Sarge
God like member
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 55,364
Cheers @Ewes - gives a bit of an insightAs a relatively experienced and qualified referee, I feel the problem at the top end of refereeing is that officials just aren’t being allowed to apply ‘common sense’ any more and due to the spotlight on them (assessors, observers, cameras and fans all looking closely at their decisions) we tend to play it safe and stick to the rules.
Some of the current rules are just plain stupid. The offside rule is far too complicated. I favour adding a blue line to each half, 35m from goal. If the attacker is past this line and beyond the second last defender they’re offside. Simple.
The compulsory caution to players kicking the ball away even as little as 2M as they retreat for a free-kick is also not helping the referee/players relationships.
Finally, regional FAs have been using the sin bin for dissent successfully for several seasons. Just introduce it in the PL & EFL also and on-field respect will improve quickly and referees will be more relaxed about making other important decisions.
Can you throw a bit of light on the situation regarding the blatant shirtpulling that largely goes unpunished
and also the role of assistant referees ( formerly linesmen) , as in are they there to assist or does the referee have the right to tell them 'only throw ins and offsides0, in which case why arent assistants allowed to actually assist?