posted Mar 25, 2008

Its true what happens at the top happens lower down.

Every week at our local six a side league you see players behaving in the same way as their premiership role models towards referees. Often its just frustation from being outplayed or just not gettin the rub of the green but the referees an easy target.

The best refs know how to handle players who are out of order. I still believe the professionals set a bad example.

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posted Mar 25, 2008

I wish Mascherano would take his own advise offered to Bennett, and **** off himself. I use to watch City play every week. I now mix it up with watching other sports on a Saturday. Football does not have a God given right to our time and money, and I dont want to spend my Saturday watching over payed fools swearing at refs.

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posted Mar 25, 2008

i'm sick of this talk. why give referees more protection and respect?? they should be given absolutely pathetic response by crowd, club players and every1. players and managers should be allowed to slate, insult and swear them without any limits. a game like man utd v liverpool is supposed to be emotional, with blood rushing high and players free to express themselves. i know there sghould be a limit for players as well but we've got the balance wrong here. referee are respected too much where as their respect should be counted as nowt. no respect to referess. if you want players to respect ref, then bring technology in like cricket. refs in cricket are respected alot higher than in footy cuz in cricket they always have tech to remove any suspicion which means 8/10 times they get their decision right unless that referee himself is a complete fool.

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posted Mar 25, 2008

Simply book/send off players that surround referee's when a decision goes against them. Once this happens a few times the managers will make sure it does not happen.

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posted Mar 26, 2008

A regular fundamental mistake by players and officials (and fans) is that the Laws of the Game contain many references to 'in the opinion of the referee'. When Fergusson & Co complain about a referee's 'mistake' they are inadvertently complaining about the Laws of the Game, thus showing to those that do know the Laws the inexcusable ignorance of Fergusson & Co. Football is a game of opinions, heavily influenced by the fact that it is also a game of angles. In a crowd of thousands there will be many differing opinions on any incident. But the one that counts is the referee's, according to the Laws of the Game.

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posted Mar 26, 2008

Thers no point in continually having a go at players for showing disrespect to referees when managers continually support their players; managers need to set a better example.

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posted Mar 26, 2008

The problem is a football only problem, no other sport allows this kind of behaviour towards offcials. It has nothing to do with passion or a will to win it's just poor discipline.

If the players are too ill behaved to speak to the ref with respect then it should be restricted to captains.

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posted Mar 26, 2008

well oxford i would hate to play in a match with you as ref if masch done enough for two red cards doubt there would be anyone left on the pitch...

players do need to respect the ref like they do in other sports but the fact that you cant even speak amicably to them anymore is an absolute joke

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posted Mar 27, 2008

Whilst I completely agree that the change in behaviour has to come from the players, there is a responsibilty from the Ref's Association too. The reason that Rugby, for example, is held as such a great model is because the standard of refereeing is much much higher, decisions are generally correct and they have embraced technology for the main decisions. Most (if not all) ruigby ref's ahve also played at a high level - Paying football refs more would encourage many more ex-players to referee. One last thing, goal-line technology and replays for incidents such as the appaling Ashley Cole tackle would solve most of the problem. Most crowds see the replays instantly anyway, so why shouldn't the referee benefit?

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posted Apr 3, 2008

For the game to operate with order and for the players to be respected off the pitch as well as on they do need to show respect to officials, however officials need to earn repect of the players. Rugby operates as referees talk to the captains in a calm manner and explain their decision, referees in football on top of making bad decisions week in week out have no time for players. Having a whole team shout at a ref clearly doesnt achieve anything but if a captain can explain to his team the reason for a decision then players should either accept they were caught or see what the ref was thinking. Also it means referees would have to explain themselves there and then, hopefully highlighting bad decisions when it can make a difference, not two days after the final whistle!

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