As the dust settles on events at Thunder Castle, perhaps it is time to reflect on proceedings on Wednesday night and also the problems facing officials all over the world but particularly in Thailand. I have been critical of referees here but maybe we should examine the reasons why their performances are sometimes below par.
I was a referee in England for nearly forty years, admittedly mainly youth football, but the problems remain at all levels. Referees are human beings and have always made mistakes and always will. At professional level they also now face trial by tv as decisions are analysed by slow-motion replays.
Getting it right every time is impossible and football is still stubbornly unwilling to follow the example of both Rugby Union and League. I am well aware that rugby is a stop-start game so it is easier for referees to ask for video replays that the crowd and a second referee are able to see.
But there are times in football when it would be possible and I’m not going into what those might be now. That would be up to the authorities. To continue to refuse to help the referees is beyond me. Change is not a bad thing and it’s time FA’s all over the world woke up to that fact.
However, the root cause of the majority of referees’ problems in professional football are the players and managers. There is a standing joke in England that footballers are lacking in intelligence and sometimes it is hard to disagree with that.
Referees are accosted, shouted at and sometimes verbally abused by players who disagree with a decision. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence should know that a referee CAN’T change a decision due to protests from players. He would lose any control that he had and anarchy would reign.
Lack of Respect
Yet still footballers insist on arguing about decisions, even after the final whistle. This happens all over the world. A pointless exercise you would think. But I believe there is a reason behind these apparently futile protests.
The idea is to intimidate referees so that they might be less inclined to give another decision against them later on. They try to get the referee thinking that maybe seeing as they were so upset that maybe he had made a mistake. It is a psychology that is often likely to succeed.
It can also put opposing players off. I remember a number of years ago Manchester United had gone over two seasons without having a penalty awarded against them at Old Trafford. When one was finally given the referee was surrounded by protesting United players and it took four minutes for the kick to be taken. And yes, it was saved by the keeper!!
I watch a lot of rugby on tv and the referees are microphoned and you can hear players politely questioning their decisions. The referee gives his explanation and the matter is closed. Granted rugby referees have the opportunity to award penalties which could cost offenders points from all areas of the pitch.
The time has come to give football referees more power and allow them to punish any form of dissent or intimidation. In fact they should be instructed to do it and I believe it would not take long to see a change in attitude.
It might take a few red cards but eventually the message will get home. Even to footballers! Everyone would benefit. The referees are under less pressure and are more likely to get decisions right.It is such a deep seated problem that it goes down to junior level.
Silly Billies On The Pitch
Ten and eleven year olds in England questioning decisions and the standard of the referee’s eyesight. Academies are trying to address this problem and teach children respect for referees but at the end of the day the children are being told one thing then seeing their “heroes” do the opposite.
Referees also have to contend with deliberate cheating by players. Diving, feigning injury and trying to get opponents booked or sent off. My mind goes back to Robbie Fowler telling a referee who was about to award a penalty that he hadn’t been fouled or Paulo Di Canio refusing to put the ball in an empty net because the keeper was injured.
Players would be in trouble with their managers if they did that now. Such is the desire to win at all costs. In fact managers could play a major role in cleaning up football if they so choose. The late,great Brian Clough instilled a wonderful attitude in his players.
It Wasn’t Me Ref. Honest!
Any problems with referees were punished by instant fines , as were bookings for unneccesary bad tackles. All his sides had excellent disciplinary records and therefore rarely lost players due to suspension. The whole game benefits and fans get to see games with fewer stoppages and good football.
The referee in the Buriram – Bangkok Glass game had a difficult task from the start. Bangkok’s game plan was to simply stop Buriram by whatever means necessary. It became apparent to everyone and the referee should have imposed himself in the first-half. Perhaps he needs advice about how to go about it .
When the game “exploded” at the end, it was hardly a surprise, just the manner in which it happened. Buriram were angry that he did not allow anywhere near enough stoppage time, as I was. But looking back maybe he felt that it was best for all concerned to call it a day before more unpleasantness occurred.
Simmer down young chap!
I have been critical of referees in Thailand and it is clear that the standard is not yet good enough. But as I have said if players and coaches clean up their act it leaves the referee free to concentrate on the game, NOT the players.
The referees here need help and the Thai FA should be bringing in top retired referees like Collina to come and talk with referees and give them the benefit of their knowledge and experience. I’m sure they would be happy to come.
One very important fact that we tend to forget, me included, is that without the referees there would be no football. Something that would hit me very hard indeed. So maybe we all should give the guys in the middle a break and lay the real blame where it belongs.
These are my personal views and not necessarily those of the Buriram Times newspaper.