The main point I would offer in referees' favour is that human beings tend not to be consistent when making decisions of any kind and perform even worse when under pressure. So why would refs do better than the average Joe, just because they get dressed in a silly-looking black kit? And we don't make it easy for them either. Last night I watched Bolton play Burton, a poor game in which Bolton's superior ability was cancelled out by Burton's hard work and towards the end the pint-pot pip-squeak of a ref' flounced over to the touchline crackling his taffeta to book an angry Ian Evatt. Other than sending Charles Hawtrey in to fight Anthony Joshua it is difficult to imagine a more ridiculous sight. We get the refereeing we create. We question every decision, we expect the referee not only to be consistent himself but to somehow be part of a consistent decision-making process across the whole game ......... and at every moment we cry unfair unfair when in fact the referee is only present because the players concerned are prepared to cheat at every opportunity at what in the end is only a game.
When referees at the top of the game make mistakes and get jeered what do we expect when we get down to National League level? The whole point of sport is surely for us to enjoy ourselves whilst learning about life. If the referee is honest and doing his best to be fair to both sides than that is the best we can expect. It isn't life or death. We have to learn to take the rough with the smooth, or the alternative is a permanent questioning of decision-making and the only people who will be attracted to referee will be those who want to be the centre of attention and are happy to be involved in controversy.
Referees are us. We reap what we sow. Referees always have been imperfect. The Corinthians, when they were conceded a penalty were so ashamed to have done so that they made no attempt to save the the kick. Batsmen walked when they edged the ball at cricket. Haven't we now created an environment in which cheating is endemic? Aren't we now asking referees to police it and remain consistent throughout? How long would the career of a centre forward last who runs to the ref' pleading, "No ref' it's not a penalty, he never touched me, I just stumbled ......." Ten minutes after he gets substituted maybe?
What disturbs me is that if we continue to play the game as we do now then we'll recruit the wrong type of people into refereeing, the power-hungry and show-offs will rise to the top and those with a genuine love of the game, who want to be involved to make it better will be in the minority. The standard in the National League does look poor, and unfortunately the better the teams at this level become the more that will show up the standard of refereeing. Every challenge, every tackle ends up with someone writhing on the floor apparently at death's door, every time the ball enters the net an entire team can find reasons to challenge the goal's validity, and at big games thousands of US echo all their complaints.
Let's for a minute imagine the game is ONLY a game. And the ref' is just a kindly old dud, doing his best, but he certainly doesn't look his best in shorts.
When referees at the top of the game make mistakes and get jeered what do we expect when we get down to National League level? The whole point of sport is surely for us to enjoy ourselves whilst learning about life. If the referee is honest and doing his best to be fair to both sides than that is the best we can expect. It isn't life or death. We have to learn to take the rough with the smooth, or the alternative is a permanent questioning of decision-making and the only people who will be attracted to referee will be those who want to be the centre of attention and are happy to be involved in controversy.
Referees are us. We reap what we sow. Referees always have been imperfect. The Corinthians, when they were conceded a penalty were so ashamed to have done so that they made no attempt to save the the kick. Batsmen walked when they edged the ball at cricket. Haven't we now created an environment in which cheating is endemic? Aren't we now asking referees to police it and remain consistent throughout? How long would the career of a centre forward last who runs to the ref' pleading, "No ref' it's not a penalty, he never touched me, I just stumbled ......." Ten minutes after he gets substituted maybe?
What disturbs me is that if we continue to play the game as we do now then we'll recruit the wrong type of people into refereeing, the power-hungry and show-offs will rise to the top and those with a genuine love of the game, who want to be involved to make it better will be in the minority. The standard in the National League does look poor, and unfortunately the better the teams at this level become the more that will show up the standard of refereeing. Every challenge, every tackle ends up with someone writhing on the floor apparently at death's door, every time the ball enters the net an entire team can find reasons to challenge the goal's validity, and at big games thousands of US echo all their complaints.
Let's for a minute imagine the game is ONLY a game. And the ref' is just a kindly old dud, doing his best, but he certainly doesn't look his best in shorts.