Interview with Howard Webb

Follow the link to a video interview on Uefa's website with next Saturdays FA Cup Final Referee Howard Webb.

Link

Lose Respect Lose the Game

The FA have come in for some mixed feedback on the whole respect drive this year.  While its a good idea and one that is needed some of the things that maybe have been attempted haven't worked.    I saw this latest video on Saturday for the first time on Soccer AM.   I think this hits home the message unlike any thing they have tried so far.  

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezZ2ZRfSsLY]

Worst Offside

Whilst having  a lunch time browse I came across what The Baggies Blog is calling the worst offside ever.    The incident is around the 4:20 mark.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp_ju6LVhGw]

Weekend Round Up 2

At some point early on the season we get that weekend where we have a storm of controversy, and this week seemed to be that time.

Last Wednesday Ronaldo was sent off by Steve Bennett for a head butt against Portsmouth.  Ive heard all sorts of stupid excuses for him.  The best being on Talksport where "because he is a targeted player he should be allowed to do this!"    To be fair there wasnt really many complaints and nor should there be.  Yes he was being pushed at the corner but that is no excuse to react the way he did.  

So moving on to this weekend and there are two main talking points.   The "goal at Fulham" and the "penalty" at Liverpool.    Lets start with the Goal.  It inevitably started all the Video technology debates again and the fact that the FA are already looking at Hawkeye helped quell some of the debate.    There isnt really any thing you can say about it, these things unfortunately happen.  While a few years ago the Caroll one was understandable given the distance the shot came in from (ok I know it was so far over) but this one was close range and the assistant was already in position to make the call.  The only thing I can say is that at the moment he looked it couldn't have been clearly all the way over.  You have to make a decision and if your not sure then your not going to give it.  

 Then we have the Penalty.  I do feel sorry for Rob Style's although do also feel that he lost control of the game.  To be honest i was watching the game partially and was in and out of the room.  However everytime i focused on the game there seemed to be a confrontation between players or to him.   There was also the suggestion and confusion that Essien was booked twice.  This seems to have been confirmed it wasnt the case.  I think Graham Poll summed it up when he said it was messy.   Im not going to condemn him though for his control as it happens to everyone and it sure has hell has happened to me and it will happen to us all at some point.

The penalty though was a poor decision.  However I can see though at high speed what he may have thought he may have seen.  Although if we are saying that there was no contact and it wasnt a penalty why isnt the Chelsea player being fined?   Rob Styles has been suspended and will now be a focus for the next couple of weeks but he made a honest mistake, he didn't blatantly cheat or try to con anyone.

I do think though its right that if Officials make mistakes they are held accountable.   I dont think we should be blamed for everything but if we have made a mistake in law then its right.   For instance last season in my supply league a Referee received a 3 week ban (i think) for an incorrect restart following encroachment at a penalty.   Although not nice, they made a mistake in law and its only right.   I believe that if people see that we are accountable then it does actually take some of the negativity away as people no longer see us as untouchable.

Sin Bins?

So were less than a week in the season proper and there is talk of law changes already!

Keith Hackett has proposed that if there is an injury resulting from a foul.  That if the player who commited the foul is cautioned, then he must leave the field of play until the injured player returns!

“It’s wrong that the opponent who committed the foul challenge remains on the pitch and his team stays at 11, yet the team who has been offended against go down to 10 for a period while the player is treated,” said Hackett, the chief executive of the Professional Game Match Officials, yesterday.

“If it is an injury that demands touchline treatment, he [the injured player] comes off and the offender comes off. When he is fit, or a substitute is ready, he [the offender] can come back on. It is an area which the PFA, LMA and ourselves have discussed on our technical committee.

 There is talk this could be brought in this season, however cant be as it is a sin bin and contray to the current laws of the game.  The best they can hope for is a pilot in a minior competion assuming FIFA agree to it.   While I agree it seems silly that players can injure a player and stay on im not sure this is the best solution to be honest.  What happens if the player doesnt come back on, its open to abuse. 

I personally would rather have a blood substitue where if a player goes of for treatment they can bring a player on for that time.  However for example they must stay on for a 5 minutes and can only do 1 a game for example.