Not giving anything can still be getting it wrong. It's a tough job though. My only gripe is that I don't think the professional referees are as good as they could be. There still seems to be this "little boy lost" mannerism on the pitch. I have said for many years that I'd like to see a drive to take young professional players or apprentices that don't make it as a player and convert them into referees. I am sure this could be done. I'd have jumped at that chance if I'd thought about it back then. Keeps these lads in the game too.
Quarter Final of a World Cup. Referee makes wrong decision that changes the result.. It's just the rub of the green... or/and incompetence? We are all accountable for the decisions we make, Joubert was wrong, for World Rugby to 'admit' his mistake was stating the truth. It would have been better for the referee to admit his mistake.
The ball came back off the Aussie no. 21's hands so the Scottish player was onside. It was neither a knock on or a penalty. I've watched it over and over and it's as plain as day. I agree the ref had no grounds to go to the TMO but it was such a doubtful decision he just shouldn't have given it, especially at such a crucial moment. The person I have the most respect for over this is Vern Cotter, the Scotland coach. A New Zealander, he put his heart and soul into the Scottish cause, and his quiet, sorrowful dignity, refusing to blame anyone, was compelling viewing.
Yes, that's the one. He was almost in tears, but held it together to praise both teams, and not a word about *that* decision.
That's a money and manpower issue, and to a certain extent culture. It's not that long since Premier League officials worked Monday-Friday and showed up to their game on a Saturday. Performance coaching and the like are a pretty new idea even at the very top, which you wouldn't even say about your local Saturday league team. And when the leaders and assessors of PGMO are the refs of 10-15 years ago, you can understand why things have stayed old-fashioned while the game develops so much. Things are starting to change which is why the average age of PL refs continues to drop. After a couple of false starts the idea of bringing talented rather than experienced people up is getting through, which has worked for people like Mike Oliver and Anthony Taylor. The challenges are different, but there's no reason that the refereeing set up should be any less professional than the coaching at a Premier League club (make the bastards pay for it if they want it).
Being young shouldn't be a barrier if you are good enough, but experience and common sense are also valuable in a ref.
That's good to read Qwerty. I've been wanting this for a while. True comment about the older refs being the guv'nors probably held progress backs bit too. Yes, the PL should help fund it!
This Welsh referee in the final is brilliant. The premier league should poach him for football. Nobody messes with him.
Really good program on iPlayer about him (Nigel Owens) - about his refereeing career and also his battles with being gay, and with depression when he was younger. Very interesting I thought
It's well worth a look - he's very local to me and seemingly is a really lovely bloke. The program does show some of his wonderful one-liners on the rugby field.
Some people (Tom) will hate this, however I believe that the majority of referees come across as "the last kid on the playground" in their demeanour. I know, I know that's a sweeping statement. There aren't many who command prescience like Nigel Owen does and Collini did. Most of them look like they've just been bullied. It needs one to turn round with his hand over his mouth and say, "**** off Terry. If you don't go away, I'm moving this free kick ten yards!" They need to bring that 10 yard rule back too and stick to it this time. Any dissent.
I remember playing rugby locally (in Eastleigh) and the refs would be talking to the team captains about the discipline of the players, making them responsible for it.. On the lines of "your number 8 did, X or Y, if he does it again, he's going in the book..." That way the captains became responsible for maintaining the discipline rather than leading the abuse of the ref... Always thought that should be one behaviour carried to football, and doesn't take a rule change....
Just to set this in context, Nigel Owens is gay, not an easy thing to admit in the rugby world - One of his (Youtube-captured) comments is priceless: In a match that he was refereeing, one lineout throw was particularly wayward, and as he blew his whistle for a re-take of the lineout, he turned to the thrower and said "I'm straighter than that throw"
If a lineout is determined not to be straight (down the middle, between the two sets of players in the line), the team that were not throwing in are given the choice of re-taking the lineout, with them throwing in, or a scrum, 15 metres in from the touchline. If the throw is a 'quick lineout', ie before both sides have attempted to form the lineout, the ball can be thrown towards your own line (a quick lineout no longer has to be straight - it's OK as long as the ball doesn't go forwards)
This type of discussion will always be popular as people see things from so many differing points of view. The bottom line has got to be how the ref sees it, how he interprets it, whatever has happened. Sadly cheating has raised its ugly head so much these days it is no wonder life is being made so difficult for referees. Because of that they clearly need more help wether it be Technical or human. Certainly as far as Football referees are concerned that is. They have two assistants that do so little really or should I say appear not to do much. They seem to be more likely to back the referee whether he is right or wrong in my opinion. Perhaps they should be given more responsibility for actual sections of the ground. Mind you that would be yet another discussion as to how we can help them more. Clearly though something needs to be done to help them a lot more!
