This is very interesting. Webb gives a corners and (correctly) goes to check if there is a head injury to the player on the line as his 1st responsibility is player safety. While he is doing this someone clearly tells him (correctly) that the player handled ball and he takes the correct action (send off the player for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity and award a penalty).
Eygpt are now complaining becauses rules state referee cannot get advice from 4th official. His defense maybe that it was a linesman who advised him since I beleive there are also miced up.
Anyway I think the rule is wrong - the ref should be able to get help to get a the right decision from a video ref.
BTW I love the way he handles all the dissent. He just ignores it and gets on with his business of sending off the player and organising the penalty.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Ref vs Umpire
Well I've finished my first (partial) season and my Saturday afternoons are now devoted to playing cricket.
It was our 2nd second game yesterday and I was reflecting on the difference between umpire and referee at club level. In club cricket the normal practice is that two members of the batting side act as umpires (the duty is usually rotated every 10 overs) so if you're batting, it's a member of your own team you might give you out. This works incredibly well and in 24 years of playing men's club cricket I have only ever seen one incident of blatant bias by an umpire.
Even though there are plenty of contentious decisions you just don't see dissent in club cricket as happens constantly in club football. Why is this? I think there's a number of reasons:
1. Established norms of behaviour. It's the same people playing football as cricket in many cases but they behave better when playing football mainly because they comply to the norms of the environment, established from top to bottom in the sport. Football could learn alot from this...change the behaviour in the premiership, change it in the park.
2. Time to calm down. Cricket is essentially a turn-based, individual game wrapped up as a team game. The bowler who has an lbw turned down has time to calm down and get an explanation from an umpire before bowling again.
3. Perceived neutrality. The batsman who thinks he is "triggered" (given out wrongly, by an umpire with a "trigger" finger) can talk to his team-mate about it later when he has calmed down. However it's his team-mate who gave him out so he's not going to leap to the conclusion that he is a "cheat". A football referee whilst (ironically) more neutral is constantly accused of bias.
It was our 2nd second game yesterday and I was reflecting on the difference between umpire and referee at club level. In club cricket the normal practice is that two members of the batting side act as umpires (the duty is usually rotated every 10 overs) so if you're batting, it's a member of your own team you might give you out. This works incredibly well and in 24 years of playing men's club cricket I have only ever seen one incident of blatant bias by an umpire.
Even though there are plenty of contentious decisions you just don't see dissent in club cricket as happens constantly in club football. Why is this? I think there's a number of reasons:
1. Established norms of behaviour. It's the same people playing football as cricket in many cases but they behave better when playing football mainly because they comply to the norms of the environment, established from top to bottom in the sport. Football could learn alot from this...change the behaviour in the premiership, change it in the park.
2. Time to calm down. Cricket is essentially a turn-based, individual game wrapped up as a team game. The bowler who has an lbw turned down has time to calm down and get an explanation from an umpire before bowling again.
3. Perceived neutrality. The batsman who thinks he is "triggered" (given out wrongly, by an umpire with a "trigger" finger) can talk to his team-mate about it later when he has calmed down. However it's his team-mate who gave him out so he's not going to leap to the conclusion that he is a "cheat". A football referee whilst (ironically) more neutral is constantly accused of bias.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Money, money. money
Many people are surprised to learn there is a match fee for ref at local league level. In my regular league it's £30 per game, which I think is fairly typical (youth 11-a-side is more likely to be £20 per game). So obviously I'm not doing it for the money!
In professional football, refs in the Football League get £250 per game plus expenses but would not be full-time. The assistant referees running the line get less, despite being closer to the abusive crowd.
The "Select Group of professional referees" in the premiership (guys like Howard Webb and Phil Dowd) get a basic salary of £60,000 per year with extra for European games. They will do about 25 games per season so that's about £2,400 a game.
Compare that to the players. In the premiership average salary is close to £100,000 per month of playing time so let's say they play six games a month, that's about £17,000 a game (but they get paid whether they play or not). Most of the highest profile guys will be making money on top of that for endorsements and so on, not to mention the money they make when they change clubs - especially when they go on a Bosman and the new club doesn't have to pay the old club a penny.
And then there's "Beckham Inc", which is in another league altogether.
In professional football, refs in the Football League get £250 per game plus expenses but would not be full-time. The assistant referees running the line get less, despite being closer to the abusive crowd.
The "Select Group of professional referees" in the premiership (guys like Howard Webb and Phil Dowd) get a basic salary of £60,000 per year with extra for European games. They will do about 25 games per season so that's about £2,400 a game.
Compare that to the players. In the premiership average salary is close to £100,000 per month of playing time so let's say they play six games a month, that's about £17,000 a game (but they get paid whether they play or not). Most of the highest profile guys will be making money on top of that for endorsements and so on, not to mention the money they make when they change clubs - especially when they go on a Bosman and the new club doesn't have to pay the old club a penny.
And then there's "Beckham Inc", which is in another league altogether.
Friday, 8 May 2009
Reflections on fallout from Champions League Semi-Final
As I saw it...
- Ballack man-handled the referee because, in Ballack's opinion, he didn't give a penalty decision in injury time
- Drogba verbally berated the referee and had to be restrained from physically attacking him because he felt he was denied victory by the referee's mistakes
- Drogba told the world he thought the referee was a "f*****g disgrace" by shouting into a TV camera
- after game the Chelsea manager said he understood Drogba's behaviour and the Chelsea captain said he supported Drogba
- the next day Drogba apologised for his behaviour in the press
Some thoughts...
- If Drogba said to the referee after the final whistle what he said to the camera he should have a red, not a yellow
- Drogba sets his own personal standards for his behaviour and for me they are not good enough, can anyone imagine Ryan Giggs behaving like that? or for that matter Tiger Woods, Rafa Nadal, Johnny Wilkinson or Andrew Strauss?
- the club set their standards and they are not good enough either by not condemning Drogba and Ballack's behaviour whatever their emotions, they diminish themselves and the sport
- I think the referee got himself into a mindset of "they are trying to get something from me and I'm not giving them to them", he legitimately turned down 2-3 penalty appeals but then made a bad miss on the Pique incident- that sequence has pretty much already happened to me... the more a team pressures you the worse decisions you make (this can go for or against them)
- I don't believe Drogba's apology, I think he just wants a smaller ban.
The whole thing makes me sad and a little angry.
The referee made a mistake that denied Chelsea victory.
When Drogba cut inside the last defender and scuffed a weak, left-footed shot at the keeper he made a mistake that denied Chelsea victory.
What are the consequences for both individuals and the game? The millionaire footballer may sit out a few games, the referee is in hiding I am pretty sure the damage to the game is done and calling a referee a "f****** disgrace" has been further legitimised.
- Ballack man-handled the referee because, in Ballack's opinion, he didn't give a penalty decision in injury time
- Drogba verbally berated the referee and had to be restrained from physically attacking him because he felt he was denied victory by the referee's mistakes
- Drogba told the world he thought the referee was a "f*****g disgrace" by shouting into a TV camera
- after game the Chelsea manager said he understood Drogba's behaviour and the Chelsea captain said he supported Drogba
- the next day Drogba apologised for his behaviour in the press
Some thoughts...
- If Drogba said to the referee after the final whistle what he said to the camera he should have a red, not a yellow
- Drogba sets his own personal standards for his behaviour and for me they are not good enough, can anyone imagine Ryan Giggs behaving like that? or for that matter Tiger Woods, Rafa Nadal, Johnny Wilkinson or Andrew Strauss?
- the club set their standards and they are not good enough either by not condemning Drogba and Ballack's behaviour whatever their emotions, they diminish themselves and the sport
- I think the referee got himself into a mindset of "they are trying to get something from me and I'm not giving them to them", he legitimately turned down 2-3 penalty appeals but then made a bad miss on the Pique incident- that sequence has pretty much already happened to me... the more a team pressures you the worse decisions you make (this can go for or against them)
- I don't believe Drogba's apology, I think he just wants a smaller ban.
The whole thing makes me sad and a little angry.
The referee made a mistake that denied Chelsea victory.
When Drogba cut inside the last defender and scuffed a weak, left-footed shot at the keeper he made a mistake that denied Chelsea victory.
What are the consequences for both individuals and the game? The millionaire footballer may sit out a few games, the referee is in hiding I am pretty sure the damage to the game is done and calling a referee a "f****** disgrace" has been further legitimised.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Good game
A much better game today. A hot day and a 10 o'clock kick-off for both teams' last game of the season. Easier teams to handle with home team having already won the division but I was much happier with how I approached it.
I have realised at the level I am refereeing I spend most of my time adjudicating on pushing in the back when competing for headers and throw-ins. I gave my first penalty in this match (for a push in fact).. a bit of complaining but nothing serious. The keeper saved it.
The main challenge in this match was to maintain concentration, especially in the first half when there was not much to give... I caught myself watching the game once or twice and had to get my mind back on it.. luckily didn't miss anything in those times. It's a shame as a ref that you can't really comment on a match, there was some good skill on show today and I enjoyed the game.
I was getting a bit of nagging from the players in the 2nd half and I have noticed a tendency in myself to just stop whistling at times when this happens but I was on that today and made sure I gave what I saw and didn't 2nd guess myself too much.
Tired, hot and blistered at the end but very happy with a good game. Nice way to end the season. Annoying that I am one game short of applying for my promotion to level 7.
I have realised at the level I am refereeing I spend most of my time adjudicating on pushing in the back when competing for headers and throw-ins. I gave my first penalty in this match (for a push in fact).. a bit of complaining but nothing serious. The keeper saved it.
The main challenge in this match was to maintain concentration, especially in the first half when there was not much to give... I caught myself watching the game once or twice and had to get my mind back on it.. luckily didn't miss anything in those times. It's a shame as a ref that you can't really comment on a match, there was some good skill on show today and I enjoyed the game.
I was getting a bit of nagging from the players in the 2nd half and I have noticed a tendency in myself to just stop whistling at times when this happens but I was on that today and made sure I gave what I saw and didn't 2nd guess myself too much.
Tired, hot and blistered at the end but very happy with a good game. Nice way to end the season. Annoying that I am one game short of applying for my promotion to level 7.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Bad Game
A major learning experience for me this evening. By far the worst game I've done. I agreed to ref this match as a favour to a team I used to play for - it meant kicking off at 6.30 and I could only leave work at 6 to get to the ground for 6.10.
What a mistake. I wasn't switched on mentally and after 20 minutes I just didn't want to be there. I know I missed loads of fouls challenges. I should have issued at least three cautions but somehow didn't feel I should as I wasn't league appointed. Also I should have given a penalty late in the game but was still flustered by an incident where I was unsure how to restart the game. The goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and I blew because I wanted to talk to him for bumping into an attacker and I just wanted him to calm down not to give a free kick but he threw the ball away. At least that didn't affect the result (the non-awarded team won 2-0).
Generally felt I lost respect of the players, full control and engagement with the game. Hugely disappointing and for 10 minutes sitting alone in the ref's changing room I just felt like giving the whole thing up but I then I started talking myself round and thinking what I should learn: I will not take another game where I don't feel I can go into it fully prepared, mentally and physically, and ready to issue whatever cautions I see.
What a mistake. I wasn't switched on mentally and after 20 minutes I just didn't want to be there. I know I missed loads of fouls challenges. I should have issued at least three cautions but somehow didn't feel I should as I wasn't league appointed. Also I should have given a penalty late in the game but was still flustered by an incident where I was unsure how to restart the game. The goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and I blew because I wanted to talk to him for bumping into an attacker and I just wanted him to calm down not to give a free kick but he threw the ball away. At least that didn't affect the result (the non-awarded team won 2-0).
Generally felt I lost respect of the players, full control and engagement with the game. Hugely disappointing and for 10 minutes sitting alone in the ref's changing room I just felt like giving the whole thing up but I then I started talking myself round and thinking what I should learn: I will not take another game where I don't feel I can go into it fully prepared, mentally and physically, and ready to issue whatever cautions I see.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Evening game
I did a game in Surrey Hants Border League yesterday evening. Generally I felt it was an improvement on my last game. My positioning was better, not so on top of the ball. Also felt I used the captains more effectively. The away team had a fast forward who was annoying the opposing centre backs. Just before half time there was an incident near the touch line for which I gave a free kick. After a home defender claimed the forward had spat at him. If he did, and I had seen that, it would have been straight red.
In the second half the home defenders were trying to get their retribution, diving in a bit and I asked the captain to have a word, which he did and things did calm down.
I had a controversial incident with the score at 1-0 to home team when I over ruled a club linesman flagging for offside against the away team and called out "play on, play on" as I felt I had a better view. The defenders hesitated and the attacking team scored to make it 2-0. Even though I think I made the right decision on the offside, I did not want to affect the game like that and it did make me feel a bit flat.
There were loud protests of course and soon after I blew for a free kick for the away team but they wanted to play advantage and the away manager shouted "you're ruining the game". I did not speak to him, where perhaps I should have but I did not hear from him again - guess he just calmed down. I know these comments need to be ignored, and there were plenty of positive comments too at the end.
The away team scored again from a free kick and it ended 3-0. I picked up a blister on my toe wearing studs on a very hard pitch.
In the second half the home defenders were trying to get their retribution, diving in a bit and I asked the captain to have a word, which he did and things did calm down.
I had a controversial incident with the score at 1-0 to home team when I over ruled a club linesman flagging for offside against the away team and called out "play on, play on" as I felt I had a better view. The defenders hesitated and the attacking team scored to make it 2-0. Even though I think I made the right decision on the offside, I did not want to affect the game like that and it did make me feel a bit flat.
There were loud protests of course and soon after I blew for a free kick for the away team but they wanted to play advantage and the away manager shouted "you're ruining the game". I did not speak to him, where perhaps I should have but I did not hear from him again - guess he just calmed down. I know these comments need to be ignored, and there were plenty of positive comments too at the end.
The away team scored again from a free kick and it ended 3-0. I picked up a blister on my toe wearing studs on a very hard pitch.
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