interpretation and understanding of the laws of the game

[jon15u]

Didnt really know how to word the title so went with that.

Referees have been vilified , and quite often rightly so, but also because of peoples lack of understanding or knowledge of the laws of the game.

Some of it comes down to interpretation and how one views any given situation. Has anybody really looked page for page through the law book? I have and not that i can recall everything, only the basics that apply to the actual game, but there are things in there that many might not realise.

Referees make mistakes, and so do many coaches. I have coached a football team, and one of the requirements was to understand and keep up to date with the laws of the game, but there has been many a time when i have heard coaches from another team vilify a ref because they believe he had made a wrong call. In most cases it wasnt and the fault layed with the coaches and their out of date understanding of the laws.

How many know that if you are standing behind the goal line ( not necessarily in t

[Whiskyman]

I think everyone can accept that referees make mistakes. However the problem seems to be that the powers that be don't accept this.

I worked in Frankfurt for a while in the early 90's and when the football roundup came on referees were interviewed after the game if there was a contentious decision in the game. They explained their reasons for making the decision they had made.

It was accepted that occasionally mistakes would be made. What we should not accept is the total silence that usually comes from the F A and Mike Riley when we see an obvious refereeing error.

The most glaring example of incompetence imo was the infamous "beachballgate" at Sunderland. The referee in that game clearly didn't know the laws of the game. Which of course is totally different to interpreting the laws incorrectly in a split second.

But what happened to that referee. F A, that's what.

[jon15u]

Totally agree with you, and it would do the game good if each contentious decision was scrutinised in the manner you oitlined.

Do the F.A think that by standing firmly behind utterly poor decisions in an effort to keep the referees respect works. No! it has the opposite effect and makes the F.A look bigger asses than they already are.

Employ your method a seminar of some sorts a reeducation for want of a better term and then it will go some way to improveing officiating. We can except mistakes but not ignored incompetence.

[BillyDWhizz]

I don't see why they don't employ a challenge rule similar to the one coaches of American football teams have. Since there are a myriad of cameras at every PL game surely it wouldn't be too hard to have a video ref stationed in the ground reviewing contentious decisions. To take a few seconds out of a game to ensure an important call is correct would surely only benefit the game and the officials.

I'm the first to b.itch about a bad ref, but in reality is is a tad unfair to heap all the pressure on them; they are only human. A single mistake could end up costing millions. In any other industry where human fallibility is an issue they provide technology and personnel to assist. The PL should be no different.

[BlackDiamond]

I don't see why they don't employ a challenge rule similar to the one coaches of American football teams have. Since there are a myriad of cameras at every PL game surely it wouldn't be too hard to have a video ref stationed in the ground reviewing contentious decisions. To take a few seconds out of a game to ensure an important call is correct would surely only benefit the game and the officials.

I'm the first to b.itch about a bad ref, but in reality is is a tad unfair to heap all the pressure on them; they are only human. A single mistake could end up costing millions. In any other industry where human fallibility is an issue they provide technology and personnel to assist. The PL should be no different.

Exactly, look at formula 1. Obvious infringements are dealt with during the race, drive-through penalties. And the stewards review contentious incidents after the race and announce grid penalties within a couple of hou

[jon15u]

If we have to have this technology im for going the twice per half scenario and if the call turned out to be correct then the team asking for the video evidence faces a penalty.