The entire game at WHL where I was suggesting the ref pulled on a Spurs top to stop any chance of anyone mistaking him for being neutral.
We've also had 3 maybe four very soft penalties at the KC, two of which earned us 1-0 wins and 6 points.
I'd like to see something like tennis, were the team captain of each side gets 2 or 3 challenges a game. The game can be refereed as normal, if one side feels the ref has made a mistake and wants a video ref to look at it, the captain of that side challenges at the next stoppage in play. This will stop the ref having/using it as an easy option (like in rugby league) because the players would decide when its used. Restricting the amount of challenges would limit the amount of disruption to a game. Lots of games would probably pass with no challenges made, but in cases like last night and arsenal at the weekend the correct decision would have been made.
Not a bad idea, but all challenges would get used, as in tennis and cricket, where players use challenges as a last resort even if they know the decision is correct.
Maybe, perhaps to resolve that each team should have one challenge but get to keep it if it is proved correct. That way they would have to be certain before they challenged.
I agree that we have been fortunate to receive a few penalty decisions ourselves but each of those could be argued that there was contact in the challenges. What's in no doubt the hammers geezer hand balled it , the Everton player was offside and the spurs penalty was accidental handball and a bit of a landmark decision this season as to what penalties can not be given for. Agree at Swansea blatant handball on their part whilst defending and their goal would have been disallowed if anyone had seen it due to the speed of the ball from the cross. Don't think anyone appealed it at the time.
Everton(lost) - Tottenham(lost) - Swansea(draw) - Palace(lost) and now West Ham(lost) all away could all have been different but for the failings of the match officials. 6 points lost which could have been so vital.
This is just a contrived rule change that the game doesn't need. Limiting reviews is rediculous, as is proved in both tennis and cricket. Either use technology or don't use it. Don't half use it based on how successfully you've recently used it. The teams, captains, managers are not there to arbitrate on which decisions should stand. What is needed is an effective 4th official system. Instead of having him in the technical area being abused by irate managers stick him in a corporate box with a good view and some video playback equipment and give him the right to overrule the ref when its bleeding obvious to everyone that a mistake has been made. For example, last night a private word in Dean's shell-like would have gone " Mike, don't listen to twatto linesman there mate, there was a handball in the build up. Freekick Hull. Oh and by the way their keeper looks in a bad way. Get the trainer on. Could be a bruised kidney. Don't take any chances".
I would be happy with this also, i was just trying to come up with a system that would not be too intrusive to the game. My only concern with your idea is that the ref becomes dependent on the 4th official with the technology. Would the ref not be waiting for a voice in his ear for everything he is unsure about.
I guess you'd need to decide if it was to be a 2 way process or whether the 4th official had the power to only intervene if he saw an obvious mistake such as the Gibbs mistaken identity. Would he intervene on an incorrectly awarded throw in? A corner kick not in the arc? A wall not 10 yards away?
Most people i speak too would welcome extra help for the officials. I can take us being beaten by a better side on the day, but when we lose or draw because of poor decisions i find it really frustrating. I don't buy into this 'it evens itself out over the season' ****e.
There's only so much blame you can attribute to the referee, granted decisions can put you at a huge disadvantage but teams have the ability to win games regardless. Last night for example, yes it was a poor decision but it wasn't the reason we lost, a poor own goal and our failure to take our chances cost us the points.
Absolutely. But at the same time it would be good if referees mistakes were kept to a minimum. It happens far to often that a referee has an influence on who wins a game. The main talking points after a game should not be how the ref messed up.
