Over the weekend I went to an under 21 game. I’ve been going to the 21s for the last 3 years or so as the football is really good and fast. Officials in this league are not usually LOI officials and are instead chosen from the local leagues. So a local team will usually have an all local official list. Despite the under 21s not getting any pay, little or no gate receipts, travel, food and maybe pitch rental, the officials are paid handsomely for basically walking across the road.
I’ve watched excellent teams get beaten by home town decisions, where the ref could be related to someone on the home team. I’ve seen quarter and semi finals of premier under 21 leagues being played on the worse of junior pitches, but one thing these officials have in common is, there crap! With a GAA style of reffing the norm (stand at the half way line and whistle and never move from that position) you really have to ask is this the best young talent at your club can be offered?
These officials aren’t used to the passion, fervour, humour, of the everyday LOI supporter so you can imagine what usually happens when someone other then the normal under 21 supporter (family, junior club rep etc)turns up!
Waterford and Limerick were playing in the Waterford crystal sports facilities on Saturday. Now Waterford won well (2 1), they were the better, bigger and much older team the limerick lads who were all just 18 and the likes. I was at the corner flag in this windswept playing area consisting of a football pitch, two GAA pitches and I think a rugby pitch. There was a questionable foul by a limerick player on a Waterford player in that corner and to my surprise the official flagged hysterically as if a player was mortally wounded. I simply said to him “are you serious?” which he responded to shouting “GO AWAY GO AWAY GO AWAY” ala John O’Donaghue. I said I’m watching the game and I’m going no where to which he started flagging and calling the ref over to deal with me. The ref, whose name was….Maaaaaaaaa,! (Not sure how many “a”s) left his half way line position and asked me to “leave him alone or ill get you booted out, and if you don’t go ill call off the game!”
So for questioning a touch judges decision, the only people in this wide open space who were getting paid, were going to call off a game (1 min or 90 mins they still get paid?)
This level of refereeing is unacceptable. I know it’s the cheap option but surely LOI refs should be asked/made to ref one senior and one under 21 games in a weekend to bring in a bit of “better professionalism” and show the young players who they are officiating over that you have indeed come up a level.
BTW a few things. A foul in under 21 level seems to be a whistle (blown from the half way line) and no foul is folded arms (while at the half way line). A lot of rolling arms and leg movement (from the half way line) seems to be significant also but I can’t figure that out yet after three years. Maybe it’s some sort of mating thing among referees. Anyone else have opinions or stories of under 21 officals?
