Referees take some stick ...........

[Supersub6]

As you may or may not know, I am a friend of Michael Oliver who I have known for many years and I was the manager of the first team he refereed at senior level in the now defunct South east Northumberland League.

Since he moved into the pyramid circuit at the end of 2006 he has refereed 732 matches. Of those matches, since he was promoted to the PL in 2010/11, he has refereed 501 games in England in the Championship, PL, League Cup and FA Cup.
Since getting on the FIFA List in 2013/14 up until 11 August 2020 he refereed 42 matches in 23 different countries.

The last five years, however, have been very demanding, bearing in mind that the nearest place to home where he can officiate is 120 miles away.
Since September 2020 he has refereed 221 matches including 75 matches in 27 countries stretching from Moscow, Qatar and the USA including World Cup, European Championships and World Club Championships.

I haven't seen Michael for a few months because he is not home very often, as can be seen with 221 matches in 260 weeks.

I compiled these stats purely for my own interest, however, I was shocked at the stats for the last 5 years because we tend to think that these guys just referee mainly in England. I have to admit that an average of 15 games per year abroad with all the travelling, plus all the domestic travel involved makes me realise that your performance can't fail to be affected. You certainly don't get much 'down time'

[The Bedlington Terrier]

You would think with all that practice he would be good at his job.

My first reaction when I know he will be destroying our game is "Oh, ****!

[sinkov]

You would think with all that practice he would be good at his job.

My first reaction when I know he will be destroying our game is "Oh, ****!

Still the best of a very bad bunch mon ami. He'll get some things wrong, but there's less chance of cock-ups with Oliver than any of the others.

[army88]

As you may or may not know, I am a friend of Michael Oliver who I have known for many years and I was the manager of the first team he refereed at senior level in the now defunct South east Northumberland League.

Since he moved into the pyramid circuit at the end of 2006 he has refereed 732 matches. Of those matches, since he was promoted to the PL in 2010/11, he has refereed 501 games in England in the Championship, PL, League Cup and FA Cup.
Since getting on the FIFA List in 2013/14 up until 11 August 2020 he refereed 42 matches in 23 different countries.

The last five years, however, have been very demanding, bearing in mind that the nearest place to home where he can officiate is 120 miles away.
Since September 2020 he has refereed 221 matches including 75 matches in 27 countries stretching from Moscow, Qatar and the USA including World Cup, European Championships and World Club Championships.

I haven't seen Michael for a few months because he is not home very often, as can be seen with 221 matches in 260 weeks.

I compiled these stats purely for my own interest, however, I was shocked at the stats for the last 5 years because we tend to think that these guys just referee mainly in England. I have to admit that an average of 15 games per year abroad with all the travelling, plus all the domestic travel involved makes me realise that your performance can't fail to be affected. You certainly don't get much 'down time'

Agreed sub - he’s a lad at the top of his game to be fair to him.

I’d much rather go back to how we had it though ref’s decision final as I do feel now that as well as us all getting upset as they micro mange the incidents they undermine the referee’s and even they must be sick of sometimes it’s right sometimes it’s wrong.

Let’s not forget though Sub he’s paid handsomely for his efforts.

[Supersub6]

Agreed sub - he?’s a lad at the top of his game to be fair to him.

I?’d much rather go back to how we had it though ref?’s decision final as I do feel now that as well as us all getting upset as they micro mange the incidents they undermine the referee?’s and even they must be sick of sometimes it?’s right sometimes it?’s wrong.

Let?’s not forget though Sub he?’s paid handsomely for his efforts.

I agree Army and nobody even thinks about the mental strain of officiating. There is so much more pressure on officials than on players and, although top officials are paid well for their efforts, they are nowhere near in the scale of those they are controlling.

The introduction of VAR and the adjustment to The Laws of the Game to accommodate it have been a disaster to the development of officials and have taken authority away from those doing it on the field.
Sadly, the general shortage throughout the country continues at the lower level with lots going through the process, passing their exams and then facing untold abuse when taking up the whistle resultign in them packing it in

[alfinyalcabo]

I had a mate who reffed in the amateur leagues..When he gave a corner and the opposition said it should have been a goal kick,he used to tell them yes I agree but goalkicks are phookin boring..😁😁😁

[Supersub6]

I had a mate who reffed in the amateur leagues..When he gave a corner and the opposition said it should have been a goal kick,he used to tell them yes I agree but goalkicks are phookin boring..������

Probably appreciated by the majority of players, however, there are always some who could or would not see the funny side. No problem because you are in charge and karma can be a fine thing. Of course that wouldn't influence the referee, would it?

ANy crap from players and I just used to turn round and say well, if we're talking about mistakes, what about your lousy pass a few minutes since ----they soon shut up and got on with the game. If not, they got booked and told that they really shouldn't be getting booked because they had the warning.
To be honest, players are their own worst enemy.

[ballcock]

I honestly couldn't name a referee in todays game.

Now talking about years gone by I remember Jack Taylor the Wolverhampton Butcher and Mr Fitzpatrick. If memory serves me the later was a firy ginger haired individual who had a bad temper

[wmdave_b]

For me the issue with almost all Ref's haven't actually played the game. Even the 'elite' Ref's have zero experience of playing. This factor leads to their lack of common sense as to what actually is a foul, hence we see so many soft fouls, pens and cards.
They are working to some guidelines to recognise discrepancies which are to be penalised, sort of a way to foolproof it. It has spoiled the game for me, Parker called it Sterile correctly. It's taken a lot out of the game we love.
There has been a PGMOL initiative to recruit former players with sadly very little take-up. Seems we are stuck with the likes of Oliver, Pawson, Taylor, Clattenburg, Mike Dean, Uriah Rennie, with Howard Webb and now we have Dermot Gallagher backing up poor decisions on Ref watch.