Thread: Premier League Officials & FA Incompetent

Former World Cup referee Clive Thomas criticises standards

By Jimmy Smallwood BBC Sport
A former top-level British referee has criticised modern officials following a string of controversial decisions in the Premier League over Easter weekend.
Ex-World Cup referee Clive Thomas said: "I've lost faith in referees. I think refs are missing things."
But Phil Dorward, of Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL), believes standards are rising.
"Clive is entitled to his opinion but the facts point in the opposite direction," he said.
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Struggling clubs hard done by refs - Hughes

QPR manager Mark Hughes and Wigan boss Roberto Martinez both spoke out after key incidents went against their sides in the battle to avoid relegation.
"You should have confidence that referees will get key decisions right," said Hughes after the final whistle. "Just lately a lot of managers have lost faith in them."
Welshman Thomas, 75, refereed at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, and the 1976 European Championships.
And he reckons Hughes is "100% right" to question referees' abilities following the dismissal of Shaun Derry during Rangers' 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Thomas said: "We haven't got our act together at all.
"I don't see that the referees of today are even in the right positions to give right decisions. That concerns me.
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“The referee was right there. If he didn't see it, why didn't he see it? That would be my concern if I was the referee”

Clive Thomas on Mario Balotelli's sending-off against Arsenal

"Referees today are concerned, it seems, far more about what the assessors think of them, and are not thinking how to referee a game.
"It never worried me what the assessors would say."
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was sent for two bookable offences in the defeat by Arsenal on Sunday, but much post-match coverage focused on a challenge on Alex Song which went unpunished.
Thomas said: "That tackle was a disgrace. The studs were up and went on the player's leg. He should have been sent off then but he wasn't.
"The referee was right there. If he didn't see it, why didn't he see it? That would be my concern if I was the referee.
"I was far better than modern refs. British referees were better than they are today."
PGMOL provides match officials for the top flight of English football and Dorward added: "As he [Thomas] should know all too well, sometimes officials make human errors but the truth is that standards in officiating have never been higher.
"The Match Delegates report - compiled by former players and managers and which the clubs provide feedback on after every Premier League match - show that referees get over 92% of major decisions right.
Referee Clive Thomas prepares to toss the coin with Celtic captain Billy McNeill and Bobby Charlton at the Manchester United player's testimonial game at Old Trafford in 1972

"Data from ProZone additionally shows that assistant referees have got over 99% of offside decisions right this season.
"PGMOL do analyse reasons why errors are made and are always working on improving officiating technique.
"Everything that is available is used: both of the Match Delegates and PGMOL Assessors reports, match footage and ProZone data are analysed, there are a team of refereeing coaches working with them all season long, and also former players and managers helping improve their positioning.
"The fact that we are one of only three countries in world football to have three elite referees suggests that English officiating is of a very high standard."
Thomas officiated at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany and the '78 tournament in Argentina four years later.
He had a reputation as a disciplinarian and is widely remembered for disallowing a Zico headed goal for Brazil in a 1978 World Cup group game against Sweden by blowing for full-time while a corner ball was still in mid-air.
At the 1976 Euros in Yugoslavia, Thomas oversaw an upset when the 'Total Football' generation of Holland, spearheaded by Johan Cruyff, was defeated at the semi-final stage by Czechoslovakia.
In that match in Zagreb, Thomas sent off three players and threatened to abandon the fixture as the game descended into acrimony in extra-time.

Mario Balotelli not charged for Song clash on day of farce at the FA

• FA: Retrospective action normally for off-the-ball incidents
• Shaun Derry red card for foul on Ashley Young upheld

• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 10 April 2012 17.41 BST

Manchester City's Mario Balotelli, right, speaks to Arsenal's Alex Song after his challenge. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Mario Balotelli escaped a nine-match ban for his dangerous challenge on Arsenal's Alex Song on a farcical day for the Football Association's disciplinary procedures, which caused disbelief within the game and left many elite match officials disillusioned at the disquiet directed at their fraternity.
It is understood that neither Martin Atkinson, the referee for Sunday's game which City's lost 1-0, nor his assistants will be stood down for any future match because of the incident.
The FA cited Fifa regulations for its inability to take retrospective action against Balotelli for his knee-high tackle on Song. But the upholding of the red card for Queens Park Rangers' Shaun Derry despite Ashley Young clearly diving during the London club's 2-0 defeat at Manchester United earlier the same afternoon, and the correct decision to charge Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic for violent conduct for an incident involving Wigan Athletic's Shaun Maloney the previous day left the governing body open to accusations of inconsistency. It will also do little to calm tensions towards officials or the disciplinary process following a weekend in which a number of managers have spoken out in frustration.
The coming together of Balotelli and Song was seen by Atkinson and the nearest assistant referee. But they were partially unsighted so the serious nature of the incident was missed by them, the other assistant and the fourth official. This meant the episode was included in the official match report, and so Fifa rules that state any in-game issue cannot be reofficiated later tied the FA's hands.
While this procedure is endorsed by all Premier League clubs, it is understood that Atkinson and many of his elite match official colleagues are unhappy at the criticism aimed at them.
The statement from the FA said: "Retrospective action in relation to the incident involving Mario Balotelli of Manchester City and Alex Song of Arsenal, which occurred in the 20th minute of Sunday's game, will not be taken. Where at least one of the officials has seen the coming together of players retrospective action is not taken, regardless of whether they have seen the full extent of the challenge.
"Retrospective action can only be taken in scenarios where none of the match officials saw the players coming together. The normal scenarios in which retrospective action is taken are for 'off the ball' incidents. Retrospective action was introduced for off the ball incidents where there was no contest for possession and could not be deemed to be re-refereeing an incident. In agreement with Fifa, this is how 'not seen' incidents are dealt with retrospectively in England. It is a policy that is agreed with all football stakeholders."
Balotelli has been sent off twice this season, including for the two yellow cards he later received against Arsenal, and been found guilty of a further red card offence retrospectively. So any eventual sanction for the studs-high challenge on Song would have been his fourth red card, and increased his tariff to a nine-game ban. While he will now miss three matches and be available for City's final three games of the season, Derry misses QPR's meeting with Swansea City on Wednesday.
"Queens Park Rangers midfielder Shaun Derry will serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect after his claim of wrongful dismissal was rejected by a regulatory commission today," the FA's statement said.
But, with there being no explanation regarding why Derry's sending-off was not rescinded despite Young going down under minimal contact, there will be further outrage at QPR. Phillip Beard, the club's CEO, said after the game that Young "could partner diver Tom Daley at the Olympic Games".
There was further confusion when the FA announced that after reviewing video evidence Ivanovic would be charged for apparently aiming a punch at Maloney, which was not seen by the match officials, but was caught on video, during his side's 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Replays showed both Chelsea goals in the 2-1 win should have been disallowed for offside and Mike Riley, the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, apologised for this. Roberto Martínez, the Wigan manager, said: "He just said he understands that at the level of refereeing in this league, they should get that call right. I think that is a very honourable way to face mistakes. We are all capable of making mistakes and it is about how you react to them."
Dave Bryan, the assistant referee who missed the offsides, was stood down from Tuesday night's game between Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool.

Derry loses red-card appeal

Shaun Derry has lost his appeal against his controversial sending-off in QPR's Premier League defeat at Manchester United.
Last Updated: 10/04/12 at 18:21 Post Comment Q.P.R. 11/10 Draw 12/5 Swansea 12/5
Derry: Sent off at Old Trafford



Midfielder Derry was red-carded for tripping Ashley Young in the penalty area 14 minutes into Rangers' 2-0 loss at Old Trafford on Sunday after officials failed to spot Young was offside and Derry will miss Wednesday's clash with Swansea.
QPR lodged an appeal for wrongful dismissal in the hope a Football Association regulatory commission would take into account the refereeing error.
There were also suggestions Young may have dived to win the spot-kick, with Rangers chief executive Philip Beard claiming the winger "could partner diver Tom Daley at the Olympic Games".
But the FA announced this afternoon the decision to punish Derry for denying a goalscoring opportunity stood, as did his one-match ban.
QPR boss Mark Hughes said on Sunday that Premier League managers were "losing faith in referees" as a result of recent high-profile blunders.
The FA confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that neither Beard nor Hughes would face any action over their outspoken comments.

^ Comments relating to above story on football365

Comments 1 - 3 of (3)

redvoler (Liverpool) says...

Atrocious decision. If it wasn't enough to dismiss the card because Young was offside - and not just marginally - then the lack of a foul should have clinched it. FA - you are appalling.
Posted 4:52pm 10th April 2012

FairyNuff says...

This is a bloody farce.... and I support United! Fergie should have spoken up for him.
Posted 4:49pm 10th April 2012

mikemanaman (Liverpool) says...

Makes absolute sense, FA appeal to reduce Rooney's 3 match ban for a petulant kick for England, FA reject Derry's red card appeal for breathing next to Ashley Young. Absolutely logical. Good going. As you were.
Posted 4:45pm 10th April 2012

11 April 2012 Last updated at 21:50GMT




Fulham chairman wants changes to the refereeing review system


Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed is the latest football figure to criticise the current standard of refereeing in the Premier League.
He has written to the Football Association and Premier League seeking an immediate review, which he says is on behalf of all clubs.
Continue reading the main story

“You have to be 100% right to give the decisions. At the moment people are guessing and hoping that they get it correct. That was the case today ”

QPR boss Mark Hughes

"It is time for the Premier League to wake up. They have been in a coma for a long time," he said.
"Lots of clubs are suffering from such stupid decisions."
Al Fayed's comments come after Fulham suffered a 1-0 loss at Manchester United last month, in which Danny Murphy appeared to be fouled in the United box a minute from time but referee Michael Oliver waved away the penalty claims.
In a statement published on the club's official website, Al Fayed said: "The FA's problem in addressing this pivotal situation is that it has too much power.
"Where else can decision-makers (referees) escape all responsibility to admit serious and blatant errors and have the protesters (the football clubs involved) fined on charges of misconduct.
"Once again I call for action to review the standard of officials, and the transparency of the processes by which referees are allocated to games."
The Egyptian businessman joins Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez and Brighton's Gus Poyet in criticising refereeing standards.
"We need brave pioneers in the Premier League, the FA and within the Premier League shareholder group," Al Fayed added.
"In the past I wrote to highlight the need for the Premier League to lead the way with the introduction of video technology."

11 April 2012 Last updated at 09:01 GMT
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Championship: Brighton boss Gus Poyet calls for FA reforms

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Brighton manager Gus Poyet says the Football Association must make changes after a "bad weekend for referees" as his side are denied a penalty in a 1-0 Championship defeat at home to Reading.
The Uruguayan believes the system where players and managers are "charged by the FA and judged by the FA" means officials take "no responsibility" after a "terrible Easter" for decisions.
Ian Harte scored the only goal as Brighton's Ashley Barnes missed from the spot and the home side had a string of other appeals turned down.

Originally Posted by Ancient Future

11 April 2012 Last updated at 21:50GMT




Fulham chairman wants changes to the refereeing review system


Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed is the latest football figure to criticise the current standard of refereeing in the Premier League.
He has written to the Football Association and Premier League seeking an immediate review, which he says is on behalf of all clubs.
Continue reading the main story

“You have to be 100% right to give the decisions. At the moment people are guessing and hoping that they get it correct. That was the case today ”

QPR boss Mark Hughes

"It is time for the Premier League to wake up. They have been in a coma for a long time," he said.
"Lots of clubs are suffering from such stupid decisions."
Al Fayed's comments come after Fulham suffered a 1-0 loss at Manchester United last month, in which Danny Murphy appeared to be fouled in the United box a minute from time but referee Michael Oliver waved away the penalty claims.
In a statement published on the club's official website, Al Fayed said: "The FA's problem in addressing this pivotal situation is that it has too much power.
"Where else can decision-makers (referees) escape all responsibility to admit serious and blatant errors and have the protesters (the football clubs involved) fined on charges of misconduct.
"Once again I call for action to review the standard of officials, and the transparency of the processes by which referees are allocated to games."
The Egyptian businessman joins Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez and Brighton's Gus Poyet in criticising refereeing standards.
"We need brave pioneers in the Premier League, the FA and within the Premier League shareholder group," Al Fayed added.
"In the past I wrote to highlight the need for the Premier League to lead the way with the introduction of video technology."

The man is a lying, thieving gyppo, and his opinions on English football are wholly irrelevant.

^ He's a weird prick, but his claim was relevant to the thread.

Here's proof he's odd at the minimum


Muhamed Al Fayed outside Fulham FC's ground with the new Michael Jackson statue.
Did you know Michael Jackson was a Fulham Football Club fan? Apparently he wasn't, but that didn't stop billionaire owner Mohamed Al Fayed erecting a six-foot statue of the deceased pop singer outside of the club's Craven Cottage football stadium at the beginning of April. The singer who died two years ago after suffering from cardiac arrest, is better known for his moon-walking stage antics than his love for the Lilywhites. But this didn't deter Al Fayed who originally commissioned the statue to be constructed outside of Harrods. Following the store's sale to the Qatar royal family, he made the decision to home the statue next to the Grade I-listed Craven Cottage stadium, telling the aghast Fulham supporters they could "go to hell" if they didn't like it. Like Jackson himself, the statue itself is a rather bizarre sight to behold ranking somewhere between a Pez dispenser and a Bobblehead collectible figurine - only huge.

Fayed is a complete arsehole, charlatan and a fraud. The quicker he pisses off the better.

15 April 2012 Last updated at 20:40 GMT

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Harry Redknapp says referee admitted Mata goal mistake

By Phil McNulty Chief football writer at Wembley Stadium
Harry Redknapp revealed referee Martin Atkinson admitted he made a mistake in awarding Chelsea's second goal as they thrashed Tottenham 5-1 in the FA Cup semi-final - then insisted video technology must now be introduced.
Chelsea were leading 1-0 when Atkinson ruled that Juan Mata's 49th-minute shot had crossed the line despite furious Spurs protests insisting the ball had been blocked by Ledley King and Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
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Replays confirmed Mata's shot had not gone in and Spurs manager Redknapp said: "The second goal was a disaster for us. It was an honest mistake by the referee but it was nowhere near the line.
"The referee has made a big mistake. He hasn't done it on purpose but I don't see how he could give the goal. It wasn't as if someone kicked it away and it all happened so quickly."
Redknapp added: "He must have guessed because he couldn't have been sure. He has made an honest decision but has made a mistake - but he's not done it on purpose.
"I spoke to him and he said he feels worse than I do about it - I said 'I don't think so.' He said he feels bad and he's going to have a bad week but there is nothing we can do about it now.
What they said on Twitter

• Michael Owen (Man Utd) - Just got home to see that second goal of Chelsea's. Wonder how many more of these decisions will be made before the powers that be start to assist the officials. The headlines always seem to be anything other than on the quality of football played nowadays
• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) - I think today has proven why we need goal line technology! Refs have a hard enough job as it is, it would benefit everyone
• Ruud Gullit - Unbelievable blunder by the referee. This can't be happening anymore. Goalline technology has to be used
• Anthony Pilkington (Norwich) - Goal line technology is needed #Pronto!! To much at stake now!! Referees have a difficult enough job. They need a little helping hand!







"In the first half I felt we were the better team and that certainly didn't help although I'm not going to sit here and say that was the only reason we got beat."
And Redknapp renewed the demands for the introduction of technology as he said: "It has got to come in. We can't keep going on like we are with important decisions not being correct. The referees don't make mistakes on purpose and he felt it was goal.
"We need goal-line technology. It's got to come in. We can't keep having situations like this."



BBC Sport - Harry Redknapp says referee admitted Mata goal mistake

I wouldn't mind but Atkinson was only yards away. Must have had a brain fart.