Jeff Winter's Soccer Spotlight || Middlesbrough F.C. news, reviews and comment

THE REFEREE'S A W**KER 31-3-08
Jeff Winter

So once again the headlines are about referees and the authorities are calling for more "Respect" for match officials.

Even Sir Alex is saying that his players should shake the hand of referees at the end of the game and not criticize them. AHEM!!

Could this be anything to do with the fact that he is currently awaiting an FA charge for his latest outburst at Martin Atkinson following United's cup defeat against Portsmouth?

As I have found out since retiring, feelings against match officials have descended to an all time low.

To a certain extent the refs have to shoulder some of the blame. At times, they do look intimidated by top players and certainly their managers.

The strong ref would now be described and castigated by all and sundry as someone who courted publicity and wanted to grab the headlines and the limelight.

The adverse publicity and the lack of support from the authorities has pushed the refs back into their shells and the pro guys are reffing to save their careers.

Currently, we have Atkinson unlikely to referee Man United, Clattenburg is kept away from Everton, Bennett is likely to be kept away from Liverpool etc etc.

In this country we now have a major shortage of experienced top quality officials.

We are entitled to ten FIFA refs. At present we only have seven and with Styles and Riley due to come off the list at the end of the season, that would go down to five.

There does not appear to be anyone else ready to step into their places.

This means that the same small band of refs get all the top games and with the spineless authorities keeping some refs away from the big clubs, then those clubs are virtually picking their own refs.

The blame for this lies firmly at the doorstep of Keith Hackett, the pro refs' boss, and the FA Referees Committee, who dare not upset the big clubs.

Personally I would send Bennett to referee Liverpool's next game and if they don't behave this time then more fool them.

Thanks to TV and media coverage, every decision is now dissected and so-called experts pass judgment often based on hysteria and factual inaccuracies.

This hysteria follows on to the local pitches on a weekend and the local refs suffer as players and parents give them dog's abuse.

Many walk away from the game as the hassle is just not worth the few quid they get paid.

So to improve the situation, the FA announces a "Respect the Ref" campaign.

These are more useless words that will end up with more local league players being hammered with draconian fines and suspensions whilst the prima-donnas continue to eff and blind in full view of the millions every weekend.

After recent events, the FA had the perfect opportunity to send out a message as the meaningless friendly against France could have seen Ashley Cole not selected because of his recent behavior.

They could also have dropped John Terry, who as captain of England has harassed refs all season.

Did they take this opportunity? To coin a Mascherano word, did they f**k.

Talking of him, does he and Rafa really not understand why he was sent off? If they don't then God help us.

So the situation will continue.

Players and clubs will use refs as an easy scapegoat for their own failings.

The Authorities will stop short of actually doing anything that might upset anyone, unless it's a club that they can make an example out of.

Refs will continue to cower in fear as their careers are put on the line if they cause too much of a stink (i.e. if they do what they are supposed to do, that is).

And the fans will continue to sing "The referee's a w**ker". I never really understood that one, does it make you a bad person? Don't fans do it as well?

What is the answer though? Sin bins? Miked up refs? More red cards? Or just ignore it as a fact of life?

Let me know your thoughts via the letters page of www.jeffwinter.co.uk.

Jeff is online tonight between 6:00pm and 7:00pm for his weekly Q & A session on FansOnline.net. You can start posting your questions from now. Click here to join in.

YOU CAN READ MANY MORE OF JEFF'S ARTICLES ON HIS OFFICIAL SITE

RETURN TO JEFF WINTER'S SOCCER SPOTLIGHT INDEX HERE