Now this article isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to the performance of Barclays Premier League official Graham Scott in the Swans defeat at home to Sunderland on Wednesday night, it is more a case of being somewhat bewildered as to how people whom are paid (well) for doing a professional job can make such calamatous errors of judgement on such a regular basis.
Given the money that abounds the Premier League and the state of the art technology employed, you do have to question where is it all going wrong.
When you consider the fact that the status of clubs and livelyhoods of all those employed by them often hang in the balance of the decisions made by referees, something surely has to be done and quickly.
I’m unaware of any other profession whereby such poor judgement (on a regular basis) isn’t dealt with in a far more accountable way, which usually means a dismissal.
Will this sort of punishment be introduced into the world of football? Highly unlikely if you ask me, but hey what do I know about football, I’m a woman 🙂
Of course, as Swans fans we are seemingly often on the end of some rather bemusing decision making and you only have to name a few referees to realise how many times we’ve been on the receiving end of a “dodgy ref”.
For controversy, think Mike Dean in the last Cardiff v Swans game at Ninian Park, Michael Oliver awarding a penalty against Angel Rangel at Stoke in 2014 and perhaps the worst of the lot – Robert Madley, whom gave extremely harsh penalties against us v Stoke at home in 2013 and 2015!
No doubt many of you, whom are far longer in the tooth than me, can think of other muppets whom have masqueraded themselves as a referee over the years.
But let’s be honest, bias aside, this isn’t a Swansea City thing, it happens to all teams up and down the country – with the exception perhaps of the days when “Fergie Time” was a regular occurence of course 🙂
In all seriousness though, whilst the officials take the flak, the players on the field of play have one heck of a lot to do with how decisions unfold as well. Officials are often inept but there is no shortage of cheating and gamesmanship on display in most football games these days.
You only have to consider the red card that Kyle Naughton received for his totally fair and legal challenge on Sunderland’s M’Vila on Wednesday evening to see how players often con a referee. It is an ever increasing trait in the British game which needs to be eradicated.
Move over Kev Johns, it’s Chico time!
If and it’s an almighty big IF, the football authorities were to come down hard on the cheats, then I’m sure we’d start to eradicate a lot of the problems that make the job of the referee and his officials so difficult.
There is little doubt in my mind that more work needs to be done to improve certain aspects of the professional game but I do sometimes question how much the football authorities really do want to tackle the more prickly issues in the modern game.
As for us here at SCFC2, well we might just fuel those of you with conspiracy theories and start to do a spotlight on the refs ahead of each Swans game!
‘I cringe when I think back to the time when Chico Flores wore a Swans shirt. His antics were more akin to that of a dame in the panto at Swansea Grand than a central defender in a game of football.’
What antics???? On one occasion he played panto but only after Carroll had been allowed to push, kick, wrestle and twice elbow him in the face.
I cringe when idiotic comments are made about our players in order to belittle them. M’Vila who was not touched and Borini and ex-Swan not only faked contact but then set about getting Naughton sent off. M’Vila was laughing as Naughton was given a card.
Chico Flores, may have over done the rolling’ but he had just been elbowed in the head shortly after he had blood drawn from a n elbow by the same player, Carroll, in the face. On six other occasions during that game the referee ignored what would have constituted assault outside the ground.
As number 1 top whatever – I would have thought you would made the connection with the manager. West Ham at the time were managed by Sam Allardyce, Sunderland are managed by Sam Allardyce. His basic approach is rough up the opposition then try to get them sent off.
Although I agree with the sentiments expressed in this article I do think it rather misses the point. Officials will continue to make mistakes, regardless of the quality of their training. Expecting to have refs and assistants who don’t make repeated mistakes is like waiting for Godot.
The fundamental problem here lies with the law-makers, FIFA and the IFAB. The laws of the game, and more importantly, their implementation have needed a massive overhaul for a long-time. The rules have barely changed in a century, even though so many are clearly not fit for purpose (handball springs readily to mind). Contrast the situation with Rugby Union, where the governing body is constantly tinkering with the rules to make the game more attractive.
The absence of video technology is the biggest problem – and would help significantly reduce the number of refereeing controversies overnight. That FIFA have dragged their heels over this for so long – on the trivial pretext of having one set of principles for all leves of football – is scandalous. Then again, given the mounting evidence that so many FIFA officials have been preoccupied with developing ways of achieving personal enrichment, rather than running the game properly, it’s hardly surprising that the amateurish way in which games of football are refereed continues unchecked.
As red cards can be reviewed, retrospective bans for fouls not seen by officials. But if a ref sees an incident and does nothing the player gets away with it.
Solution 1. retrospective action for foul/violent conduct seen OR not.
Solution 2 retrospective action/ban for blatant cheating. i.e.Naughton’s red is cancelled and given to M’Vila
Solution 3 get with the times and use technology like nearly ALL other major sports.