Well Jose's right isn't he? At 52 years of age the only way any referee can do justice to his position is to be in peak physical condition and therefore be able to keep up with the play of superfit 28 year olds (on average). Dowd is a long way from that level of fitness, and though age should not be the deciding factor, surely refs over 40 must be exceptionally fit for their age or simply not be able to do the job properly ? Otherwise players would be playing on into their 40s ,but that doesn't happen at the top level (goalkeepers aside), because it's a physical impossibility. If Dowd is considered fit enough by the FA, then surely ,yet again, their standards on Referees are way too low? For what it's worth, I think Dowds' decision making as a ref is a whole lot better than many others. He just needs to pass on the pies and beers and go for the fish and white wine.
He is on the chunky side and not fit enough, not a bad ref but he has to get fitter or stop being a ref.
