The fight before the goal (5 Viewers)

[Calista]

In grass roots football, the intimidation of referees is just one consequence of some people turning up not to play sport but to prove their macho credentials. Anything to cause a confrontation, be it aggressive language or premeditated bad tackles that would merit a court appearance if they happened in the street. I’m sure I’m not alone in having many a Sunday morning completely ruined.

I wouldn’t referee at that level for anything, and I commend those who do, because without them there wouldn’t be any local leagues.

 

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[Calista]

It doesn't help referees when laws like offside and handball have become so convoluted that it's almost impossible to give a 'correct' decsion because there is always an argument against heir decision.

Fernandes' goal just highlights that. There are those who are arguing, fairly, that the goal was correctly given. I, on the other hand, think that you could and should interpret those laws as it being offside.

Just make it simple. Offside is offside. If you're playing you're active and therefore affecting play. Simple as that. If you're a defending lying on the goalline injured you're deemed to be active and can play the opposition onside. But a player running 40yards towards the ball only to then not touch it at the last second for a teammate isn't 'active'. It's absolute bullshit and making a complete mockery of the game.

But it gets people discussing it and therefore media publicity...

Yes I preferred the older simple law, which only deemed you weren't interfering if you were miles away from the action, or hobbling back from an injury. Staying onside was an integral part of the game, whereas now it seems to be optional.

 

[Johhny Blue]

I think Brian Clough’s words on refereeing to John Motson still stand. A split second decision from one viewpoint with tens of thousands of people shouting and singing, plus the cameras on.

I did it till my early 20s but the line was crossed when I got assaulted after a game that I’d agreed to do at the last minute. Scottish FA did nothing to help so I chose to pack it in.

It must have been really bad if you moved all the way to Brighton

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It must have been really bad if you moved all the way to Brighton

Hilarious

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately the modern football fan prefers to see refereeing mistakes as a sign of some kind of grand conspiracy against their favourite club.

tbf, isn't that part of the appeal of football, the ability to say 'we woz robbed' as opposed to 'we woz shit'? It's why I don;t like the philosophy of VAR or tracking offsides by electronic means - it's a human game played by human people.

Of course the fact VAR just increases the controversy makes the entire point of it pointless, too!

 

[OldBedrocker]

For me it’s not so much the refs as they can’t see everything it’s the “assistant refs” Most don’t assist they don’t even make a decision when it’s right in front of them but defer to the ref 40 yards away

 

[SBT]

tbf, isn't that part of the appeal of football, the ability to say 'we woz robbed' as opposed to 'we woz shit'? It's why I don;t like the philosophy of VAR or tracking offsides by electronic means - it's a human game played by human people.

Of course the fact VAR just increases the controversy makes the entire point of it pointless, too!

Without getting too philosophical about it, I think it’s just a symptom of people’s inability to accept that someone saw something differently from how they saw it. For some people, a stitch-up is the only possible explanation, and no number of camera angles is going to change their mind on that.

Personally I like the unfair/arbitrary nature of football, especially when it means we win.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Without getting too philosophical about it, I think it’s just a symptom of people’s inability to accept that someone saw something differently from how they saw it. For some people, a stitch-up is the only possible explanation, and no number of camera angles is going to change their mind on that.

Personally I like the unfair/arbitrary nature of football, especially when it means we win.

Personally I'm almost the complete opposite.

I'm absolutely furious when a bad decsion goes against us and costs us a point or three, but when we get a dodgy decision go our way I knid of feel like we're not worthy winners and the only thing that makes it palatable is knowing we've had some go against us.

 

[Frostie]

For me it’s not so much the refs as they can’t see everything it’s the “assistant refs” Most don’t assist they don’t even make a decision when it’s right in front of them but defer to the ref 40 yards away

They're often told not to tbf as agreed with the referee (except throw ins, offsides etc.) "Assist not insist" is the usual instruction.
They will be in constant contact with the ref via headset though.

 

[Nick]

They're often told not to tbf as agreed with the referee (except throw ins, offsides etc.) "Assist not insist" is the usual instruction.
They will be in constant contact with the ref via headset though.

The amount of times they have no clue about throw ins that are 4 yards away. Just stand there waiting for the ref who was much further away.

 

[Frostie]

The amount of times they have no clue about throw ins that are 4 yards away. Just stand there waiting for the ref who was much further away.

Yeah, that is true too. Sometimes you can be too close to an incident though I suppose.

I do sometimes think the point I made before about them being instructed not to get too involved backfires as then they are reluctant to assist at all even when better placed.

 

[Johhny Blue]

The amount of times they have no clue about throw ins that are 4 yards away. Just stand there waiting for the ref who was much further away.

If they’re 4 yds away they’re 14 yds away from where it’s finally taken

 

[Adge]

The amount of times they have no clue about throw ins that are 4 yards away. Just stand there waiting for the ref who was much further away.

The amount of times they have no clue about throw ins that are 4 yards away. Just stand there waiting for the ref who was much further away.

There are certain “tricks of the trade” that the layman who doesn’t referee or act as an assistant will never be party too and your example given above would maybe be a case of the assistant will be delaying his flag just incase the referee (or vise-versa) will be signaling the opposite way. This prevents both of them (if they cross which always looks bad) looking like a pair of tits if this were to happen in front of 20,000 odd people.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

There are certain “tricks of the trade” that the layman who doesn’t referee or act as an assistant will never be party too and your example given above would maybe be a case of the assistant will be delaying his flag just incase the referee (or vise-versa) will be signaling the opposite way. This prevents both of them (if they cross which always looks bad) looking like a pair of tits if this were to happen in front of 20,000 odd people.

So it's better that they agree on the wrong decision?

 

[Calista]

If they’re 4 yds away they’re 14 yds away from where it’s finally taken

Or 6