Question Number: 14971

Other 3/10/2007

Jon of London, UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14936

Sorry fellas,

Didn't mean to sound testy...been a tiring few weeks with the whistle!!! [14936] Sorry if a take a few things for granted...guess that is a massive diff between here in UK where certain things...such as the advantage signal...are thought of as a given and understood because we are bought up with football and therefore stuff like this goes right past us. I never really even think that people would use the signal to show they have seen a fair challenge...but understand that this must happen and could cause massive confusion.

I wish i could admit to a preference in the United , Liverpool game but that would be very unprofessional!!!!

I've seen some top top application of the advantage rule recently in the EPL and Champs league where an official has come back a good time later to caution someone for a foul that occured but that there was an advantage resulting. As i've said before on here, i get the most plesure out of alowing a game to flow and then come back to punish the penal offense. Football is there to be played, and we are just there to make sure the game is played fairly and in the right spirit...our job is in the background that should only be amde prominant to make sure the control and fairness is being adherd to.

Cheers lads

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

No worries Jon. Remember the Question MrRef asked? Have a new answer yet???

Regards, C.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Thanks for the comments and concern

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hey Jon. Always good to hear from you. Things are, indeed, vastly different across the pond. British coaches here in the States insist that a player yelling "mine" is guilty of misconduct. American coaches and spectators usually have no clue as to what the advantage sweep of arms means but they ALL understand the "safe' signal or the signal of arms out and down with palms up as meaning "I saw that but it's NOT a foul". To complicate matters, American referees are constantly yelling "play on" when the should be yelling "no foul". We grow up with baseball, basketball and pointy football. This may be different 25 years from now but for now our knowledge of soccer as a Nation is grossly less than yours and we at this site have to answer questions accordingly.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jon,
we need some tough love every now and then, many of those who respond take us to task on issues unclear or outright wrong. As referees no dissent is likely to faze us but we do listen and try to keep an open mind when we rub the fur the wrong way. Some of us deliberately brush stroke the opposite direction trying to provoke a reaction or response that enlightens all as much as irritate one another. That is the beauty of human dynamics and a true measure of a well rounded individual, whether we can come to the same conclusion or agree to disagree we still be friends either way!
Cheers