We shouldn't be too surprised that the standard of refereeing at our level and below is atrocious. It has slowly been getting worse and worse over the past decades. Every week we seem to have a useless ref who appears to have no logical grasp of the game and an inane approach to the rules and laws of the game. It is an extremely common thing to happen, to the point where I think Sven should send the boys out with the assumption that the ref is crap and will, more than likely, be against us. Because, whilst I don't honestly believe refs are 'anti-Leicester' in the extreme sense of the word, it is hard nonetheless to have any other opinion based on some of the performances both at home and away. But if you want to blame anyone, blame the F.A. All the referees have to pass the F.A.'s flawed courses, and the F.A. send them out with clear knowledge that many of the refs are not good enough. They also say that refs can use their own interpretation when coming to decisions; this means two different refs could view the same incident, and give two completely different decisions! Many refs, for example, would NOT have given the handball against Mills on Saturday, and many more would not have sent Kasper off for two nothing 'offences'. This interpretaion rule is what breeds the inconsistency in our game; IMO all refs should have the same guidelines from which they can apply the rules, and not be allowed to effectively make them up as they go along. And let's also remember that the F.A. is blatently idiotic; whether it's Wembley or Burton, or even our failed World Cup bid, they seem utterly useless when it comes to planning things, and even more so when it comes to delivering them. The F.A. is just basically controlled by non-football supporting businessmen who have no grasp on what football is, or what it should be. If idiotic behavior is allowed to happen at the top of four football system, we should not be surprised that it is evident at the lower end, such as atrocious referees. Next season, it seems likely that the Premier League will allow technology into the game following it's likely use in Euro 2012. Hopefully this will eradicate (sp) the kind of decisions we see on a common basis. those who say "but technology will reduce the role of the referee" are correct - but IMO this is what we need, less ref control and more technology. Less interpretation, more fact. If the standard of referees is not acceptable, which it clearly is not, then additional support HAS to be brough into the game, we cannot have this situation where refs can make turgid decisions at their own free will. Finally, refs should be accountable for their own decisions. IMO, either the PL or FL need to bring in a Referees Accountability Committee so that refs are brough to book over the bad decisions, and given appropriate punishment if they are seen to be making appalling decisons without due reason. At the minute their is zero accountability and the F.A. do nothing to get shut of these refs. This must happen. Just as a small footnote - there has never been any proff that refs in this country have cheated. However, it has happened abroad. Let me ask this question; what would you be more surprised at: that referees have NEVER been bribed or deliberately made decisions in the full knowledge they are wrong, or that they HAVE been bribed or deliberately made decisions in the full knowledge they are wrong?
Hi, Saints fan in peace - Interesting read... Difficult to judge if referees are getting worse but this weekend watching the Prem and Championship highlights I've seen 6 or 7 bad decisions for penalties/red cards including tackles that clearly won the ball, tackles that were dubious as to whether they were even a foul but were also at least a yard outside the box being given as penalties (x2) and your two incidents involving Schmeichel and Mills. It made me laugh listening to an Arsenal fan on 606 with Robbie Savage who claimed that Arsenal were persecuted by referees... there was a kid on there (called Joe I think??) who also supported Arsenal but said after he'd gone... "that guy sounded like Arsene Wenger". To be honest the idea of refs being anti-Leicester is a bit of a joke but I think that ref you had was anti-something... possibly anti-football! I don't particularly mind different refs having different interpretations as there's always going to be that to some extent. E.g. with Mills it was obvious that Mills gained no advantage and did not do it deliberately so a penalty was ridiculous. How could you ensure consistency?? The only way I can think of is to give it in every instance of a ball touching a hand, as any other basis involves an element of judgement. And what would be the result of that?? Lots of points being won or lost on what is, let's face it, often a chance event. That, and the potential for "gamesmanship" by deliberately playing the ball against someone's hand.... I'd rather games were not reduced to that. It would not particularly surprise me if some refs were corrupt but would surprise me if it was widespread. I think you'd have to be a bit mentally unstable to be a ref, but mostly because of the vitriol received from fans. Maybe that is the real cause and it's nothing really to do with training. Maybe, though, as usual, there is no real understanding of problems by those in charge, or let's face it, the rest of us. FIFA's resistance to technical advances is bewildering however. The use of technology (goal line, video evidence) would not affect the rules or how the game is played, merely present more evidence. It would not eradicate bad decisions, but I think most referees would welcome it. I think teams should be allowed to make a certain number of challenges per game to refereeing decisions to stop the game becoming a farce however.
Another Saints fan and also a mentally unstable ref and yes, you were unfortunate on Saturday. The ref was hasty when he spotted the handball and if he paused he would have known it was not deliberate. By the way, the only deciding factor in whether to give the penalty is whether it was deliberate or not, whether he gained an advantage is not relevant. In fact it is perfectly legitimate to play the ball with your hand, as long as it is not deliberate. Anyway, once that has happened there was no question about Kasper's first yellow, he knew he was getting that before he even did it. I am not sure about the second one, from what I saw he was playing a risky game by getting involved with the ball after the goal. But Jon Moss is an experienced ref and I was surprised he didn't deal with it better, you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to expect that Forest would want to grab the ball out of the goal and your boys would want to keep it, so usually you would expect the ref would get on top of that situation before anything happened. Moving on, claiming that refs are in any way biased is a bit of a stretch for me I'm afraid. Not only is there no proof, there isn't a shred of evidence or even any suggestion that it might be the case. That's not to say that refs don't get decisions wrong - they do, in every single game in fact. Whether the FA's courses are flawed is another question, I have definitely been on some crap ones, but you do not just do a course to become a Football League referee, you have to start in the Sunday League and get to the top of the pyramid. It takes a long time and only the best make it. Refs (and assistants) are not unaccountable either, they are assessed in every game they do by ex-refs and coaches. These (and other things like age) will control who gets promoted to the Premier League list and who gets kicked off the Football League (this does actually happen). So on to video technology, well I don't think this will be making an appearance at Euro 2012, or in fact for a long time. And to be honest just don't see how it will work. UEFA brought in the additional assistant refs but even these have caused problems, specifically because the referee had to stay further away from the goal and wider so that he was not standing right next to the goal line official, which meant he was in a worse position to spot penalty/goal incidents. By the way, I heard a current Premier League ref say that he did this role four times in Champions League games, made one decision and earned over £10,000 . They do practically nothing and I think this might be their last season. Goal line technology is possible though and is being tested, but I still don't think we need it. Yes we can all watch Pedro Mendes v Man U and Lampard v Germany but no one remembers the vast majority that the refs get correct, including two this season in the Premiership already. Sorry for the incredibly long post but hopefully this responded to a few of your points, my overall view on this is that most supporters have very little understanding of how professional refereeing works which leads to this apparent lack of accountability, I would like to see the refs body publish it's interpretations on incidents and perhaps even admit errors sometimes, instead of pretending that they never happen. Also seriously thinking about going to Leicester next Saturday, should be good.
the problem is simple. Referees aren't judged or rated against any standards or quality of performance. They are not made accountable for their decisions, or even made to explain key points in games and how they saw them. Because of this, most refs just phone it in and do the bare minimum every week, safe in the knowledge that their job is secure and they are protected from criticism by big daddy football association.
I just saw the highlights on the ole central news and will be watching the football leauge show in 2 seconds. I have heard alot of talk about a dubious penalty..... "chin, id like to introduce you to an old friend of mine, floor"..... Could not beleive it. My fray bentos is all over the living room....Un-feckin-beleivable
Yes they are. Each team gives a report on the referee. If a ref gets too many decisions wrong and he keeps receiving poor reports then they will begin to decline to lower leagues.
but how relaxed is the system? They are never made to explain their decisions or answer queries. Having to stand up and be counted in front of people would give them more incentive to perform.
