What can be done to improve standards of EL Refs

**football fan** · 04/09/2006, 3:36 PM

In the last couple of weeks we have seen some poor decisions by refs and assisstant refs in the league.

People are always posting about poor decisions and poor match officials.

But while people always complain, nobody seems to have anything positive to offer as regards a solution to the problem.

Look forward to hearing your replies and please try and be positive and offer solutions not rants!!

**Peadar** · 04/09/2006, 3:57 PM

There seems to be no accountability.
They make decisions which defy belief and not an eyelid is batted in the corridors of power.

**BohsPartisan** · 04/09/2006, 4:00 PM

Probably because those in the corridors of power don't bother watching the games.

**pete** · 04/09/2006, 6:32 PM

Reading the paper today and it said Alan Kelly was suspended for 1 month for not allowing the Bohs goal at Bray.

**LeixlipRed** · 04/09/2006, 7:11 PM

Maybe he'll use that time to get a decent haircut

Red&White · 04/09/2006, 7:12 PM

One word: "Specsavers."

As far as I know they have free check-ups these days as well.*

*Or maybe that's just the NHS...

**passerrby** · 04/09/2006, 7:17 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

There seems to be no accountability.
They make decisions which defy belief and not an eyelid is batted in the corridors of power.

what exactly do you propose

**dcfcsteve** · 04/09/2006, 7:55 PM

The problem with banning is that the others aren't much better.

When the standard is so poor across the board then there is clearly a training issue. Irish football is simply not churning out refs of a sufficient standard. Addressing this would require a root and branch review of how refs are identified, trained, encouraged and developed.

In the meantime, do what a few other leagues have done and bring in overseas refs to show some feckin example. Would give the indigenous ones an almighty kick up the arse.

**The Ref** · 04/09/2006, 8:01 PM

Originally Posted by robbiesdrogs

well didnt the referee in the ben tatcher incident in england get a ban??a few bans wouldnt go amiss

You'd have no refs left.

Didn't see the incident on Friday but from what I hear the referee was let down by his assistant, one of the problems is that the everyday fan thinks they know the rules but they don't.

The EL has in effect gone professional, asking referees, who lets face it have careers outside the game (some are running from their jobs to get to games), keep up with highly talented and extremely fit individuals is, at best unfair.

If a core group of referees and their assistant where paid a salary by the FAI to become professional (with the same level of training as a professional club)with a guarntee of a position of instructing referees in the intermediate, junior, ladies and schoolboys/girls leagues after they retire, would go a small way to improving the standard.

Referees make mistakes, that is the way it has alway been, however with the increase of television cameras at matches, their mistakes are being highlighted more frequently.

Also, I believe a bit of honesty would'nt go amiss, a game should be watched by an assessor, if the media complain that the ref made a blattant error, then he should either:
a) if the referee was right, say so and explain the decision or;
b) if the referee was wrong, the referee should put his hand up and admit it.

This way there would be no cloak and dagger stuff, and the game would become more transparent, fans and the media would become educated in the laws of the game. Over time there would be more of an understanding between referees, player and fans.

I have set up a thread for Advice on the Laws of the Game in the Junior league section of this site http://www.foot.ie/showthread.php?t=38755 and have set up a fun quiz also in that section, if anyone has queries (I will answer them as best I can) or wants to take part in the quiz, they are more than welcome.

**OneRedArmy** · 04/09/2006, 8:18 PM

Fitness is one area that is relatively easy to improve.

As players have become fitter with professional football becoming the norm among the top teams, the officials haven't kept up (quite literally) and as a result are regularly making decisions a long way off the play. This applies both to referees but particularly assistants who regularly seem to be making offside calls from 20-30 yards behind the line.

Improving fitness won't solve all the problems but it would at least help reduce the number of ridiculous offsides and penalty incidents which aren't seen by the officials.

**passerrby** · 05/09/2006, 5:13 PM

i heard the refs in longford cup game got over €1500 for their evenings work, at least dick turbin wore a mask.

**R�iteoir** · 06/09/2006, 1:12 AM

There is a plan in place that we will be shown later this month in a presentation entitled "The Future of Refereeing in Ireland" - should be interesting.

Could be we go down the route of Professional Referees (like the Select Group in England) and Refereeing Academies tied to the individual Provinces/Counties

**BohsFans** · 06/09/2006, 3:51 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Reading the paper today and it said Alan Kelly was suspended for 1 month for not allowing the Bohs goal at Bray.

which paper?

does it quote anybody?

**Longfordian** · 06/09/2006, 9:23 AM

Originally Posted by passerrby

i heard the refs in longford cup game got over �1500 for their evenings work, at least dick turbin wore a mask.

Correct that tool Buttimer and his gang of clowns were on a nice little earner for that one. Overnight stay, working day's wages, meals, mileage. Nice work if you can get it.

Alan Kelly apparently "volunteered" to stand down for a month. I'd imagine Buttimer will get the same, along with the assistant I'd assume.

**harpskid** · 06/09/2006, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Peadar

There seems to be no accountability.
They make decisions which defy belief and not an eyelid is batted in the corridors of power.

There is though - refs are assessed at every game they officiate at. Kelly got a month's ban for that 'goal' and there have been other refs who have got similar bans for ****-ups in the past

**Block G Raptor** · 06/09/2006, 11:12 AM

one way to inprove the standard is to sack the lot of them and employ a couple of dozen blind people to officiate. they'd be guaranteed to see more than most refs in the league

**BohDiddley** · 06/09/2006, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Roverstillidie

simple.

Independent assessor at all EL games who doesnt report to Alan Kelly Sr.

I agree. At this point, much as they are individually to blame, someone in authority has to take responsibility for the fiascos we've seen.

**Mr A** · 06/09/2006, 12:46 PM

I think it's obvious that Bohs should fund the setting up up of a professional referee system.

Mind you with the money they receive as it is we should expect a whole lot better!

**NY Hoop** · 06/09/2006, 1:40 PM

Said it before but ex players should be encouraged. They would have the respect of the players therefore there would be less dissent.

Also the current muppets refuse to chat to the players. By saying nothing and brandishing crads everywhere encourages disciplinary problems. No communication leads to mistrust.

Also as mentioned before independent assessors. Only in this league would you have a complete plank like kelly being assessed by his father.

How do they get FIFA Badges is beyond me. Why dont they play the advantage rule?

The best refs are the ones you dont notice but this is part of the problem. Kelly being the prime example in that you cant but notice him. Like Frisk he wants to be the centre of attention. Remember watching a setanta game in cark and, despite the fact that he was the fourth official, he was on tv more than the players!

KOH

**R�iteoir** · 06/09/2006, 2:58 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

Said it before but ex players should be encouraged. They would have the respect of the players therefore there would be less dissent.

Also the current muppets refuse to chat to the players. By saying nothing and brandishing crads everywhere encourages disciplinary problems. No communication leads to mistrust.

Also as mentioned before independent assessors. Only in this league would you have a complete plank like kelly being assessed by his father.

How do they get FIFA Badges is beyond me. Why dont they play the advantage rule?

The best refs are the ones you dont notice but this is part of the problem. Kelly being the prime example in that you cant but notice him. Like Frisk he wants to be the centre of attention. Remember watching a setanta game in cark and, despite the fact that he was the fourth official, he was on tv more than the players!

KOH

The ex-players thing has been tried in England - and it was a spectacular failure.

Steve Baines who had a 15 year career in the Football League was chosen as the player who would try this out - he was fast-tracked through the lower Leagues and found himself as a Football League referee in little over 5 years.

He lasted 2 seasons on the Football League before he was removed due to poor marks.