Irrespective of your thoughts on the incidents at the bridge on saturday, does anybody else worry about the situation we have with the refereeing standards in the premier league?? What's even worse managers are punished for criticizing them, when in most cases the referee has turned in a poor performance. They have no accountability, and the fact that they are self regulated by the PGMLO says cabal to me. It doesn't surprise me that match fixing is going on, im just waiting for this to blow up on the FA, Premier League and most likley FIFAs faces.
The system is flawed. When ****e refs like Webb refuse to admit they might have got something wrong then it's impossible for blatant red cards like Eto'o on Henderson to be rectified
Referees are almost never held accountable for their actions. Not at all like managers and players are, or any person in any other workplace. The only times I can remember off the top of my head is when the decisions wrongly favoured us. Still no had an apology from Mike Riley over that penalty decision. It was also a joke that Andre Marriner met no punishment from his incredulous mistake of dismissing Gibbs. The truth is that the current refereeing system is far outdated. Lots of changes are required and a lot of technology needs to be introduced. Loads of other sports have had a greater level of technology for years now, why doesn't the most popular sport in the world?
Well, I think you're right! They've sat themselves in a position where they can do no wrong. And when they do they don't have to admit it or apologize due to the rules they themselves helped to create! As yurilly has said they're not accountable for decisions like all of us are in our working lives and to me it doesn't add up. Relegations and promotions of officials hardly ever happens. We end up with the same rubbish refs in the league-lo and behold, the quality of officiating never goes up! How many times has a refs pay been held back after a poor decision? How much do refs get paid anyway? If we paid them more perhaps they'd perform a bit better-at the very least they'd be trained a lot better... Just a silly situation, but one which can't be remedied, as when a manager sticks his head over the parapet and berates them for a poor performance. (which saturday was undoubtably) he's been charged with bringing the game into disripute.
Self regulation is undemocratic and furthermore totally against society as it should be. The FA could be breaking the law, but because of the money it generates the authorities turn a blind eye to it. They are not alone, our system of government is also sadly tainted by undemocratic and self regulatory injustices. Money is the key, if you have enough you can basically do what you like and unfortunately the bastards do. One law for the rich, piss on everyone else.
An answer is the Clubs throwing a serious wobbly and maybe those dudded by proven wrong decisions, handing the FA a bill for losses caused by not making finals etc. That might just get their attention.
I believe referee's are judged and ranked by the game and that continued poor appraisals get them "relegated" to matches in lower divisions. Rarely do they let their appraisals become known to the public, except when there has been an official challenge! Its all changed over the years! In the 60's there was a brilliant ref called Jack Taylor who was always the first to be named as a World Cup , Cup Final etc official. It was reputed that he was once challenged by a player after he awarded a goal by the other side. " That was never a goal ref!" Taylor replied " Yes it was--and if you don't believe me, just read the papers in the morning!"
Refs like him and Collina earned the Players respect. Nowdays, too many are show ponies, and spend more time in front of the mirror than keeping up with the play. Would love to see someone ref like the Rugby blokes do, and yellow or red card mouthy aggressive players. Without respect refs are sitting ducks, whatever we think of their abilities.
