a-league refs

[TerrigalUtd]

im wonderin any1 got any ideas what to do with a league refs
refs like breeze and shield miss such clear things it aint funny
we really need to do something about our refs any1 got any ideas?

 

[Kareem]

bring back the death penalty in Australia...

 

[dibo]

im wonderin any1 got any ideas what to do with a league refs
refs like breeze and shield miss such clear things it aint funny
we really need to do something about our refs any1 got any ideas?

there've been a few threads where people have sent emails off - check some of midfielder's threads in particular. there are addresses to send feedback to, check on http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

There's been plenty of discussion on why so many refereeing errors occur.

Fatigue and stress would be major factors, as well as the instructions those guys are receiving.  The fact that they're not full time is a major factor in mental fatigue (it's astounding how much you can stuff up if your mental focus isn't 100%, or if you simply approach the game the wrong way.  I think that was Breeze's problem in the first semi)

Put short, I think it's the people that are running the referees that are causing the referees to stuff up big time.

The fact that Shield gets appointed to the Syd-Qld semi both weeks just shows how utterly incompetent the FFA are when it comes to issues involving referees, or that the same referee can referee the same regular season clashes 3,4,5 times in a row. 

I also wonder what effect the familiarity with the players is having, if any. 

 

[voice of reason]

Major efforts are being made by FFA and Football NSW to identify referee talent for the A-League.  Young referees have been identified and earmarked for acceleration programs.  Experience in Asia will increase their skills and so will the National Youth League. 

The wholesale import of foreign referees would be impracticable but that certainly wouldn't stop exchange programs between, say, K- and J- League - especially as we're part of AFC.

None of this would make a huge difference tomorrow, but within a season or two the intelligent spectator would notice the difference.

The panel needs to increase in size.  Injuries this season didn't help, with Simon Przydacz out for most of the season, which explains why we got Breeze and Shield so much. Cap'n Gus has highlighted the problem of player-familiarity and the fact that refs are getting the same fixtures week after week.  Whether the ref is loved or hated, it's not good for the game. 

As for technology to assist decision making, the crusty old British Octagenarians of the IFAB who amend the rules once a year (then reverse them the following year) have once again decided that technology won't be applied.  They evaluated the Adidas goal-line chip and a variant of Hawkeye.  They figure, perhaps rightly, that what's good for park soccer should be good for elite soccer - that's what makes the game democratic.