Standard of the officials

[Brian Fantana]

I am currently watching the football league show and in the first two matches there have been dreadful decisions that have had a significant influence on the games - in the Derby match Buxton wrestled a Forest player to the ground in the box (in view of the ref) but no action was taken, in the Binner's game Hunt is behind the goal as the ball is played but not found to be off side and so on.

I know it is easy to have a pop at the officials when they miss something or make the wrong call but after six months back in this league I have to say I had forgotten just how poor some of the officials are, the decision making at time appears almost random. Whilst never perfect in the Prem it was a damn sight better this this.

 

[Canaryboy]

The standard of officials in the football league won't improve until the job becomes attractive.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2909239/Top-Premier-League-referees-earn-FIVE-TIMES-Football-League-officials.html

They are paid just £360 a game on a freelance basis, which is £17480 for a full 46 game season. Assistant referees get just £185 per match, or £8510 for a 46 game season.

Nowhere near enough. Perhaps if they were suitably remunerated there would be more former pros getting into it after hanging up their boots? 

Maybe Championship referees should be full time and on a salary like the Premier League? It is ridiculous that your teams chances in a Championship fixture could hinge on whether a ref was knackered after a tough week at work. Surely a league with an average of player salary of £211k a year (and that was in 2011) can give refs a £25k basic + match fee? In the Premier League they are full time and salaried. 

This is the problem I feel. Doubt there is a huge pool of people desperate to get into the job, leaving just the creme de la creme who 'make it', more like we're left with the people who think abuse from the terraces and all over the internet is worth £360 a pop. 

 

[Personal Trainer]

I am not sure that fitness is a problem, from those we have seen at Carrow Rd they seem as fit as the PL refs. I think the problem may lie with the Assistants who often seem to have difficulty with keeping up with the game at the same time as watching the play. They also seem frightened to challenge the refs call.

Still, I wouldn't want to do it!

 

[Salopian]

Genuine mistakes are unfortunate, so long as the referee learns from them. What worries me slightly is the possibility  that a referee can make what he regards as a compensating decision. Some people suggested that at Bournemouth the referee was compensating for not giving the "handball" which led to our goal.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I agree with much of the criticism here, and our last two refs have been abysmal. £360 is reasonable for 3-4 hours work. I think they should be independently rated and receive a 'suspension' to 4th official for the next match if their rating is low.

I did admire the lino in the Reading game at CR who reversed his off-side decision and gave the goal when he realised he hadn't spotted an opposition player ahead of play. It doesn't happen enough though.

 

[crabbycanary]

Money doesn't make for better officials.

I agree the money could be better, but it wouldn't have made a jot of difference, for instance, to the Lino in the Spurs game yesterday, that gave Vertonghen offside, when he was still in his own half!

I used to be a Ref in Rugby Union, as well as an assessor, and would want to start at the top, with, for example, allowing the Ref's to have the flexibility for game management, and not have to act as robots, in fear of punishment from the powers that be.

 

[splutcho]

I agree the money could be better, but it wouldn't have made a jot of difference, for instance, to the Lino in the Spurs game yesterday, that gave Vertonghen offside, when he was still in his own half!

And our friend from last week Chris Foy, who didn't overturn it even though he was stood five metres from the "offending" player.

 

[Boyerboy]

Referees are poor but I think we get the referees we deserve.

Over the last twenty years, Premier league players have been allowed to harangue and harass referees without penalty. The authority of the referee has been diminished at all levels as a result. If you lower the status and respect for an occupation then the quality of candidates declines. The failure to protect referees contrasts with the support given in rugby and cricket where abuse is stamped on hard.

You don't have to change the laws. Yellow for dissent and red for foul and abusive language is quite good enough. Warn the players before the start of the season, enforce the laws and give referees the time and status to be good.

 

[eatonparkboy]

I have always believed that full time professional referees on top money was a mistake. I believe those refs now make decisions against a background of fear of losing their lucrative jobs.

I think the level in the Championship is about right. Of course they make errors and it sounded like our ref made one or two but of course the Cardiff fans will think he got those ones right. It is a part of the game and always has been. 

 

[Crossdressing Canary]

I am currently watching the football league show and in the first two matches there have been dreadful decisions that have had a significant influence on the games - in the Derby match Buxton wrestled a Forest player to the ground in the box (in view of the ref) but no action was taken, in the Binner's game Hunt is behind the goal as the ball is played but not found to be off side and so on.

I know it is easy to have a pop at the officials when they miss something or make the wrong call but after six months back in this league I have to say I had forgotten just how poor some of the officials are, the decision making at time appears almost random. Whilst never perfect in the Prem it was a damn sight better this this.

Regarding the Hunt goal, he was off the pitch when the shot came in, therefore not offside, he then came back onto the pitch, the ball was then touched by a Millwall defender and came to Hunt so he was still onside.

 

[crabbycanary]

I'm not going to turn this into a 'Spot the error' competition, but this,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29486461

from last night, shows a lack of common sense by a Referee, who possibly , has been too  institutionalised by the powers that be, and the rules, that he felt too scared to do anything else. The Ref might have thought if he followed the rules, that if there was any comeback, then his superiors would get the hassle, but it makes him look a complete tool.

Why didn't he just whisper in the player going off's ear, that he could take as long as he wanted to, but the Ref would be adding even more extra time on, at the end? 

 

[Din]

The standard of officials in the football league won't improve until the job becomes attractive.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2909239/Top-Premier-League-referees-earn-FIVE-TIMES-Football-League-officials.html

They are paid just £360 a game on a freelance basis, which is £17480 for a full 46 game season. Assistant referees get just £185 per match, or £8510 for a 46 game season.

Wow, didn't realise that. I assumed being a football league referee was a full-time job, but clearly with those wages it's not.

The standard of refereeing in the Premier League is appalling, let alone in the football league. God knows what it's like in the semi-professional leagues.