I'm just using the current term that's used, but that changes depending on who is playing of course
. Watching the way BATE and Legia used this as part of their strategy was very frustrating to watch when we were trying to chase the game and it was very effective. In recent times we have had comment on Dundalk players surrounding the ref yet all players do it, O'Donnell was singled out as reffing games but again most captains are in the refs ear and if they are not trying to gain an edge then thay arent doing their job. It was also pointed out that Perth was always at the 4th official but Caulfield, Fenlon, even Long et al have been seen charging at the 4th official or screaming murder on the sidelines. A bit like this malarkey about handball in the box, arms at side/away from the body, ball to hand etc. there is inconsistency; if contact is made with a player it gives them a chance to go over and win a free - it doesnt make it not a free even if soft. It is refreshing when a ref doesnt whistle up for everything. A recent example of things going with a side was the RoI goal v Switzerland - many referees would have given a free against McClean's challange to win the ball back as it was a half shove leaning in to the Swizz chap and not really shoulder to shoulder and McGoldrick had his hands on both shoulders of the defender with a nudge, if it had happened they other way round there would have been many a ran. My issues would be more with the inconsistency of how the officials deals with this stuff than issue with the players taking advantage. To use the Legia game again as an example, the sheer number of fouls they did make yet there was no sign of a card for persistant fouling is still an irritant Its hard to be subjective in football at the best of times as people are rerely totally neutral in analysis of things.
Bookmarks