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Nice blog! I think managers and players have the right to get angry at referees! You mention that refs should be respected but I think they should earn respect! 'At the end of the day it is referees decisions that define games, seasons and even careers! Remember the ref who denied Chelsea 4 penalties in the CL semis against Barcelona!

Have a read of 'Scotland Yard: Is there too much pressure on referees?' it sums the topic up nicely!

Jack, perhaps you can try to get the players' association to take note of your arguments? Can't see you getting a warm reception though!

Can you pass a word to the gossip column editor to exclude the likes of caughtoffside being quoted? That site doesn't even pretend to have a source for any of their stories, which seem to be either opinion pieces or simply made up. I've never seen a single "rumor" from there that actually resulted in a transfer, so it's more like a spam site that Â鶹ԼÅÄ is driving traffic to. Someone's making tons of money and British taxpayers are helping to advertise it, basically.

A good blog. Can I suggest that referees just apply the following code.

A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits the
following offence: dissent by word or action

A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits the following offence: using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

This is almost a direct copy from the rules of the game published by FIFA for season 2010 / 2011.

I used to run school football teams. If any of my players showed dissent during a game they were substituted. If they were abusive to referees they never played again. They all knew this would happen. In about 30 years involvement with school teams I substituted a player once in those circumstances and banned one player when he was abusive to an offical.

Interesting that so called professional people cannot discipline themselves in this way when kids can.

One of the main differences with Rugby Ref's is you just have to look at them to see they have played the game at some level in most cases.. this then leads to a level of acceptance..

Look at Refs down south like Howard Webb who is a police officer and is therefore used to dealing with difficult situations.. and then you look at our officials.. teachers and accountants who have a level of fitness and certificates..

Referees are paid handsomely for their time and have always been untouchable to the level of near arrogance.. the system governing them up here has been shown to be seriously flawed.. if you didn't want flak in your line of work you wouldnt become a traffic warden..

Another excellent blog from a player's perspective. Good to see your blog madke the footie front page Jack.

I think you hit the nail on the head recognising that your fellow pros seemed to be showing the foreign refs a lot more respect.

The language barrier meant it was no good ranting away at them. The players could be pretty certain no partisanship was under consideration when decisions were made and all the fuss created around the story made both sides - players and officials - take a step back from each other, which should always happen.

I've said it before, in today's game there's no reason why officials aren't all made professional and pooled to travel around Europe to impartially ref games just like in other sports like Tennis.

Good piece Jack.
Players need to take a good hard look at themselves. In some cases it looks like a managerial tactic to have the players surround a referee at every incident in an attempt to draw a caution for the opposing player.
Luckily nothing like this transpired at New Douglas Park this time around.
I will add though that, until there is a truly independent review panel for referees, there will always be the potential for mumblings and sideswipes from certain sectors.
The whole system needs a radical shake up and the referees do need more backing when they are abused by players and/or officials.
Thay also need to b e brought to task if it looks like they have affected results due to poor or even incompetent performances. we can't have it all one sided.

It's a good debate. Referees are appointed to ensure matches can be played and the laws are applied fairly to each side. Unfortunately it's a part of the game as currently played, for players to seek to gain unfair advantage (varying between gamesmanship or plain cheating depending upon your perspective) which makes things difficult. Managers encourage this behaviour then complain when decisions don't go for them. Then there are just plain poor decision making referees.

Standards of refereeing have to get better, and players and managers have to improve their standards of behaviour as well, and be less hypocritical.

The answer must be to have foreign refs for the big derbies so that after the match they can go home and not endure the sort of stuff that the ref who was forced to retire did. There mst be enough money in the game for the costs of the flights etc.

"Look at Refs down south like Howard Webb who is a police officer and is therefore used to dealing with difficult situations.."

And getting them wrong every single time

Good blog! Players and managers attitudes need to change towards referees. Giving them more respect and not harassing them to give a card for minor offences. On the other hand FIFA, UEFA, FA/SFA have to start supporting refs and back them up so that diving, dissent and general cheating is not tolerated.

dare I mention the word technology?? its about time football embraced it just as nearly every other major sport has which which would surely give refs more credibility and aid them in making correct decisions.

At some point (or more likely gradually), referees must have gotten more lenient towards players swearing at them for the decisions they made. Surely just booking/dismissing players for obvious dissent would fix a lot of the problems with the players. Wayne Rooney isn't as bad now, but there's been many a game where he should have been dismissed for his reaction and what he was saying. Also ban managers for questioning the ref's integrity, but not for questioning decisions - that's fair enough.

All it needs is a press conference and follow-ups with the clubs on the new stance, and rules/examples of what they're not allowed to do/say. Then probably 5 seasons of constant dismissals while the players/managers actually get it into their heads :)

I've never understood why players question directives that have been brought in though. I suspect some just don't pay attention, and some simply never bother to learn the laws of the game.

No need for technology nor foreign refs - this would not cure the problem of lack of respect. That is what the refs are complaining about - with every justification. Put yourself in their shoes and you would quickly agree with the general lack of respect from managers, players and fans. This is SPORT after all, a source of entertainment. We must all be big enough to take decisions against our team. How can a ref win ? When every decision taken goes for one team and against another! This happens all the time. Just because we dont agree does not mean we should suspect the refs integrity. Criticise of course, debate of course, disagree of course. If we are to question the integrity of our refs after every game then the game will die. Without a ref - there is no game. The SFA must come out strongly in favour of protecting the refs. The press and media in recent years have contributed to this current softer line on ref protection. The thin end of the wedge has now opened up. Players must not get away with shouting, swearing, pushing and harassment of the refs. The SFA must spell this out clearly and the refs must react by showing cards to anyone who does. We should give the ref even more power to punish further by moving position of free kicks forward - award a penalty if this takes the game into the box!

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I wish football would adopt one of the real plus points from the way rugby is officiated, in that only captains are allowed to speak with the ref. It would make an immediate impact and help (begin) to quell the sometimes horrendous abuse targeted towards refs.

There isn't any excuse for it - wrong decisions are made in rugby by the officials as well. It has nothing to do with the refs having once played the game. The difference is in the general attitude.

I remember my younger years (age 6-17) playing rugby - right from the off we were told to respect the officials' decisions. It worked - you just got on with the match.

The same culture needs instilling in football.

Well written blog, some good points made. However one thing that I think is being forgotten in the debate about referees is the lack of support referees are getting.

The way you watch some footballers conduct themselves on the park is disgraceful, with some players faking injuries etc in order to get an opponent sent off. Additionally the amount of diving in the professional game seems to always be on the increase, and I can understand the frustrations of some players when they are cheated by another player. The difference between being a success and a failure in the eyes of the fans is quite a thin one, and I can understand when players react badly to decisions which cost them points/trophy's. In Sports such as rugby there are fewer injustices because the technology is there to help officials, while in football it all comes down to what three people do or do not see. A lot of the decisions I see made on TV are stunningly good in relation to issues such as the ball being over the line or a tight offside call. However when decisions are so difficult to judge, you can understand why mistakes are made and players are frustrated. I think Tennis is a good example, where people can challenge the decision of the umpire if they dispute his decision, and they are then shown the right decision. While it may not be accessible at every level, at least at the top of the game it could help show that cheating does not pay.

Furthermore it would remove a lot of the top level situations where players are challenging referees, and would help create a better climate of respect.

Very valid point you make, Rossy. However, the 'familiarity breeds contempt' point works both ways, and has more than amply demonstrated by certain referees in recent seasons, who seem to believe they are untouchable. They have engendered an atmosphere where decisions have to be questioned because players just don't know what is going on in their mind. After maybe 4 or 5 decisions, the players may feel they are getting picked on. In light of recent revelations about 26 out of 31 SPL referees failing the regular tests, perhaps players feel they know the laws of the game better than the referees ?

I dont think I have vere seen such utter drivel as I have on replys to this blog.

First of all it is up to the players to behave and play within the laws of the game.It is there own actions that should define games and, blaming a ref is an excuse used by losers.

Rugby refs are not all players and my own observation of our refs ( my son is one) is that they have all without exception been involved in the game at some level, the difference between Rugby and Football is that Rugby players know the rules and are taught to respect refs decisions, contrast that with football where no one that plays knows the rules and then are actively encouraged to show dissent at every single decision that goes against them.

Players and Managers (some more than others) need to take a long look at themselves and start acting in a more mature manner.

There is however a simple solution to all this though in times of austerity and hardship, those that continue to harrass and abuse refs should be hit hard financially the SFA for once in their life need to stand up to the bully boys and teach them a lesson that will be meaningfull and that applies to all in football not just the obvious candidates.

It is ridiculous that people should have to face abuse and harassment for the job that they do. I love football as much as the next fan, but I wouldn't treat a person this way.

We can't play fitba without referees! Just let them do their job. Oh ...and bring in some technology to help the poor guys out a bit!

Footballers as philosophers. Lmao.
Most footballers pressurise referees, not to change the current decision, but to influence future ones...

Jack

“To be successful, such a change in attitude from young players would need to be supported by a significant shift in the examples set by some at the top of the game�

This is not a criticism but we can all be wise after the event and many opinions offered whilst mindful of the recent events have been tempered into generic statements.

I would like to know what specific steps insiders like you would like to see in the aftermath of ‘whistle-gate’ and in particular what degrees of responsibility people might be willing to take for the future of the game.

E.g. the topic of a proper professional body for players came up in a previous blog and I would have thought that such a body would be likely to have the greatest influence on the attitudes you refer to, by setting their own standards of professionalism.

Call them qualifications if you like but in effect, set markers defining eligibility for membership that might include each member undergoing a short introductory course to refereeing that could be done in partnership with the refs association. Not necessarily to turn out qualified referees but to gain an appreciation of what it is like to be a referee. And develop mutual trust and respect.

There are very few opportunities for young players coming through to interact or play with older more experienced players and the age limitations on ‘second’ team make-ups do not compare favourably in my opinion to the old reserve league set up.

To say there is a gap in player development is an understatement and somehow this gap has to be filled. Such a body would help in this respect and it wouldn’t have to cost the clubs a penny.

What is more, it would indeed be a rarity and certainly deserving of admiration.

Jack,

you've lost me here. Was this a topic from a previous blog?

Just what exactly would this committee achieve?

First of all I would like to say that I don`t subscribe to the conspiracy theories but also admit that there is something wrong with our refereeing in this country. There is hardly a weekend goes past without there being controversial decisions that take precedent over the players and performances.
Celtic are at the forefront because they have been more vocal in their criticism of these decisions but many teams "suffer" because of them. There was a story in the press about 80% of referees failing an exam on the rules but I don`t think the ensuing criticism should have been directed solely at the refs. The powers that be must shoulder most of the blame because they have changed the rules so many times over the years to "fine tune" the game and make it more spectator friendly.
Take the off-side rule, at one time it was easy to follow and the only slight problem was the player who was marginally one way or the other. Now we see players involved in the first phase/second phase of play and those interfeering or not interfeering with play. Recently a goal was given when an attacking player was standing almost on the goal line. In the bad old days he was off-side no argument, whereas now there are so many other things to be considered, all within a split second, it is no wonder that some refs get it wrong.
I feel the game needs to turn back the clock and return the rules to their simplistic form and then we can all start to enjoy it again.
How many fans can honestly say they understand the current rules of the game the way we expect referees to?.

Jack @ #25

Thanks for the clarification.

Such a committee would indeed be worthwhile dialogue in reaching a common understanding and I agree with you that it should exist in some form.

I disagree with you however, about the committee’s role in change and you can look at any walk of life but when it comes to change, a committee is a rather blunt instrument.

People cause change. So when it comes to the crunch it means all the people have to be involved and not limited to a group of people in a committee to be the prime movers in change.

Changes will come from the topics you covered in this blog but only if individuals change their own attitudes and take responsibility for their own actions.

I couldn’t change you any more than I could make an alcoholic give up the drink. Only you can change you.

The same goes for committees. They can talk all they like but they can’t change anyone. It is up to individuals.

So I stick to my opinion that players should take more responsibility for influencing their own standards of play and behaviour and develop this ethos though their own professional body.