don't know if this would improve the level of refereeing in football, but it would stop all the arguing.
We could use ex players like Jason Cundy.....that would make things much fairer Seriously though I've always liked the idea of no back chat as in rugby. Only the captains can question the ref etc. Danilo is spot on about fitness too. There's no way some of these fellas are fit enough (and understand the game well enough) to make the right call in tight situations. I don't think anyone expects perfection but we do expect that when a referee is staring right at an incident from 8 yards away (Webby) he makes the right call.
Hell our way has resulted in life bans for viloent conduct red cards, (I've been in a few games with one... Or two) Strange, it's considered worse to drop the stick and assault than lash out with the stick here. Explained to me once, ones in anger, the other is deciding deliberately to go assault someone. I always preferred getting hit with stick. Oobviously at a lower level (umpires weren't professional but volunteers, usually from each club) but saw as much bias in hockey as football. Even when we got official umpires they had history.... The advantage we had, (same as you Roger?) Two umpires shared a half each and truly equal power, could discuss but, umpire ruled his own half. Kindve bypassed the fitness aspect. Honestly, without paying refs as much as footballers they're never going to be as fit so always behind the play. So either offer big money to say, championship players to become refs or just go to technology.
I agree with Billy that something also needs to be done about player behaviour in order to make refereeing easier. Players must be prevented from attempting to intimidate the referee and from constantly abusing them verbally. If players have more respect for the role of the ref, then whether or not the performances of individual refs merit that respect can be more closely examined. I think refs performances should be more critically examined and they should be given some sort of test report on them (perhaps not on every game but one or two picked out each week?). Webb had two shockers recently - our game and the Utd one, and should be censured accordingly. Fitness is an important point, but doesn't help when when they're ten yards away and still get something wrong. I don't want to see technology interrupt the game too much, and I can't see how it would have helped in the Sterling v City offside issue.
Agreed Saint...plus if the FA/officials were tougher on divers (even retrospectively) the refs jobs would get a tad easier in the long run.
Nano technology. Implanted in a players head, sends a shock if he thinks of fouling..... .....Or if he's just **** like Charlie Adam.
