Refs to train with clubs

[Jammy89]

Referees are set to train with Premier League clubs from next season in a bid to improve relationships with players… thanks to a proposal put forward by Man United interim boss Ralf Rangnick

• Referees could soon start training with Premier League clubs and players
• Ralf Rangnick said officials should train with clubs so players get to know them
• The German made the suggestion at a summit between managers and Mike Riley
• It's now being looked at by PGMOL and could come into play from next season
• Jurgen Klopp and Frank Lampard led calls for dedicated VAR officers in future

By MIKE KEEGAN FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Referees could soon start training with clubs, thanks to a proposal put forward by Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

Amid concerns from top-flight managers over the performance of officials, the German has suggested that the relationship between players and officials could be improved if refs went through their paces with the stars at Premier League training grounds.

Rangnick told a recent summit between managers and refs' boss Mike Riley that officials should train with clubs to allow players to get to know them, rather than only seeing them during matches.

And his view was backed by the rest of the room, who agreed that refs should be given access to the elite-level facilities at Premier League clubs.

Rangnick's ref revolution is now being looked at by referees body PGMOL and could come into play from next season.

While details are yet to be ironed out, such a move would see officials permitted to use the facilities at clubs, and they could referee training-ground matches as part of an attempt to build a better understanding of the role.

Rangnick, in charge at Old Trafford before a planned move upstairs at the end of the season, believes that bringing the likes of Anthony Taylor, Michael Oliver and Kevin Friend into club training grounds would allow them to get to know players and potentially break down negative preconceptions.

Insiders said the summit, split over two days, was surprisingly good-natured following fears it could be feisty due to a host of controversial decisions this season.

That said, a variety of concerns were aired. Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, Norwich's Dean Smith, Everton's Frank Lampard, Brighton's Graham Potter and Rangnick all stressed the need for dedicated VAR officers. They want to see intensive training and those with the correct skillsets chosen to operate the system, following question marks over its performance.

The group added that the 'clear and obvious' terminology around the use of VAR does not help and needs to be reviewed.

Meanwhile, Burnley's Sean Dyche, an often outspoken critic on diving, is understood to have said that officials do not implement the laws of the game when it comes to simulation, making the point that 'you can't tackle but you can dive'.

Clubs also asked for an explanation with regards to the controversial practice of officials delaying offside flags. Refs' chief Riley said they were looking to reduce the number of instances of it.

Smith argued that the flag should go up for clear offsides, while West Ham's David Moyes was concerned with the second phase should a delayed flag lead to a corner. Riley advised that in those cases the flag should always go up if the assistant referee thinks it is offside.

Both Smith and Lampard stated their desire to speak to referees after matches and were told that the traditional opportunity to discuss the game with the official 30 minutes after the final whistle will be reinstated as part of the post-Covid return to normality.

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I know this is the Daily Fail but still. . .

Am I the only one that sees issues with this . . . we all know which clubs these refs will go to train with and it won't be the Newcastles, Burnleys, Leciesters of the league.

All this will do will open refs up to more serious charges of corruption. You train with someone each week you build that bond, it won't break down negative preconceptions, it'll give you a ref who see's his mate Mo Saleh dive but he knows Mo, Mo doesn't dive, therefore must be a pen.

This is a terrible idea, make a set ref training place if you want but don't have the coming to train with clubs.

[Zippity]

Aye, Jammy, i think it's a shit idea.

Even if they aren't allowed to ref the teams they've trained with, they'll have more of a vested interest when reffing clubs in direct competition with 'their' club. And that may not even be a conscious thing but, if you train with a group of players and get to know them, then it's human nature to lean towards them when push comes to shove.

And this idea that refs are neutral is utter bullshit-as long as they act neutrally, it's not a probem...but this would make that less likely.

[toptoon]

No you’re not, Jammy.

What is the objective here, exactly? London, Southern and Midlands based refs will have to travel to Newcastle to train? Right.
Refs and players bonding personally will lead to better refereeing of games? I’m at a loss to see the benefit and seems more likely to lead to worse decision making.
What’s needed is better trained refs and VAR officials - that isn’t going to happen with this.

[ex_pat_magpie]

If they were only made to train with their most local club, because geographically they wouldn't be allowed to officiate at then I couldn't see it making much difference.

[Ragatino]

Aye, Jammy, i think it's a shit idea.

Even if they aren't allowed to ref the teams they've trained with, they'll have more of a vested interest when reffing clubs in direct competition with 'their' club. And that may not even be a conscious thing but, if you train with a group of players and get to know them, then it's human nature to lean towards them when push comes to shove.

And this idea that refs are neutral is utter bullshit-as long as they act neutrally, it's not a probem...but this would make that less likely.

So how this is gonna work out is.

The refs are star F**kers. Embedding them with teams will do NOTHING for the Premier League teams outside of the top 3-4 teams with SuperStars.

This means the team bias against us and the rest of the 14 teams.

It is a very bad idea.

[toonlegend]

phew - after reading others views - i was thinking it was just me being cynical

agree with everything said so far