Premier League: Technology is there - use it.

Tennis uses it, cricket uses it, rugby uses it, but why does football continue to ignore it?

 The video evidence is clear; Manchester United striker Robin Van Persie looks over his shoulder sees Yohan Cabaye and clearly swings an arm out in an arc which is not a natural movement when running.

The Dutchman’s arm is raised and makes contact with his opponent. There is no debate here, unlike when a player is jumping for the ball. His arm, simply, should not be where it is. You cannot blame Howard Webb for missing the incident, it happened away from the ball and at pace.

The incident was caught on the TV cameras and it has been replayed in slow motion and zoomed in, but of course Webb cannot utilise this technology during play. But the FA can. They can sit down on Monday and watch this footage and if it has not been dealt with by the match referee they can hand out the necessary misconduct charge and punishment.

But there is a clear flaw in this process. The FA asks the referee that was in charge of the game to look at the incident and say whether he missed a red-card offence. In this case, Webb, one of England’s best referees who had a red card overturned the week before, has said there was not one.

The flaw is that it should not be up to him. There should be a disciplinary panel at the FA who decides on matters such as this without needing to involve the referee. He has done his job when he completed the game.

You can understand the doubt that was in Webb’s mind. His last red-card was overturned and it would be easier to say that he was not 100% sure and therefore it would go no further. You can imagine the backlash from managers if their players start getting misconduct charges against them 2 days after the game!

An independent panel needs to be set-up. This should include a former player, manager and referee who have all had experience in the game and can review all incidents like these in a consistent and impartial manner.

On the field there is a degree of inconsistency in that one referee’s opinion can vary from another’s. If each incident is looked at by the same panel these inconsistencies will no longer be there.

The other incident over the weekend that should then be looked at by the panel and that is the alleged stamp by Stoke defender Robert Huth on Liverpool striker Luiz Suarez.

The referee Lee Mason appears to believe from the video evidence that the incident does not suggest a clear red-card offence. I would however ask him that if it was a Stoke player on the floor would Huth have been able to avoid him? I think so.

One of the worst things for a referee to do is admit that he missed something. Asking them to look at it a second time will make them feel that they have missed something, yet the one thing they are trying to do is see everything.

The biggest benefit of a panel is that they would not have the same fears of being compromised as some referees do if asked to review. If the players know it was not the referee’s choice then the incident will not follow them every time they come across the players involved and their club.

The panel would be completely impartial, the consistency would be there and they could also offer a solution to the current issue of diving which has been in the headlines almost every week this season.

Detecting diving, especially at the speed the modern game is played is almost impossible. But slowed down video replays clearly highlight this cheating. Once this has been seen then an appropriate punishment can be given and we might see players stop trying to deceive the referees.

 But until the day comes when the FA change their current system, referees will consistently continue to make the headlines for incidents that they only get to see once.

Finally…

On a brighter note, what a fantastic decision by Darren Cann in the Newcastle v Manchester United match. Cann was directly in line with the goal line and correctly judge that the whole of the ball was not over the whole of the line and proved why he is England’s best assistant referee. 

Euro 2012 kicks off in style. but not for Spanish referee.

Day one of the 2012 European Championships kicked off yesterday with a hectic opening game between co-hosts Poland and 2004 winners Greece.

Dubbed the ‘dull group’, the opening fixture turned out to be anything but. There were 2 goals, 2 red cards and a missed penalty all in the tournaments opening 90 minutes.

However it was the Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo who took centre stage. The 41 year-old was entrusted with the opening game by UEFA but it did not go all to plan.

Carballo has steered clear from controversy in recent years and has recently emerged as one of the best and most consistent referees in Spain; however controversy was very much on the agenda yesterday.

Robert Lewandowski headed Poland into the lead after 17 minutes but it was the sending off of Sokratis Papastathopoulos that grabbed the headlines.

Papastatholpous picked up his first yellow card, also the first of the tournament, but replays show that he made a fair aerial challenge for the ball. A free-kick would have been seen as harsh, but to add insult to the awarding of a free-kick the referee produced a yellow card.

The Spanish official then delivered a huge blow to the Greeks when he brandished a second yellow card followed by a red to Papastathopoulos. The defender was stunned and took his time to leave the field, but hopefully UEFA will not deal with this separately.

The defender was judged to have held back striker Obraniak yet he appeared to have already been on his way down as he slipped while trying to escape his marker. Obstruction, or pulling back an opponent, is nowadays always punishable with a yellow card, but if you are not 100% sure then the benefit of the doubt should be with the offender. Or you can go on the belief that not every free-kick needs a yellow card.

Luckily for the Greek defender and the Spanish referee the punishment from UEFA will only be a one match ban.

Carbello, who took charge of the 2011 Europa League final, did get the other big decision right. Poland, and Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny brought down Salpindidis in the area when clean through on goal. The penalty was awarded and the goalkeeper was given his marching orders.

One out of the two decisions were spot-on, but a referee is always remembered for the big decisions he gets wrong, not the ones he gets right.

Carbello should expect to get another game from UEFA in this tournament, his first major international tournament, but I would imagine any dream of refereeing the final will have to wait for four more years.   

This, that and the other: Newcastle beat Liverpool in a highly controversial match

A big win for Newcastle as they continue their push for European football and even more impressively for a place in next years Champions League. Although no disrespect to Newcastle if they do make it into the Champions League then it backs up the latest debate that English football is currently struggling.

Newcastle's win against Liverpool was the sixth league game out of their previous seven that Liverpool have lost.  This is form that is going to see Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's most celebrated player, start to fear for his job. Even if he will not admit this.

There were however some major talking points throughout the game and of course they all put the attention on the match referee, Martin Atkinson. So lets run through them.

Andy Carroll dive: Blatant. Went round the keeper who clearly did not not touch the Liverpool striker. In my opinion dives like this should be punished with a red card, not a yellow. If Martin Atkinson had not seen this was a dive, he would have red-carded the Newcastle goalkeeper and awarded Liverpool a penalty. It would have completely changed the game. Why should the attacker be allowed to get away with this? It is clear and blatant cheating.

Liverpool penalty appeal: No doubt a penalty and a red card for Danny Simpson. After Andy Carroll knocks the ball towards goal, Simpson clearly and deliberately moves his arm towards the ball to stop it crossing the line. He knew what he was doing and denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, which we all know is punishable with a red-card. However it was impossible for Martin Atkinson the referee to see this. But if he had, it would have been a very different game.

Pepe Reina red card: Unsure. After James Perch tripped Pepe Reina, the goalkeeper reacted badly by running at Perch and barging him. He then lowered his head towards the opposition player. It appeared to make contact with the Newcastle man, but the second camera angle shows there was no contact. Perch's reaction was awful, just as bad as Andy Carroll's dive. However Reina should know better.

Newcastle second goal: Offside. As Denba Ba plays the ball through, Papiss Cisse is clearly in an offside position. Hatem Ben Arfa tries to play the ball; if he had then Cisse would have been onside as it would be a different phase of play. But he does not touch it, therefore it is still the same phase of play and Ba is therefore offside.

Overall it was a mixed afternoon for the officials. But the result only continues to show Liverpool's frailties. However they are in an FA Cup Semi-Final and they have won the League Cup. This should just about save Dalglish for one more season.

Referee Dean got Tyne-Wear derby spot-on

The laws of the game do not state that the referee should take into account the time of an incident or that the game is a local derby.

They do however say that the game is refereed based on the opinion of the referee in the decisions he makes.

This is exactly what Mike Dean did. He applied the law perfectly for 90 minutes and whilst leaving the field of play.

Lee Cattermoles first minute lunge on Cheik Toite could have easily been a red card. But thankfully for the sake of the game referee Mike Dean gave Cattermole a stern talking to and rightly issued the yellow card.

The next 30 minutes saw five cards issued and a penalty correctly awarded for a blatant shirt pull by Mike Williamson.

However it would be a great help to the game if more referees were bold enough to give more penalties for blatant infringements inside the penalty area. Although admittedly not all of them are quite as obvious as today's.

Dean had no option but to show the red card to Stephane Sessegnon for swinging his arm although contact was quite minimal. The reaction from the Newcastle man was highly embarrassing and hopefully he will be quite disappointed when he sees a replay.

Mike Dean also awarded Newcastle a clear penalty for a foul on Shola Ameobi which will be one of the easiest decisions he makes this season.

The sending off of Lee Cattermole was also spot-on. He followed the officials almost the whole length of the pitch debating numerous decisions and I shall leave it to the lip-readers to work out what he said just before he was given the red card.

A strong and physical game which you would expect from the two teams, although along with their managers lost their heads at times. However referee Mike Dean kept his for the whole 90 minutes and produced a fantastic display and reminded many that there is still a very high standard of refereeing in the Premier League.

Even Match of the Day gave him 9.5/10!

Referee Stuart Attwell removed from Premier League refs list

Football referee Stuart Attwell has been demoted from the select group of Premier League Match Officials (PGMO) after four years which have been dogged by controversy. 


For many top flight clubs and managers in the Premier League this decision by Mike Riley, Professional Game Match Officials Limited general manager, has come just short of four years too late. 


Attwell became the youngest referee to officiate in England's top division, when aged 25, he overlooked the game at Ewood Park between Blackburn and Hull in 2008 after just one year on the national list. 


So why has he been demoted? 


The above game finished without incident, but this can not be said for many other games that Attwell has been in charge of. 


High profile errors. 
1. He incorrectly awarded the 'beach ball' goal between Liverpool and Sunderland in 2010. 
2. December of last year he sent off then Bolton defender Gary Cahill for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity, despite the foul taking place on the halfway line. This was overturned by the FA. 
3. He was accused of 'losing control' of a Derby/Nottingham Forest Derby in which he disallowed two Derby goals in the final stages, booked eight players, and sent off Nottingham Forests Lewis McGugan. 
4. He awarded Sunderland a free-kick inside their own half against Liverpool. A Sunderland defender knocked the ball back for his goalkeeper to take the kick, however Attwell ruled the play to be active, and allowed Torres to take the ball and score. 


And obviously he allowed the infamous ghost-goal at Reading back in 2008. 

I shall let you make your own minds up. 


Removing an official half way through the season could be deemed as harsh, however the high standards that the PGMO referees strive for in today's modern game, are not helped by such high-profile errors. 


Hopefully he will grasp the chance with both hands, gain the necessary experience, and should bounce back to become one of England's top officials as he was once tipped to be. 

Football referees, we do not do it to make friends

Every weekend up and down the country thousands of football matches are played, but just a fraction of these are played with a fully qualified official.

Official, referee; you may know them better as 'the bastard in the black,' or yellow, red, blue, or white across Europe these days. 

I'm one of those, one of those mad breeds that give up their Saturday afternoons, Sunday mornings and afternoons, and my Tuesday evenings as well.

Personally I settle for 'bastard in the black' because I've been called much worse.

The reason I write this blog is for something I heard in the past.

''Referee, is taking all the abuse not part of what you get paid for?' (Yes that was a serious question!)

This was asked by a man who must have been in his 60s, probably watching his grandchild play. I was shocked by this comment, and just gave a small smile in reply.

It made me wonder why I bother.

So why do I?

I guess its through my love and passion for the game that keeps me going.  (And knowing I'm going home with the players money, something I don't think they've all worked out yet.)

Also the fact of knowing that they will still be criticizing me in the pub that evening, but ill be too drunk on beer  (vodka and orange) actually, to give them a thought. (Obviously paid for with their money.)

Yes, I promise it is my love of the game that keeps be going.

On a more serious note, the reason I carry on going is the respect that 99 percent of players and spectators do give you, and games when it is hand-shakes all round, despite ending the game 10 v 10.

It is just a shame there's still a minority who continue to verbally and physically abuse referees.

I still remember my first game, I was like a rabbit in headlights. A lot of criticism, and it got me down. But 4 seasons, 300 games and 1 promotion later, I block it out, and worry about my performance not the players.

I just keep reminding myself I don't do it to make friends, and that I'm never wrong, I just saw it differently.

Penalties galore on Premier League return and refs were spot on.

The Premier League returned at the weekend after the international break and it was penalty decisions that once again took centre stage for English referees.

There was a total of 6 penalties awarded with all 6 being scored, and there were two clear-cut penalties both not awarded in the same game.

Jon Moss who has recently climbed his way onto the Premier League officials list had a tough game at Goodison Park where Wolves were the visitors. Shortly before half-time Moss had the simple decision of awarding Wolves a penalty for a blatant trip by Fellaini on Edwards. However the pressure that comes with officiating at Goodison Park arguably took its toll on Moss who awarded a late penalty to Everton. It was the slightest nudge on Saha was deemed to be enough for the referee to point to the spot. Harsh but fair.

Chris Foy awarded two penalties to home side Manchester City and both were correctly given. The first for a handball by Ryan Taylor. It was a case of ball hitting his arm rather then hand to ball, but the defender was making himself big and with this his arm was in an unnatural position.
The second penalty left referee Foy in an impossible position but was correctly given. Micah Richards surged into the Newcastle penalty area but purposely slowed down as to ensure he was caught by the defender. The penalty was correct awarded, however a player should try to score when they have the chance not play for a penalty.

The fifth penalty of the weekend game at the DW stadium in the match between Wigan and Blackburn. Andre Marriner will not have an easier penalty decision to make this season as a high Wigan boot caught Paul Robinson high up on his forehead. In years gone by this would have been seen as dangerous play, however nowadays any physical contact is deemed a direct free-kick and as this was in the penalty area, it was correctly punished with a spot-kick. On a different indicent Marriner will now want to watch every corner kick that is taken!

The sixth and final penalty came at the Hawthorns which was awarded by another new Premier League referee Neil Swarbrick. A clumsy foul by Jerome Thomas was enough for a penalty and shows that players do not learn from their previous mistakes - it was almost identical to the penalty he game away against Liverpool just a few weeks earlier.

It was however a bad day for Michael Jones at the Brittania stadium as he failed to award two stonewall penalties. With three minutes remaining Joey Barton took down Robert Huth with an unnecessary tackle in the penalty area however Jones did not see reason to award a penalty. Earlier in the game the match official failed to spot a clear trip by the same man on Jermaine Pennant.

And finally, age may have finally caught up with the Premier Leagues oldest referee, Peter Walton. He was appointed to the south-coast derby in the Championship between Southampton and Brighton. The 52 year-old official had 5 major decisions and unfortunately managed to get just one correct.