Are referees bastards? Or just mourngy?
(Before I start, this is not about our fellas, Sir, at the local game. (Dis am de BIGFELLAS.)
The sending off of Arjen Robben for acknowledging the cheers of the crowd and - fuck me!, enjoying his football is a sad day for football. Yes, the referee's decision should be final, but shouldn't he facilitate a good spirited game?
After all isn't it supposed to be called the beautiful game?
(There are many other complaints to lay at Robbens' feet - why has he started to run like a girl?, the obvious pansy rolling, etc. and this from a very skilful player.)
Players, managers and fans unbridled outpourings of celebration an wind-up are part of what makes the game - why we play, watch and endless hours are spent analysing it, arguing with fellow players, workmates and the missus.
l'm something of a fan of the ref in Rugby linked up to external and nearly reliable extra eyes. Although a different game to football due to the nature of breaks in play there could be an argument for extra technology. It would cut out part of the unneccessary hoohar and prove that a goal is a goal or so-and-so was or not offside.
(As with all these things and the ability to be applied retrospectively though, England's '66 victory gets called into question. Let sleeping dogs lie, eh?)
Refereeing as much as football is not an exact art and requires at all levels a dual ability - that of recognising the mood of the game and also acting as its judge. A difficult juggling act.
The hooked up Rugby ref has considerable authority over his footballing counterpart, chance to play more of an active and almost starring role - an occasional downfall, but also to assume greater or lesser influence.
Rugby is undeniably more physically demanding than football and the normal game makes the nastiest of football matches seem like a tea party - pansying footballers take note and get a grip on yourselves. The backed up and big screened ref can stamp out handbags and other misdemeanours early on and culprits are writ large.
This handled quite well by the good natured and quietly stated authority of the ref in this weekend's England Vs. Ireland fixture - a game even then not without contoversy but then on the whole fair enough.
My favourite bit of refereeing has to be from last year, methinx, when two players were quietly battling away in the corner of the pitch in full view of the cameras and on the big screen - ground and live TV. The ref upfield and dealing with something else and the crowd and commentators enjoying every second of this added bonus. The ref then called the offendants over, said l don't think anyone noticed, encouraged the players to shake hands and got on witha good natured game.
Which was nice.
The sending off of Arjen Robben for acknowledging the cheers of the crowd and - fuck me!, enjoying his football is a sad day for football. Yes, the referee's decision should be final, but shouldn't he facilitate a good spirited game?
After all isn't it supposed to be called the beautiful game?
(There are many other complaints to lay at Robbens' feet - why has he started to run like a girl?, the obvious pansy rolling, etc. and this from a very skilful player.)
Players, managers and fans unbridled outpourings of celebration an wind-up are part of what makes the game - why we play, watch and endless hours are spent analysing it, arguing with fellow players, workmates and the missus.
l'm something of a fan of the ref in Rugby linked up to external and nearly reliable extra eyes. Although a different game to football due to the nature of breaks in play there could be an argument for extra technology. It would cut out part of the unneccessary hoohar and prove that a goal is a goal or so-and-so was or not offside.
(As with all these things and the ability to be applied retrospectively though, England's '66 victory gets called into question. Let sleeping dogs lie, eh?)
Refereeing as much as football is not an exact art and requires at all levels a dual ability - that of recognising the mood of the game and also acting as its judge. A difficult juggling act.
The hooked up Rugby ref has considerable authority over his footballing counterpart, chance to play more of an active and almost starring role - an occasional downfall, but also to assume greater or lesser influence.
Rugby is undeniably more physically demanding than football and the normal game makes the nastiest of football matches seem like a tea party - pansying footballers take note and get a grip on yourselves. The backed up and big screened ref can stamp out handbags and other misdemeanours early on and culprits are writ large.
This handled quite well by the good natured and quietly stated authority of the ref in this weekend's England Vs. Ireland fixture - a game even then not without contoversy but then on the whole fair enough.
My favourite bit of refereeing has to be from last year, methinx, when two players were quietly battling away in the corner of the pitch in full view of the cameras and on the big screen - ground and live TV. The ref upfield and dealing with something else and the crowd and commentators enjoying every second of this added bonus. The ref then called the offendants over, said l don't think anyone noticed, encouraged the players to shake hands and got on witha good natured game.
Which was nice.
posted by Mark Harrop at 7:41 PM
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