Firstly, we had the little prat at Swansea, who deliberately fell on the ball to smother it, and prevent Chelsea from taking a quick throw in, to keep the game moving. All he got for his troubles was a kick in the ribs from Eden Hazard - God knows what John Terry would have done to him, if it had been him trying to gain possession of the ball Now we have a ball boy from Stoke City misbehaving. The following is an extract from a current story appearing in The Daily Mirror....... "A ball-boy was taken off duty at Stoke for hurling a snowball at the driver of the Manchester City team bus. The teenager was banished to the stands after the incident shortly after the City squad arrived at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. City's players had left the team bus and were safely inside the stadium when the ball-boy threw the snowball at the coach driver. The culprit was identified as a ball-boy and told he would not be required to perform his normal match-day duties following the incident. The episode came just four days after Swansea ball-boy Charlie Morgan was involved in an altercation with Chelsea's Eden Hazard at the Liberty Stadium". Whatever next, a ball boy telling the Linesman the ball was over the line, or an opposition player was offside ? The little perishers may not get paid (?) but at least they get to watch the match for free.
Ball boys et all can be annoying, but you've seen nothing until you go to a youth footie game. You get the manager talking to the players on one side, the dads screaming- literally screaming- instructions at their precious talented kids 30 meters away. It's even worse when you're meant to referee it! Every time the parent's child goes down, they'll scream "REF- YELLOW CARD!" and everything else .. Now I keep a good authority over every game I referee. I've done 46 matches in my time. I've given nine penalties, four yellows and one red. The red card was for a child (Under 14's match) who fouled an opponent (it was a booking), spat at them (In the FA's lawbook for 2012-13 that's an instant red card if intentional), and then started a scuff between about four players (there was audible swearing- but as it was not aimed at any-one but himself, I let that go). Their dad ran on the pitch as I was speaking to the player's captain (Another part of the FA's Respect guidelines for this season), and tried to tell me not to send him off. I told him he'd have to leave the field of play or else play can't continue, and I won't make a decision until he'd gone back behind the rope. (I lie a rope out at every game I referee at, and tell the parents not to cross the line.) Naturally, the dad left the pitch, and I sent the little prat off.I reported the incident to my local refereeing authorities, and they banned the dad from all games in the league. (He has to watch from the car park now) So ball boys looking to time waste is not the worst thing small kids do. Anyway, as for the snowball incdent- I'm sure there were 10 million kids hurling snowballs at each other, and evryone accepts that. Footballers are no different- so surely people can have a laugh and throw a snaowball at them/ the bus driver without causing a national scandal. It's quite acceptable if it's done in the spirit of things. At Uni everyone was chucking snow at eachother and the proffessors for like 6 days, and no-one minded as long as it was done in the spirit of the situation.
A lot of the Saints ball boys play for a local and quite notorious youth team. So I know a lot of their names, because I have booked half of them and sent one or two off. Their manager works for Saints doing a lot of their Community work. Sent him off as well
Pompey_London you expect that the bus driver, on the receiving end of the snowball not to overreact. Yet you place a laughing smiley at the decision of your local youth FA to ban the parent of the player whom you sent off. You did not make any claim or suggestion that the parent was aggressive etc. Maybe he was just calmly pleading on behalf of his son. I'm not condoning the actions of the lad - from what you say he certainly deserved his red card - but, and in answer to my opening point, do you think that banning the parent was fair and in proportion ( in the lack of any other aggression that would justify that decision ), to the 'offence' committed by the parent - who probably was standing on the touchline - just like most parents watching kids football - so stepping onto the field of play is not quite a full blown pitch invasion ! You can't be selective in your quest for moderation - but then why should I not be surprised at the inconsistenty of a referee ?
What, for not putting up with crap from parents? I agree, what a complete tool (I'm sure you can tell, but just to make sure there's no misunderstanding, that's sarcasm Mr. London!)
Always right- you may be wrong on this occassion .. When you do the original course to be a referee, the total amount of time you spend doing the course is 24 hours. Then, you have a three hour test, in which you must get 85%. After that, you qualify as a trainee referee. Afterwards, you complete six matches, of which all are moderated by someone from your refereeing authorities. They watched all of my qualifying games- and were very impressed with the fairness and authority I showed on the pitch. They passed me first time. In my first season I was appointed ref at a local semi-final cup game, and appointed linesman, or assisted referee as a qualified referee would call them, for the final. This was as a reward, in recognition of the season I had just done. After completing my first full season, I was asked if I'd like to do adult football, as I'd performed very well that season. I know fully well what I am doing when refereeing a game. I see your viewpoint as to the dad on the pitch e.t.c .. but I never mentioned the fact he was very aggressive and quite intimidating to me, let alone the players. (I'm not going to lie- I'm a strong lad, and it takes a lot to intimidate me- but he scared the hell out of me! I can't have someone like that around children!) The fact his son was mightily embarassed by his father's actions added to the tension. As the fair and highly qualified referee I am, I issued the only red card I ever have, and reported the incident to the FA- as you would do with certain offences that are only minor offences. Now if you knew another responsibility of the ref, you'd know he is responsible for the players' safety whilst they are on the pitch. This player had already been mucking about, and this was the last straw. He was a danger to the other players, the atmosphere of the game, and my authority over it. His dad was a real threat for the same reasons as well- I mean he was close to hitting out at anyone in sight. Getting him banned for the ground was not my decision entirely- I suggested it to the FA authorities, and they agreed it was necessary, after reading the match report I fill out after every game. Breaking a strict FA rule, and not having any respect for you opponent (i.e fighting and spitting at them, whilst swearing), is an entirely different thing to throwing a bit of snow. As I said, at Uni everyone was throwing snow at eachother- even at the proffessors. They didn't have the urge to go to a national newspaper and write an article complaining about it! They, in the spirit of things, just threw snow back or laughed it off. I was, for the reasons I have explained, fully justified in my decision. The local FA authorities completely agree with my handling of the situation. As for Lord Duckhunter- mate, you have such little knowledge of what you're talking of it's unreal When you've got off your couch which you've been on longer than I've been alive I'll listen. Now eyes off the laptop- Bargain Hunt's starting soon. You know, the same programme you watch on Sunday afternoons, when other people are out refereeing football matches ??
Having 4 lads means that I've seen a lot of youngsters football, and I've done a bit of reffing myself. The best refs are in control of the situation and defuse aggro before it starts. You are clearly out of your depth if you need to send 14 year olds off.
Refereeing sounds interesting but I don't think I'd have the fitness for it. Plus, I'm quite a introverted person which probably wouldn't be a helpful personal attribute.
Mate, playing computer games whilst sitting in your bed don't count as refereeing in real life You clearly have also never seen the 14 year old I saw that day like 6 months ago either. +If that is true, it's not an achievement. On many occasions, the home team club supply "linesman" for the matches, who don't know a thing about football whatsoever- and are only interested in flagging the opposition offside a strangely high amount of times, and awarding throw ins to their team every time. That's why after two matches I refused to accept linesman, and I do the games on my own.
With 4 boys ranging from 24 to 13 i have seen loads of youth matches , whether you believe it or not. It's all about having control and you clearly struggle. Refusing to accept help does show a rather arrogant attitude and maybe this comes over in your refereeing style. If you feel they are wrong you can over rule the lino, rather than have a "mother knows best attitude". I played local football till nearly 50 and came across plenty of jobworths like you spoiling games.
I've done 46 matches in my time. I've given nine penalties, four yellows and one red. You call that ruining a game ?? I thought not .. I'd like to remind you what he did: "the player fouled an opponent (it was a booking), spat at them (In the FA's lawbook for 2012-13 that's an instant red card if intentional), and then started a scuff between about four players (there was audible swearing- but as it was not aimed at any-one but himself, I let that go)." There is no way I could not send him off- if I didn't, I think I'd be the one in trouble. So no, you're point is invalid. As for being "arrogant", the FA authortities suggest you don't accept help from the linesman (i.e the parents) from the home team. Every time the other team get forward they flag for offside of a foul, and give every thing they can to their own team. Due to this, the local FA at a meeting told all the referees present to decline help from assistant referees. Then again, Duckie, maybe they don't teach you the real rules on the footie video games you play
Yes, because one red card in 46 games at an average of 0.002 per game clearly means he lacks control.... If a player acts like a twat, they should get sent off, doesn't matter how young they are.
Sending off a 14 year old , throwing yellow cards around like confetti, keeping a count of penos , behaviour that screams out jobsworth to me. Played locally for 32 years and its Howard Webb wannabes that ruin most games. The best refs have a presence about them they don't need to strut around yellow card in hand. My mate used to invite players to discuss his decisions in the car park after the final whistle, he didn't need to go crying to the FA
Four yellows. FOUR YELLOWS FFS! That's one very 11.5 games! Frikin heck ducky! I have to count the reds/yellows/pens, as I'll have you know that as a ref it is compulsory you fill out a match report after each and every game. The local FA read my match report, which I do after each game, and took the action they did. Run along now ducky. Escape to the country's on- you know, the show you watch Saturday afternoon, when people who know about football are out playing it ?? Jesus Christ!
Besides, Ducky- what do you want me to do at the end of each game ?? Sit them in a circle, tell them they're all amazing at football, and then announce that because they're all so amazing that the game has ended in a draw!? He's a 14 year old lad- he is definitely old enough to take responsability for his own actions. He commmited two red card offences- in my view, the only player to ever commit a red card offence in a game I'm refereeing in. Done, simple.
