Referees make mistakes. Every game perhaps. They're human. I bet they make nowhere near as many mistakes as most player do in a match. The pressure is on refs now more than it was in the past because of the perverse situation we now have where everyone in the world BUT the referee has instant, endless video replays. All in all I think they do a very good job and don't get nearly enough credit for the many difficult decisions they have to take every match. Sometimes I am amazed at how well decisions are given. It's an incredibly difficult job that is made much harder by the absurd governing bodies and secondly the fact that nowadays almost every one of those twenty-two players on the pitch would deceive the ref given half a chance. Imagine trying to do your job when everyone around you is trying to pull the wool over your eyes! Players are much more to blame for many bad decisions than the refs as far as I see it. That time DiCanio stopped playing cos of an opponents injury (?) was treated as if it was some sort of miracle when really sportsmanship like that should be the norm and frankly tends to be when normal people play football together.
Just to add my two penneth about the Tories and the idea of lack of societal values, I would say that Thatcher's claim that 'there is no such thing as society' sums it up pretty well.
It's creeping into rugby too, nowhere near as bad as football but its a slippery slope. From someone that was driven out of refereeing by parents abusing me and threatening me physically (I was 14) I can only condemn the players and a lot of fans behaviour. I disagree with decisions but insults and physical violence are not on. To be fair in my case the (Hampshire) FA stuck up for me massively and there happened to be a high ranking ref at one of the games who ranked me highly, but the damage was already done. I think fans tend to forget the ref is a human too
One ref in a basketball match was poleaxed by a giant player and was out for half an hour so this is not just confined to football. The players hear the spectators abusing the refs so it's easy for them to follow suit. I'm certain that the 17 year old did not mean to kill the ref because he didn't know at the time the consequences of his actions. The wrestler Mal Kirk died after a splash from Big Daddy,was there intent from Daddy to kill? No. Michael Watson was left brain damaged after a few punches from Chris Eubank,did Eubank mean that to happen or even consider that it would? No. There is now so much pressure attached to football and too much obsession to succeed. Win,win,win,win and balls to the consequences. Are players on performance enhancing drugs like that cyclist? I would think yes just to win,win,win. The ref's job like a cricket umpire's is thankless. Some supporters he pleases and some he doesn't,he can't. If he awards a penalty he pleases the team's supporters but angers the other team's supporters. No win at all for the poor barstewards. PNP,even your username has a ref's name in it showing the depth of resentment you have for them or some of them at least. Please not Poll or Plautz wasn't it? Authorities at the clubs must DRILL discipline into the players.
I think it's everything to do with the Tories to be honest and their general destruction of society and creating an "every man for themselves" environment. Thatcher's neoliberalist ideals have created a cancer-like attitude which is now inherent in most western states and fast becoming the same in the East who are fighting against the struggle. Compare the aftermath of the Tsunami to that of Hurricane Katrina. BOTH natural disasters, BOTH claimed the lives of many, BOTH areas destroyed. In Japan, orderly queues for aid/food/water etc..... In New Orleans, looting and robbing the stock/posessions of the deceased and those that had abandoned their homes etc. The one thing the Tories never have and never will learn is there are certain things you can't put a price on. Respect, dignity and self worth is something we will never really have and the attitudes displayed in Rugby and Football etc are case in point.
That is awful, 1 life ended and another life ruined with one punch. Re the OP, it is referee's faults they get the abuse they do. You watch the likes of Gerrard and Rooney telling the refs to '**** off' and they will stand there and take it despite having the option to brandish yellows. If refs want respect they should earn it and stand up to the likes. Nobody will criticise them for doing it.
I respect all of the match officials in the league for actually having the balls to do their job, but some of them are just openly biased. Poll was far too friendly with certain players and it coloured his vision of the game. Plautz was just a late addition, due to his dire showing in one important game, where the ref from the first leg was probably worse. The man admitted that Robinson made contact with the ball before the player in our match in Sevilla, yet awarded a penalty anyway. Genuinely didn't know the rules. Graham Poll's made some interesting points since he left, strangely enough. He did a fairly revealing interview, venting his frustrations against those that are in charge of the game, but also showing his attachment to big names in the game: [video=youtube;3bsoam2Dhew]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bsoam2Dhew[/video] [video=youtube;UiU-jmAmslo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiU-jmAmslo[/video] [video=youtube;hBNQzc14OAQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBNQzc14OAQ[/video] Interesting that he was accused of saying something that he didn't say by a Chelsea player. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? JT, Wayne, Stevie, though... Really? The interviewer was clearly right about Poll blurring the lines. That 'top professionals' liked him was part of the problem. I think that the point about those at the top not making mistakes is just wrong, though. Collina had some poor games and all players and managers do. It's human nature. Also gave some insight into the behaviour of certain clubs with this Fail article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Poll-reveals-secrets-footballs-dark-arts.html
While I totally agree with those that advocate a zero-tolerance attitude to abuse of officials, I do think that referees and their assistants themselves need to use the powers they already have available to them. Not an ideal example perhaps as some will say that the behaviour stemmed from an minor erroneous decision regarding a throw-in, but you only have to look at the incident when David Luiz was booked yesterday for dissent. How did he and his teammates react to that booking? By surrounding and hassling Webb. And what did Webb do?? Sweet FA!! Perhaps if he had issued the 2nd yellow and removed Luiz from the pitch then it might have sent a message out. It would also likely have changed the outcome of the match and possibly the season for at least 2 clubs....
Oh, right! So, the attitude & lack of respect shown to referees by today's players is all Maggie Thatcher & the Tories fault!!...I was wondering what had caused it. NOW, I understand!!
The problem is that Socialism is a great idea but impractical. The electorate here know it, (if labour moves further to the left, it will make itself unelectable again,) Russia dismantled state socialism and China is embracing capitalism like an old friend. Cuba seem to like it (hardly a bastion of democracy) the only other places I can think of are North Korea and the EC. Both unelected dictatorships that do what they like and run roughshod over its people, creating rich elites and leaving sections of the populace unable to afford the basics for living. I'm not saying that the far right of the tories is any more desirable, or indeed that capitalism is ideal, but it seems to work, (if there are checks and balances put in place by strong governments.) If someone comes up with anything better, let me know. Now. About those phone ads....?
To be fair Lenny, we probably agree on more than we disagree on. Its just the way we get there that we differ on.
Socialism is impractical? Scandinavia, anyone? Communism, I'd agree. I'd prefer this thread not to go down a political route, though. I don't think that it's particularly relevant to the question at hand.
Both codes of rugby can teach football much about discipline in the game. Firstly, the use of video technology at the higher levels of football might engender more respect for the officials. In rugby, the referee can use video replays to help decide issues he may be unsure about. For example, when the player scored the try was his foot in touch? He can ask the fourth official to check and the correct decision will be relayed to him. There is no need for the players to berate the ref with their views on the matter and then to show dissent when they perceive that the incorrect decision is made, which is exactly what happens in football. Secondly, when the ref cannot rely on technlogy and has to use his own judgement, the only players permitted to address him are the two captains, which ensures that it is usually done calmly and reasonably. If any other players intervene or show dissent, the whole team loses field position in having to retreat ten yards. Thirdly, where players do lose discipline in some way, the sin bin is an effective deterrent and punishment too. Bans for more serious infringements tend to be more than just tokens.
It's the mid-range option and as such continues to be popular. Education is relatively cheap, while hospitals remain expensive. Not paying to provide good support programs for at risk children, then paying many times that amount to lock them up after they've predictably gone to the dogs may not be the wisest public policy. But being "tough on crime" continues to get politicians and judges elected. Stupidity is usually popular.
No. But it was what another poster was saying!. Anyway, WTF does political affiliation have to do with this? Apparently, some people think it does.
Yes, we'll put, Luke. Tempers can run high in Rugby due to the physical nature of the game, therefore discipline is an imperative. You simply cannot get away with haranguing officials, as is done in football. Not unless you want to spend a long, long time sitting in the stands.
Poll was the worst referee to ever ref in this country. Borderline corrupt. Only ref I genuinely wouldn't have a 2nd thought over if he was caught up in a hit and run tomorrow.
The US imprisons more of its population than any other country has ever done. But did you know about the forced labour? US prisoners make loads of military equipment, 93% of domestically-produced paints, 36% of home appliances and 21% of office furniture. You might get paid 93c a day but if you refuse it's solitary confinement. Loads of the work is done for private companies like Wal-Mart and Starbucks. Slavery's still here in America. Not that I'd expect 5% of Americans to be aware of this state of affairs. Sorry! I'm being a terrible, ranting internet-bore. Just trying to keep my mind off the football and Spurs' prospects for the rest of the season.
