The quality of officiating

[BaZ87]

The FA don't want to introduce cameras to help the refs. Why? So everyone can get animated about all the bad decisions the referees make, as well as the actual football. It's theatre. A bit like wrestling. It could all be sorted out in a couple of weeks if anyone at the top of football had a will to do it.

The FA can't really do anything without FIFA's say so and FIFA's idea is that the professional game should be no different to kids playing in the park.

Other than goal-line technology that doesn't involve the game being stopped, I'm very sceptical about technology coming into football. Not only are decisions so subjective that even with slow-motion replays people still can't agree but I don't want the game being so stop-start.

 

[Chong Warrior]

Was that the only decision that he might have been unhappy with? We're ignoring the Senderos penalty/red card, Dempsey red card and the disallowed goal?

Yeah but that's all down to personal opinions and also been talked to death in the other thread and will continue to be so, as there's no 100% definitive answer to most incidents. There were some very close calls that could have gone either way but no massive injustices imho. The biggest and probably most talked about is the sending off and this pic just puts any arguement to bed, case closed m'lud?

 

[Vespasian777]

FIFA don't want to introduce cameras to help the refs. Why? So everyone can get animated about all the bad decisions the referees make, as well as the actual football. It's theatre. A bit like wrestling. It could all be sorted out in a couple of weeks if anyone at the top of football had a will to do it.

 

[BaZ87]

Yeah but that's all down to personal opinions and also been talked to death in the other thread and will continue to be so, as there's no 100% definitive answer to most incidents. There were some very close calls that could have gone either way but no massive injustices imho. The biggest and probably most talked about is the sending off and this pic just puts any arguement to bed, case closed m'lud?

Senderos's red card wasn't really a close call, nor was Dempsey's. The offside goal was close but ultimately the wrong decision.

And that picture makes the challenge look far worse that it was. As I said in the other thread; from that it looks like his body weight is going down into the tackle, onto the Fulham players leg. It's not though, his leg is on it's way back up.

FIFA don't want to introduce cameras to help the refs. Why? So everyone can get animated about all the bad decisions the referees make, as well as the actual football. It's theatre. A bit like wrestling. It could all be sorted out in a couple of weeks if anyone at the top of football had a will to do it.

Ok, you're just repeating yourself but replacing the FA with FIFA. As I said before and whether you agree with it or not, the reason is because they want football played at all levels to have the same rules & regulations.

 

[Twinblade]

It's a difficult one this, whilst some referees are seriously out of their depth in the Premier League some of them are very good and do make the honest and genuine mistake, but, it is then admitting it that many struggle with.

The likes of Stuart Atwell and Michael Oliver, no disrespect to them, but personally I think that they are too young to be PL referees, 29 and 25 respectively. I think the high profile blunders in recent seasons support my comments on Atwell, and also his obsurd red card for Cahill this weekend at WHL.

The main issue with why people consider the referees to be poor is because, as previously mentioned the extent of the media coverage, and now it is becoming more and more of an issue, more so than some of the actions of the players, that often, referees let go unpunished.

As a referee if you make a big error you are dropped from the forthcoming round of fixtures, some are even demoted to the Championship for a short period (Andy D'Urso is a good example).

The problem isn't helped, like last night, that the Suarez offside goal wasn't the referees fault, but that of his assistant. Yet, it is he that everyone comments about after the game. The same is said for the Newcastle penalty at Old Trafford the other week.

That said, sometimes players dont make it easy for themselves, and the diving, cheating, going down to easy etc of certain players means they have a reputation that, although shouldn't, will stick and make an official think twice about making, what would be the correct choice.

As a referee myself, admittedly nowhere near the required grade to officiate at PL level it is sometimes hard to get every decision correct, after all, we are only human. However, where I can, on a Saturday or a Sunday morning speak to the managers/players after the game and explain my decision, the professional referees aren't allowed. Personally I think this is wrong, and whilst yes, I agree that they shouldn't have to provide a statement immediately following the game, if it is fear of media punishment, they should have to provide a statement response via an appointed spokesperson.

 

[Twinblade]

FIFA don't want to introduce cameras to help the refs. Why? So everyone can get animated about all the bad decisions the referees make, as well as the actual football. It's theatre. A bit like wrestling. It could all be sorted out in a couple of weeks if anyone at the top of football had a will to do it.

It's not that they don't want to, it is, as mentioned by Baz because they don't want the game to become stop start. It's easier to implement in Tennis (the game stops after each point), Cricket (the game stops momentarily after each ball) and Rugby. Yet in football you cannot guarantee the game will stop after each effort, a good example was the weekend, Sunderland miss and penalty and Wolves score within a minute.

Fifa/Uefa have tried to change things with the 4th/5th officials but they seem worse than useless. Although it is rumoured that there will be goal line technology at the 2014 World Cup.

 

[Vespasian777]

The fact remains that no-one at the top level of football is serious about sorting it out, or it would be sorted. Alright, forget real time cameras. Lets have some proper punishments dished out to errant players on the basis of video evidence, after the game. At present, the fines and bans do not fit the offences, and as a consequence, some players are making a shambles of the game. Or are we not allowed to get tough, because kids playing in the park are not managed that way. FIFA, the FA whoever, are quite happy with the situation. That really tells the story. High drama.

 

[Twinblade]

The fact remains that no-one at the top level of football is serious about sorting it out, or it would be sorted. Alright, forget real time cameras. Lets have some proper punishments dished out to errant players on the basis of video evidence, after the game. At present, the fines and bans do not fit the offences, and as a consequence, some players are making a shambles of the game. Or are we not allowed to get tough, because kids playing in the park are not managed that way. FIFA, the FA whoever, are quite happy with the situation. That really tells the story. High drama.

I note on SSN that the SPL have offered Rangers forward Aloko a 2-game ban for diving. Rangers have rejected their offer, presumably they have a panel to deal with divers in Scotland and he will have a personal hearing. Will be interested in the outcome.

 

[HangTime]

I don't think it is getting any worse. Mistakes have always been made, there's always been dodgy refs, Barry Knight anyone?!?
I think the older I get the more accepting I am of bad decisions, like most fans I am still bitter about things (Eto'o's offside goal in the CL final for example) but I think at real time refs have a very tough job, no benefit of replays, it's just human nature.