Had some ex Pro on the radio this morning when I got in the car, the discussion was about some of the decisions given in various Premier league matches yesterday. What he actually said was...More ex Pro's should be Ref's because the referee's pass their exams and kno the rules but because none of them ever played in the prem they don't kno the Game.. Or in other words they kno right from wrong but don't understand when to let professional cheating tactic's go because they weren't coached them when they first started in the top division. Well I barely understand chess but if I read the rules and passed the exam and then refereed a game I would kno that the horsey thing moves in an L shape, so when you moved it in a straight line I would stop the game. This guy is everything that's wrong with today's game and until we back the whole Disciplinary organisation in the game we will never attract a better standard of person to become ref's and the lower level's of football will never get the standard we should have.. Understand that some of you will disagree so I'm sat here wi mi Tin Hat on.....
Most footballers these days have earned more than they need, and therefore see no reason to be a ref. Disagree with the notion they haven't played the game so don't know. Refs have watched many a game, and don't need to have technically played at a certain level, cos everyone can see what is blatant cheating. Route cause. Players cheating. Tackle that, we may have a more fair game....
There’s the problem you know the rudiments of chess and the Knight ( horsey thing) appears to move in an L shape but it actually moves straight then diagonally…… and that’s the difference between someone who has played chess and someone who only bought the Tim Rice musical album
There is much of what you have posted that I agree with. Ex pros do not equal better ref’s. I remember an ex pro climbing the referee ladder when I was a ref. He was fast-tracked in front of some very competent, and hence, disgruntled referees. Steve Baines was his name an ex Chesterfield player. Didn’t hear much of him once he got on the list, but he had a ‘nice smile’ I believe the biggest single thing that affected the standard of referee was when they lowered the age limit. This had a knock- on effect all down the pyramid. All of a sudden being in your early 30s as a class 1 ref and the world was your oyster, you were too old for progression because by the time you had worked through the hierarchy of leagues, you wouldn’t have been on the league list 2 minutes before you were too old. The focus was turned to younger ref’s in their early to mid twenties, who may or may not have been fitter than their older colleagues, they certainly lacked the experience of playing for any length of time at local and higher level, and often didn’t accumulate the usual ‘life skills’ to man- manage situations. The inconsistency of how many of today’s ref’s deal with players and certain incidents, imho is bordering on cheating. Seen it all too often in our games alone
That's quite amusing and a good demonstration of a Premier league players view on the game. Yes ref I kno ive got to make one move straight then sideways but lets split the rule and just look at the straight bit...
Exactly. The rules are never enforced as a matter of course. Players openly swear at refs. Then all 22 of them try to cheat the ref and we all blame the ref. I find myself struggling to watch more and more.
If a pro footballer told me it was sunny I'd go get a coat and brolly. If a pro footballer told me it was a bank holiday I'd go to work.
Yea...I think someone on here stated a while ago that i/they felt sorry for the refs as they have to contend with 22 players cheating as soon as their boots cross the chaulk.
If players had the referees respect like there is in rugby union then that would change the game for the better and would be a start.
Modern footballers are an embarrassment and can surely have no self respect. What are they going to do when Russia invade, call mummy?
An isolated innocent that was seen and then dealt with with very severe consequences for the perpetrators actions.
When this comes up I always remember Michael Owen saying that they were taught as youngsters to go down at the slightest touch. Whilst debatable if it is cheating or maximising the rules is debatable, the point being if clubs are teaching youngsters to do this, that suggests the issue is completely with the clubs/players not the officials.
Agree entirely. The players are cheats and should be treated as such by the officials. They deserve no respect or benefit of doubt. If I officiated a Prem game it would be abandoned. The red cards for foul and abusive language alone would end the game
I would love some rugby refs to cross over. The carnage would be very pleasing. Games would finish early due to lack of players until they learned not to mess around.