So two more highly controversial refereeing decisions today.
In the first game between Swansea and West Ham, the Swansea goalkeeper was sent off when he came charging out and caught the West Ham player, who was put off balance but went on to hit his shot, hitting the post.
First, was advantage not played? Well I don't know the exact rules for this but not for me as Sakho was put off balance and perhaps was wider and closer to goal than he would have been otherwise. However as he was taking the ball past the goalkeeper, he used he arm and thus it should have been a Swansea freekick. A very poor decision which changed the whole game.
The second incident was in the Villa and Leicester game, two players, Hutton and Konchesky(how's your mum?) went head to head and Konchesky was sent off with Hutton getting a yellow card and then Hutton went on to score the winner. Again changed the whole game. For me it was a yellow card each. We also saw Varney clatter Westwood from behind in that game, forcing him off injured with a knee injury, it was the classic modern day red card, yet only a yellow. So handbags got a red and a dangerous challenge injuring a player, produced only a yellow. For me the referee got both instances wrong.
I began to notice about three seasons ago that decisions were going against us way too often, we did get a lot of decisions last season, whilst people will point to penalties we got but also there were so many crazy decisions against us. This season I've been watching a lot of Premier League football, thought I'd get it in before a have a screaming crying ball of crap join me at home in March, and I've noticed that the decisions aren't only going against us but the refereeing in general is at an appalling level. In fact I think we have reached crisis point where the standard of refereeing is destroying the league. Am I overreacting? Is there a fix for this?
For me there's a short term fix whereby we bring in foreign referees and I don't just mean any foreign referees, I mean the best, even if that means prizing them away from their own leagues or bring back some retired referees, in the meantime, whilst our current referees get some training from them as well as young up and coming referees learning from them. Something needs to be done and quick. The pundits are still at the stage where they're brushing it off as you win some you lose some but you can see opinions gradually changing, even today you had the pundits say the referee was too inexperienced for the game.
Anyhow just wanted to get you opinion, firstly if I'm just imagining it or if we're at crisis point with refereeing and secondly, if you believe so, what can be done to fix it?
Referees
posted on 8/12/14
Referees do not make poor decisions; just decisions that others don't agree with!!!
posted on 8/12/14
I peronally (and controversially) believe that refs do a decent job. Reasons:
-Endless tv replays and a whole media industry analyse their every move, which can probably magnify their decisions and cause people to feel like they are not as good as some in the past, where actually incorrect decisions slipped by without notice. the comparison leads us to feel the standards have slipped.
-The speed of the game is quicker than it has ever been, refs get one take and have to make the call - it has never been more difficult.
- Players dive and play act, a lot. The refs have enough on their plate with the endless scrutiny of replays and the speed of the game, but with players actively trying to deceive referees, it causes problems. Not only that but it puts more doubt into their minds and influences decision making.
-Pressure. The bottom line is that refs are human.football has never been so high profile and so charged with intensity from fans/players and analysts alike. Refs may suffer from the effects of this, and sometimes just make bad decisions due to all of the above, and while it hurts, it happens.
posted on 8/12/14
I feel the swansea call was fairer than the leicester call.
I felt that if the ref and linesman (who was on far side) didn't see the handball then the thing they did was right
hutton squared up too... got a yellow but the other guy gets red is a bad one. as much as konbloodychesky deserves it
posted on 8/12/14
comment by moreinjuredthanowen (U9641)
posted 41 minutes ago
I feel the swansea call was fairer than the leicester call.
I felt that if the ref and linesman (who was on far side) didn't see the handball then the thing they did was right
hutton squared up too... got a yellow but the other guy gets red is a bad one. as much as konbloodychesky deserves it
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If cameras can't be called upon then shouldn't we have an assistant on the quarter also, otherwise we have an apparent 'blind spot'.
posted on 8/12/14
As U said if you cant see it you cant give it. Except of course if the assistant ref saw it and talked to him on the old steam radio.
posted on 8/12/14
Every team gets bad decisions from time to time, some more than others.
It is down to refereeing incompetence, bad luck and referees always giving certain clubs the benefit doubt with 50/50 decisions.
posted on 8/12/14
Nope its down to cheating players fans who dont know or care about the rules of the game. A total lack of understanding about the difference between one persons view at ground level and 30+cam angles. Pundits who have axes to grind and the ability not to understand that the game isnt played in slomo.
posted on 8/12/14
comment by Stretford_Ender85 (U10955)
posted 10 hours, 42 minutes ago
It's funny that when we're on the receiving end of a ref decision it's because the FA are biased and the refs are all Utd fans.......yet when it happens with everyone else, it's just one of those things.
Like we've told you all along there's no bias, the refs are just shiiiiite.
Where did the ref get 6 mins added on time at Newcastle from? Jose time?
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Jose bought it from Fergie!
posted on 9/12/14
Refereeing is all about opinions.
It's in the ref's opinion that he was "the last man" or "in a clear goal scoring opportunity"
There is nothing clear cut so debates/disagreements will always occur.
posted on 9/12/14
If Cattermole punches Lambert in the face and the ref sees it and gives nothing as he believes he got the ball - that decision will stand.
There is nothing in football which is 100% the correct decision.
Even offsides - it's the linesman's opinion that they are going to directly influence the play from the offside position. It only becomes an incorrect decision if the player then gets the ball