Respect Referees! (Now FA Recognised!)

[Yellow4life]

As I'm sure many of you know I referee on the local leagues, the other month me and some others made a respect video to try and make players and spectators more aware of respecting officials or go without them. Its worth a watch

I happen to be playing the goalkeeper in this one!



This was even recently published on TheFA.com website!

[ferrarilover]

Very nice. It certainly gets across the point, but I think refereeing is like any other profession, respect is earned. The one job referees have is fairness in the application of the rules, that is the cornerstone of what fans and players want. A bit of common sense and a lot of continuity. It's no good taking the attitude that "I'm a referee, you will respect me regardless" then being utter tripe for 90 minutes and expecting to get clapped off.
This is the problem that a lot of people in authority have, they feel that their position automatically entitles them to respect which is lost the instant that attitude manifests itself. Take the police as a prime example. In my various dealings with them, I find that the horrible little shit s that work in the "safety" camera partnership offices are utter bastards. I even had one insist that I refer to him as "Officer" over the phone otherwise he'd refuse to deal with me. These guys feel a sense of entitlement and want simply to enforce the respect they feel they are due at every opportunity. These people find it impossible to command respect, so the demand it instead. Referees are the same, they will earn respect by performing well and responding appropriately to what goes on around them. A sense of humour always helps. I've been pulled up in lacrosse (which is a million times more strict than football in all sorts of refereeing related matters) for enjoying a little bit of chat with an opponent, spent 60 seconds once: an opponent ran past me and whacked me with his stick, I replied "'Ere number seven, your mum's into all that." Referee heard this and decided that I'd best go off. Prick.
Then again, I've played under refs who have taken the time to give very brief explanations of decisions when questioned, have been polite in the face of politeness and forceful in the face of forcefulness. These are the guys who earn respect throughout the game.
Pierluigi Collina is still the best referee I have ever seen (although Howard Webb comes a close second) and this is exactly how he was. Who was the **** who booked Gazza when the latter retrieved the yellow card for the former? He was (and probably still is) an arsehole. See the difference.

I would suggest that, aside from the Godforsaken Premier League, the overwhelming majority of footballers start a match from a position of total ambivalence towards the officials and will form an opinion and a consequent level of respect about them as the match wears on. This may be the key to long term success. This and the annihilation of Sky TV and the Premiership.

Matt.

[Yellow4life]

Couldn't fault one part of what you have said! There are typical players and supporters however who just get a buzz from abusing officials and I think this is a strong message to them. Its their initial reaction that sets off a bad game for a referee; we only has to make a simple mistake, and from the abuse could ruin the whole game for decision making.

If however, we do make a mistake then I would hope we do admit we got it wrong. Well I personally do it anyway.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Couldn't fault one part of what you have said! There are typical players and supporters however who just get a buzz from abusing officials and I think this is a strong message to them. Its their initial reaction that sets off a bad game for a referee; we only has to make a simple mistake, and from the abuse could ruin the whole game for decision making.

If however, we do make a mistake then I would hope we do admit we got it wrong. Well I personally do it anyway.

see yellow this is the sort of thing we are talking about.
you refs have no f**king idea!

[AustrianAndyGull]

Good stuff there mate. I strongly feel that refs should come out after games after reviewing incidents and say sorry if they got it wrong and why they gave the decision they did. Unless the incident was absolutely ridiculously obvious and was missed then most sensible football fans would have more respect and sympathy for them. As it is most refs slink off after and don't say anything which leads to much debate and arguments about refs. I understand that the refs decision is final and maybe we shouldn't be disrespectful by questioning their decisions constantly but if they came out and held their hands up for any errors then they would be liked a lot more. We can all forgive human error at a match but not if the ref refuses to talk or review the decisions he has made. That is just ignorant, arrogant and reinforces the sense of self importance that we as fans feel many refs hold in high regard.

[Kernowgull]

The problem here is that often we give the ref grief, call him a cheat etc, only to find out it was the correct decision. I remember one game many a year ago, where the (I think Hull) forward was so far offside it was unreal. The pop gave him a real taunting for the whole game from then on. When I got home, he was clearly onside on the tv replay, and it was a perfectly good goal. Did Torquay fans come out and apoligise to the ref? No.

This happens week in week out. Why should a ref apoligise for a poor decision, when he gets, often vile, abuse, for doing his job?

[ferrarilover]

Because that's where it'll start. It's not so much the fans, it's the players to whom the referee must apologise. If the referee gives that concession, the players can be manipulated into following suit. That is, of course, if this is one route which may be explored.

Matt.

[Richinns]

Just seen this. Very well made video - I actually thought it was an official one until I read through the thread. Well done and I have massive respect for anyone who refree football games - it is a thankless task!

On this subject - the guy who reffred the Man Utd v Newcastle game (Mike Dean I think?) should be applauded for changing the decision made by the linesman about offside - a brave and correct decision but the fact he did this at Old Trafford shows real fortitude!

[Dave]

We all complain about referees and they do make mistakes, however there does need to be more respect which runs two ways, Yesterday we saw two decisions made by refs in the premier league critized by the manager and players involved , covered by ever T.V angle even called harsh by pudits...yet the referee in my opinion had it spot on both times, and should have had more support all round.

First Gareth Bale, yep the Sunderland player touchs him, however Bale was not pushed or had his shirt pulled, Bale, no doubt dived for the penalty and was rightly booked..yet Bale today is slagging off the ref, a reaction of a player caught out methinks.

Second Inzonzi of Stoke, he doesn't get the a free kick gets up in anger runs 10 yrds and goes in with intent to injure the Soton player, no he does not catch the player but intent was clearly there and is rightly red carded, and that is another decision slagged off and analzyed from all angles..when the ref is clearly right.

But this also has run into junior football aswell, something that Nick and Ryan will know all about, refs have to start somewhere and most start refreeing under12's. Devon F.A have started sending peopleout to watch matchs because of an increase in reported abuse against referee's, managers, players and parents alike, there has already been more incidents reported since September when the junoir season starts than in the whole of last season. Including a very young female referee who had a male adult manager walk on to the pitch and confront about how she was refreeing the match.

With out young refs coming up through he ranks , there will be no football.

[SuperNickyWroe]

agree dave, but some make it difficult for themselves.
i mean that half-wit yesterday who had obviously attended the graham poll academy, booked the same player twice and failed to send him off...... :Oops:
it was then said that he thought he had booked a differrent player the first time = when he hadnt......oh dear........ :Oops:
and dont get me started on that useless man atwell - a clear foul on luke steele, he drops the ball to that cheat of a wednesday player who taps it in!
he was stood five yards away and never gave it.

shocking.