Question Number: 15248

Character, Attitude and Control 4/23/2007

RE: Adult

Ian Pearl of London, UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15231

I thank the referee panel for explaining exactly why we have the problems that we witness each week.

Despite the fact that I attend hundreds of premiership and European matches at the very highest level, I have never heard of a single one of these referees - one assumes that they are operating either in pub football or a country where the football is not of a quality which would be attractive to us connoisseurs and experts. I apologise, because I had previously thought that I was dealing with mainstream people at the top of their professions (in my country the referees are full-time professionals). I would expect amateurs to make mistakes.

Frankly I thought that the responses were rubbish. We sent troops into Iraq and the world is still spinning - it doesn't follow that Iraq is trivial so please don't trivialise my points. The reason that I don't become a referee is because I am old - that doesn't mean that my opinion is worthless or that I cannot see a player dive when he clearly wasn't touched. I am an educated professional, so suggesting that I am not capable of comprehending the rules of football is risible.

As I pointed out in the original question, the reason that we have a problem with referees is that we pretend that it's OK to make mistakes or even, as one of your referee's responses suggested, that referees don't make mistakes, rather than finding ways of stopping the mistakes. The defensive and aggressive nature of your referee's responses served to demonstrate my point admirably.

Just an amusing aside, many years ago I played football alongside John Moules, who was then a top class premiership referee and is now one of the leading administrators of the referees in the premiership. He was completely uncoordinated and had no idea whatsoever how to play the game. In my opinion it a shame and a missed opportunity that that rules are such that ex-players cannot become referees when they retire. Believe me, it would make a huge difference to the standard, because the standard IS horribly low.

Finally, it might help if the professional premiership referees shed a few pounds. There are definitely too many bars of chocolate going around with those fatties!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I stand by my previous comments. All I'll add is this question. Does your standard of making mistakes apply to players as well as referees? Any players making a mistake should be fired or relegated?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Your comments are vitriolic. I also think you are barking up the wrong tree. Our little site here is attempting to provide a little bit of knowlege and insight into the laws of the game. We do not represent any professional league or national association. If you don't like how the UEFA referee's or the PMGOL crews then I would suggest you complain to them - not us, we're not going to be any help to you.

I hope your comments make you feel better, because they only serve to bring down the enjoyment of others.

I would also offer if today's highest standard of officiating is so poor then there isn't much hope for our game because what else is there? Your suggestion of firing referee's for making judgment calls that are wrong is not wise. Referee's would only be apprehensive to make any decision, and invariably this would lead to more mistakes. In the end, there wouldn't be any refs left!

On a final note, I would love to hear your suggestions on how to improve refereeing. Is it to make former players refs? I was a player and I still play, but not at a professional level. The fact that I was not a great player allowed me to spend more time refereeing the game, giving me experience than other players have received who still play, because they were not able to do both at the same time. Besides, at least in the USA there is a fast track for pro players to become pro referees, surprisingly not many choose this path.

I would love to hear your suggestions and not just your complaints. Please enlighten me - how can refereeing be improved?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ian,
we can appreciate sarcasm as we too dish it out on occasion although for a educated cultured individual if one looked at the credentials of those on this panel they are listed for all to see NO one pretends to be what they are not.

I have watched video clips since video was invented of soccer matches, all world cups from the 60's on, I too religiously watch between 2 to 6 games a week as well as referee the same. Unfortunately I live in Canada and footie here while many play, the premier level it is not. I trained and played with both Mexican and Canadian National players and an unfortunate accident left my dreams of soccer glory at an early stage of my life. But I referee because I love the game you appear to watch but hardly appear to like it?
I say to you what problems? What mistakes? A missed offside? A missed goal? A missed PK foul? Or a non offside, illegal goal or a non foul?
Your own former professional Mr. Poll is he rubbish? Did the 3 cautions at the World cup undo all the effort gone before?
Is it your contestation that until former elite players become elite referees only they will understand the temperament and conditions of the elite game?

It is part of free will and choice that we can offer an opinion or conjecture and you will note although we are not fond of you or what you bring forth you are not restricted or cut out of the loop. I think you live under an imaginary misconception that perfection is attainable. I mentioned a referee who incorrectly applies the law is not around long. One who is always too far behind the play does not last long either. The standards set are very harsh and failure to comply or pass you does not get to do matches. In direct rebuttal to your view standards are getting worse absolute BS. Replay watching? You really need to sit in on a post game review it might educate you before you spout off a lot of nonsense. A lot of effort goes into training and preparing your professional referee, of course it is not up to your high standards but lets not get testy

The snobbery of," My country they are professionals," If you find them so appalling then your point is? As an aside only a SELECT few are professional and only just recently went that route and you seem to think they too are rubbish? I told you exactly why there are issues at the level you watch, referees who do matches at elite levels are not ABLE to referee with freedom. Remove the pressure, remove the dollar?s remove the politics and it will be a game instead of a shame. Mistakes are part of the human condition if you wish them expunged then we must do the same as it would take to pacify Iraq which is kill everyone who disagrees.

As for old we referee well into our seventies although admittedly it is the younger youth matches to compensate for speed. Eyesight is not an issue as most think we are blind anyway

I suppose you think if players made up the referee board the game would be magically transformed? Your FA is comprised of all sorts and there are committees and former coaches, players and referees littered over them all. Everything you mentioned is ALL READY being done and MUCH MORE .
You say, ?Something needs to be done about it? Then I suggest-
Stop watching, because the standard by what you perceive, any mistake by a referee is a demonstration of failure. If a referee CONSTANTLY performs ineptly they are removed. But no one gets to that professional status in England without a track record in the lower levels and no one performs well with the Swords of Damocles hanging over their head
Personally I like the fact you are moxie enough to challenge our opinions even if I think yours is one not reflecting reality although I am sure you can spin that back to me if you care to! Suffice to say you have your ideas and I have mine!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Wow!! A connoisseur and an expert!! All just by playing and watching hundreds of games!! Oh to be so lucky as you, Here's an aside, I've played in and watched thousands of baseball games and guess what? I could no more umpire a baseball game than the man in the moon (or you referee a soccer match). Here's something else, the absolute WORST referees are players and coaches. they invariably think they know it all and it takes years to unlearn all the crap they believe to be true. It's amusing you blame referees and not players and coaches for the professional dive. Virtually impossible for anyone to detect as players and coaches have become professional cheaters. I stand by all my previous comments. Professional referees make far fewer mistakes than professional players or coaches. Ignorant and beligerant fans such as you are ruining this beautiful game. Next time a riot breaks out in Merry Old England, be sure to sit on your butt and blame the referees. I likewise would like to hear just how you expect to improve referees. Using former players would be a disaster. Any other bright ideas?

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15283