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Gudni Bergsson
Re: Gareth Bale
Players cheat, that is why they are punished. It's accommodated for by the FAs own disciplinary procedures.
It is not acceptable for a referee to ever cheat and if they do then they wouldn't have any kind of sanction, they would be struck off. Although I am deeply suspicious of one individual (Foy), the vast vast majority of refs just do this difficult job to the best of their ability. Misjudgement maybe, cheating no.
In some cases the referees do not come across well, some are arrogant, some just look like they wind the players and fans up by grinning like a fool when big decisions are made. However, they have to make sure they aren't intimidated and so do have to make themselves big to counteract the huge hostility they face. PR on the whole is poor, whilst they shouldn't be expected to hold some kind of press conference afterwards, I think they should be able to make public comment on the game. I would have no problem if Atkinson said, "look from where I stood it appeared to be a clear dive, Bales leg folded before impact" etc
The fact is, they do make errors, it's human error and there's only so much that can be done. We have to accept mistakes will be made, so the question is what can be done to make this have less of an impact on the game.
1) use of technology to assist decision making, a whole debate in itself
2) pro active attitude from FA and refs association in allowing these refs to have their own say
3) less pressure from the media
4) less pressure from players/management staff
5) less cheating from players
These are the things you can genuinely address which will ultimately lead to less bad decisions being made. To me, it's that last one that is the big one.... there is such a lack of honesty in our games.
The 20 or so Premiership referees are probably the best in the country, and probably amongst the best in the world. I concede that it is quite possibly elitist, but I just don't think we can expect a better quality from any other 20 people.
Players cheat, that is why they are punished. It's accommodated for by the FAs own disciplinary procedures.
It is not acceptable for a referee to ever cheat and if they do then they wouldn't have any kind of sanction, they would be struck off. Although I am deeply suspicious of one individual (Foy), the vast vast majority of refs just do this difficult job to the best of their ability. Misjudgement maybe, cheating no.
In some cases the referees do not come across well, some are arrogant, some just look like they wind the players and fans up by grinning like a fool when big decisions are made. However, they have to make sure they aren't intimidated and so do have to make themselves big to counteract the huge hostility they face. PR on the whole is poor, whilst they shouldn't be expected to hold some kind of press conference afterwards, I think they should be able to make public comment on the game. I would have no problem if Atkinson said, "look from where I stood it appeared to be a clear dive, Bales leg folded before impact" etc
The fact is, they do make errors, it's human error and there's only so much that can be done. We have to accept mistakes will be made, so the question is what can be done to make this have less of an impact on the game.
1) use of technology to assist decision making, a whole debate in itself
2) pro active attitude from FA and refs association in allowing these refs to have their own say
3) less pressure from the media
4) less pressure from players/management staff
5) less cheating from players
These are the things you can genuinely address which will ultimately lead to less bad decisions being made. To me, it's that last one that is the big one.... there is such a lack of honesty in our games.
The 20 or so Premiership referees are probably the best in the country, and probably amongst the best in the world. I concede that it is quite possibly elitist, but I just don't think we can expect a better quality from any other 20 people.
