ENOUGH ALREADY - Stop Slagging Refs!!!

**Juanace** · 08/08/2007, 3:33 PM

I've read just about enough posts slagging off refs as biased, espesically biased towards Dublin teams.

This is just rubbish. I was a ref myself, at quite a high level. I know these guys. Some are better than others granted, but one thing they are NOT is biased in ANY way.

They make calls as they see them, honestly. Yeah they make mistakes. But you dont see refs coming out slagging off managers and players for their mistakes. Yet managers have carte blache to say what they like, personal in some cases, and the ref just has to take it!!

These guys give up a lot, and put up with a lot to facilitate the game be played at all levels.

I gave up because of the crap i had to put up with, these guys should be praised - big time.

By the way the guys saying Alan Kelly is biased towards Dublin teams?? Why the f**k would he be?? He's not even a Dub!!

**sfc red** · 08/08/2007, 3:34 PM

Hello Alan, how are you?

**bellavistaman** · 08/08/2007, 3:35 PM

Originally Posted by Juanace

I've read just about enough posts slagging off refs as biased, espesically biased towards Dublin teams.

This is just rubbish. I was a ref myself, at quite a high level. I know these guys. Some are better than others granted, but one thing they are NOT is biased in ANY way.

They make calls as they see them, honestly. Yeah they make mistakes. But you dont see refs coming out slagging off managers and players for their mistakes. Yet managers have carte blache to say what they like, personal in some cases, and the ref just has to take it!!

These guys give up a lot, and put up with a lot to facilitate the game be played at all levels.

I gave up because of the crap i had to put up with, these guys should be praised - big time.

By the way the guys saying Alan Kelly is biased towards Dublin teams?? Why the f**k would he be?? He's not even a Dub!!

He's certaionly not ****in biased towards cork teams. Its the fear factor the way the Dublin teams think they own the league. i think hes a fairly good ref prob the best we have.

**OneRedArmy** · 08/08/2007, 3:36 PM

I agree.

They're not biased, they're just crap.

**bellavistaman** · 08/08/2007, 3:37 PM

3 replies in 3 min. This could be good.

**micls** · 08/08/2007, 3:38 PM

Originally Posted by Juanace

.

This is just rubbish. I was a ref myself, at quite a high level. I know these guys. Some are better than others granted, but one thing they are NOT is biased in ANY way.

You can say this about every EL ref 100% certain? now I dont think so myself, I think theyre just ****e but lets not pretend you're a mind reader here

Originally Posted by Juanace

They make calls as they see them, honestly. Yeah they make mistakes. But you dont see refs coming out slagging off managers and players for their mistakes.

Managers and players mistakes dont affect the ref unlike the other way around...

Originally Posted by Juanace

Yet managers have carte blache to say what they like, personal in some cases, and the ref just has to take it!!

No they dont, they'll be fined.

Originally Posted by Juanace

These guys give up a lot, and put up with a lot to facilitate the game be played at all levels.

I gave up because of the crap i had to put up with, these guys should be praised - big time.

In the end of the day EL refs are getting paid to do a job. If they dont do it to an acceptable standard they deserve to be reprimanded for it just like in any other job. They understand when taking the job they will get stick from the fans its part of football, and mostly harmless. Of course if anyone goes overboard its unacceptable

**Jerry The Saint** · 08/08/2007, 3:39 PM

Originally Posted by bellavistaman

Its the fear factor the way the Dublin teams think they own the league.

"Think" we own the league?

These non-Dublin club supporters are so naive...

**razor** · 08/08/2007, 3:44 PM

If it makes you feel better, when I tell Richie Winters most vociferously that I think he isn't good enough for the DDSL, I don't really mean it.

**LeixlipRed** · 08/08/2007, 3:46 PM

The best refs are at schoolboy level. What does that tell you?? Referees like boys

**bellavistaman** · 08/08/2007, 3:55 PM

Originally Posted by LeixlipRed

The best refs are at schoolboy level. What does that tell you?? Referees like boys

I'm coming to the conclusion that its in our culture to produce ****e refs, like the drink thing, we cant help it. Played schoolboys, youths, AUL, go tot all Rams EL games, one thing always strikes me, how poor the ref standard is. the first time i was impressed with a ref was the polish fella. says it all

**Jofspring** · 08/08/2007, 3:57 PM

what ive noticed about EL refrees recently is that they seem to over-react in certain situations. they are probably trying to stamp their authority but what most do is try too hard to show some authority and make stupid descsions i.e certain booking offences etc...... this just ends up frustrating managers, players and fans. everyone understands its a tough job and they get alot of stick but sometimes its just a case of them using there heads a bit more when making descsions on the pitch. ive certainly seen some ridiculous yellow cards and sendings off in the EL that if the refree had just taken a second to think about and use his head probably would not have given.

**sfc red** · 08/08/2007, 4:04 PM

Originally Posted by bellavistaman

the first time i was impressed with a ref was the polish fella. says it all

Because he should have been working in Centra yeah?

For the record, that ref was abysmal.

**LeixlipRed** · 08/08/2007, 4:14 PM

I think a lot of the problem comes down to the attitude players have to referees. From a young age you're almost taught to despise them. They in turn grow an attitude in response to this abuse and so begins the downward spiral!! If a referee imposes himself from the beginning (ie pre kick off) and makes it clear he'll take no **** from anyone then ususally the game is incident free. For example, our game v Dundalk two weeks ago. No. 7 for Dundalk told the referee several times in one stream of abuse that he "was ****ing ****". Screaming it he was, right in the ref's personal space. That's an instant red card in my mind. But most ref's let that go in some vain attempt to appease the players or some such rubbish. Make it clear before the whistle that a zero tolerance approach to verbally abusing opponents or yourself and that'll never happen

**micls** · 08/08/2007, 4:17 PM

Originally Posted by LeixlipRed

I think a lot of the problem comes down to the attitude players have to referees. From a young age you're almost taught to despise them. They in turn grow an attitude in response to this abuse and so begins the downward spiral!! If a referee imposes himself from the beginning (ie pre kick off) and makes it clear he'll take no **** from anyone then ususally the game is incident free. For example, our game v Dundalk two weeks ago. No. 7 for Dundalk told the referee several times in one stream of abuse that he "weas ****ing ****". Screaming it he was, right in the ref's personal space. That's an instant red card in my mind. But most ref's let that go in some vain attempt to appease the players or some such rubbish. Make it clear before the whistle that a zero tolerance approach to verbally abusing opponents or yourself and that'll never happen

But then if the ref actually did that and say ended up sending someone off there would be uproar.

It needs to be sorted from the top. Some sort of system, like rugby, that affords respect to the ref. Only the captains should be allowed approach the ref etc.

**passerrby** · 08/08/2007, 4:19 PM

they are very well paid for their 90 minutes of useless contribution to the EL

**Red&White Rover** · 08/08/2007, 4:21 PM

I don't care what anyone says, but Paul Deering has a DEFINITE bias against Sligo Rovers.

**LeixlipRed** · 08/08/2007, 4:41 PM

Originally Posted by micls

But then if the ref actually did that and say ended up sending someone off there would be uproar.

It needs to be sorted from the top. Some sort of system, like rugby, that affords respect to the ref. Only the captains should be allowed approach the ref etc.

The captain idea is long overdue at this stage. It works so well in rugby. And as for sending that lad, of course there would have been uproar. But a firm hand by the ref (gaining him some respect)from the beginning would have indicated to this player that something like that was going to result in a sending off meaning it would never have happened. In theory it works great

**TheBoss** · 08/08/2007, 5:11 PM

There is more Dublin teams than any other county so in that fact appears to make it look as though they are biased as the decisions are spread across more than 1 team.

**Sheridan** · 08/08/2007, 6:06 PM

Right, I was going to let this lie because I actually concur with some of the original poster's points - I have enormous respect for referees at lower levels of the game who give up their time for little reward and anyone who abuses, threatens or strikes a match official at any level should have the book thrown at them; in addition to which the notion of Dublin bias has been irrefutably debunked. But this bit really stuck in my craw;

Yet managers have carte blache to say what they like, personal in some cases, and the ref just has to take it!!

This, as you well know, simply isn't true. Anyone who looks at a referee crossways is hauled over the coals these days.

Let me make it plain for you, Juanace. Eircom League refs don't get a hard time because the overwhelming majority of them aren't competent enough to control professional games anywhere in the world. They get a hard time because a significant minority (and I'm being charitable here) of them are arrogant, egotistical and above all unaccountable for their actions. The get a hard time because they can (and sometimes do) p1ss all over the hard work done by players, coaches, club officials and volunteers the length and breadth of the country on the basis of nothing more than a momentary whim or personal vendetta, and do it with complete and utter impunity.

Let's have some accountability first. Then we can talk about respect.

**passerrby** · 08/08/2007, 6:20 PM

Originally Posted by Sheridan

Right, I was going to let this lie because I actually concur with some of the original poster's points - I have enormous respect for referees at lower levels of the game who give up their time for little reward and anyone who abuses, threatens or strikes a match official at any level should have the book thrown at them; in addition to which the notion of Dublin bias has been irrefutably debunked. But this bit really stuck in my craw;

This, as you well know, simply isn't true. Anyone who looks at a referee crossways is hauled over the coals these days.

Let me make it plain for you, Juanace. Eircom League refs don't get a hard time because the overwhelming majority of them aren't competent enough to control professional games anywhere in the world. They get a hard time because a significant minority (and I'm being charitable here) of them are arrogant, egotistical and above all unaccountable for their actions. The get a hard time because they can (and sometimes do) p1ss all over the hard work done by players, coaches, club officials and volunteers the length and breadth of the country on the basis of nothing more than a momentary whim or personal vendetta, and do it with complete and utter impunity.

Let's have some accountability first. Then we can talk about respect.

wow ya