From The Middle archives

 

 

Season 2009/10

04 Sept 2009	We need more respect than Chelsea showed
11 Sept 2009	Who gets the blame for diving players?
16 Sept 2009	Coaches get allowed more to stand and shout
23 Sept 2009	Extra eyes to judge goalmouth incidents
02 Oct 2009	The true timing of Owen’s goal
09 Oct 2009	Referees have to be prepared for the unlikely
16 Oct 2009	Offside drives referees to distraction
23 Oct 2009	Are Premier referees fit for purpose?
30 Oct 2009	The big red beach ball was outside interference
06 Nov 2009	Ferguson’s tantrums can’t deny the truth
13 Nov 2009	A player who’s off the pitch can still be on it
20 Nov 2009	Will a touchline ban stop Ferguson’s outbursts?
27 Nov 2009	Is it enough for referees to catch divers out?
04 Dec 2009	Playing the ball isn’t all that matters
11 Dec 2009	Extra room needed in the dugouts
18 Dec 2009	Unintentional, even unavoidable, but still a foul
09 Jan 2010	Simon Church’s off-the-pitch lessons
15 Jan 2010	When goal celebrations become an offence
22 Jan 2010	Goal of the month shows up coaches’ tactics
29 Jan 2010	Has cheating increased in this country?
05 Feb 2010	Penalties are not always as blatant as they seem
12 Feb 2010	Diagonal system keeps referees in touch
17 Feb 2010	What’s the referee’s duty at quick free kicks?
24 Feb 2010	When handball becomes a sending-off offence
05 Mar 2010	Can ex-professional players make it as a referee?
12 Mar 2010	Should tackling be outlawed?
19 Mar 2010	When do a referee’s powers begin and end?
26 Mar 2010	The referee will never see it all
02 Apr 2010	Referees can be fair, firm and friendly
09 Apr 2010	The throw-in must have feet on the ground
16 Apr 2010	Why some spectators are banned from the goal line
23 Apr 2010	Would you like to be scrutinized this closely?
30 Apr 2010	The lack of goal line technology is down to fans
07 May 2010	Slight law change for World Cup

Season 2008/9

28 Aug 2008	Italy’s Ruud awakening for offside at Euro 2008
04 Sept 2008	A tale of two handballs
11 Sept 2008	The Respect campaign goes to the top
18 Sept 2008	Do we see heroics on the football field?
25 Sept 2008	Are there different laws for pre-season games?
02 Oct 2008	Football is subject to human mistakes
09 Oct 2008	Are referees fit enough?
16 Oct 2008	Why shirt-pulling needs a caution
23 Oct 2008	Don’t knock referees who stick to the Law
30 Oct 2008	Will the Respect programme work?
06 Nov 2008	Should referees ignore some fouls?
13 Nov 2008	Football laws could have split in two
20 Nov 2008	Refereeing is about angles
27 Nov 2008	Can players stand where they like at corners?
04 Dec 2008	Jumping for the ball can result in a sending-off
11 Dec 2008	When hand ball means a yellow card
18 Dec 2008	It’s all down to the players
31 Dec 2008	Why Sam Allardyce uses a psychiatrist
07 Jan 2009	No controversy about Adebyor’s sending-off
12 Jan 2009	Managers decide to stop referee criticism
19 Jan 2009	What we want to hear from managers
26 Jan 2009	Was Rooney/Gigg’s corner legal?
02 Feb 2009	Why referees sometimes change their minds
09 Feb 2009	Should assistant referees change sides?
16 Feb 2009	Retaliate – and risk seeing red
23 Feb 2009	Referees can give a second chance
02 Mar 2009	Referees can talk a good game
09 Mar 2009	A knees-up is fine for goalkeepers
16 Mar 2009	Football welcomes women referees
23 Mar 2009	The last man doesn’t matter
30 Mar 2009	Correct free kicks should not give rise to anger
06 Apr 2009	No to sin bin in football
14 Apr 2009	Referees not-so-secret-weapon is presence
20 Apr 2009	Sometimes it’s one foul too many
27 Apr 2009	Judgement on Noel Hunts advertising crash
05 May 2009	Seventy five years of awards for running the line
11 May 2009	Chelsea show little respect

Season 2007/8

06 Sept 2007	Kitson tackle illustrated
13 Sept 2007	Poll says ‘Don’t leave it to referee alone’
20 Sept 2007	What not to wear for celebrating
27 Sept 2007	No tears for José
04 Oct 2007	Reading’s Liverpool goals were not offside
11 Oct 2007	Brian Barwick’s crusade should start at the top
18 Oct 2007	Where have all the referees gone?
25 Oct 2007	If you lose, blame the referee
01 Nov 2007	International refereeing has come to town
08 Nov 2007	The end of metal cup-hooks
15 Nov 2007	Why do players think they can abuse referees?
22 Nov 2007	Sanchez Monday morning call falls down on intent
29 Nov 2007	Will assessors turn referees into clones?
06 Dec 2007	The final whistle must wait
13 Dec 2007	Are the Laws clear on Gunnardson’s penalty?
20 Dec 2007	Referees manage with secret communications
10 Jan 2008	Why was encroachment at Tottenham not spotted?
17 Jan 2008	No warning needed about the flying tackle
24 Jan 2008	Must we have hatred on the terraces?
31 Jan 2008	First phase, second phase, active offside
07 Feb 2008	FUTSAL – the growing indoor football
14 Feb 2008	Diving can be fabrication or exaggeration
21 Feb 2008	Dealing with confrontation
28 Feb 2008	We all need to look at abuse of referees
06 March 2008	Bad language fuels aggressive behaviour
13 March 2008	Don’t blame referees’ man-management for bad tackles
20 March 2008	What’s considered a fair charge?
27 March 2008	Gaining an advantage when offside
03 April 2008	Gerrard never knew what hit him
10 April 2008	Do we need to have ‘dissent’ defined?
17 April 2008	Goal line technology abandoned
24 April 2008	Penalty kick trickery needs clearer definition
01 May 2008	Did Storey know more than the referee?
08 May 2008	Referees’ course now includes real games
15 May 2008	Referees can look ahead with hope

Season 2006/7

07 Sept 2006	Diving clampdown that didn’t happen
14 Sept 2006	Attempt is not the same as intent
21 Sept 2006	Last minute specials upset World Cup preparation
28 Sept 2006	Memories of Compton before Theo Walcott
05 Oct 2006	The tale of Hahnemann’s shirt
12 Oct 2006	Graham Poll’s error was a slip of the pen
19 Oct 2006	One-piece suits are out, but wedding rings are in
26 Oct 2006	Goalkeeping is allowed to be dangerous
02 Nov 2006	When push comes to shove, it’s more than hands
09 Nov 2006	The throw-in survives one more change
16 Nov 2006	Pre-judging or being prepared?
23 Nov 2006	No favours for women referees
30 Nov 2006	Why can’t referees talk to players?
07 Dec 2006	Coaches reap what they have sown
14 Dec 2006	Only a penalty can extend time
21 Dec 2006	Handball is more than ‘hand to ball’
04 Jan 2007	Faster but fewer balls in the Premiership
11 Jan 2007	Are top referees born and not made?
18 Jan 2007	Is offside a mess on the parks?
25 Jan 2007	Is a football pitch outside the law?
01 Feb 2007	How to keep coaches apart
08 Feb 2007	Impeding should be penalised as obstruction
15 Feb 2007	Can captains help referees?
22 Feb 2007	Keep controversy off the big screen
01 March 2007	Referees shouldn’t abandon the Laws for ‘common sense’
08 March 2007	Keeping an eye on Law changes
15 March 2007	Age Discrimination Act helps older referees
22 March 2007	Dealing with faked injuries
29 March 2007	There’s only one timekeeper
05 April 2007	Parents – don’t cross the line
12 April 2007	Is ‘involuntary’ the same as ‘deliberate?
19 April 2007	Referees can’t connive to save player’s dismissal
26 April 2007	Who said referees haven’t got a heart?
03 May 2007	Offences must be seen to be given

Season 2005/6

08 Sept 2005	Life and the offside law were so much easier in Watson’s day
15 Sept 2005	Players must now stand clear at throw-ins
22 Sept 2005	Bad press for bladed boots
29 Sept 2005	Penalty kick law can confuse
06 October 2005	When should the goalkeeper go?
13 October 2005	My referees’ dressing-room dream comes true
20 October 2005	A new definition of ‘being in an offside position’
27 October 2005	The mystery after Pires’ blunder
03 November 2005	A more logical suggestion for the feet at a throw-in
10 November 2005	Less writing means more fines from cautions
17 November 2005	Another ten-yard experiment
24 November 2005	Dissent – it’s the way that you do it
01 December 2005	Sponsorship for referees is closely controlled
08 December 2005	The challenge is recognising foul from fair
15 December 2005	Making best use of assistant referees
22 December 2005	Who watches referees?
12 January 2006	The last man doesn’t exist
19 January 2006	Time running out for crossbar cup-hooks
26 January 2006	Managers fail in their lessons
02 February 2006	No more barefoot in the park
09 February 2006	It’s still offside although the flag may appear late
16 February 2006	Simulating injury has wider implications
23 February 2006	Should tackles be subject to duty of care?
02 March 2006	How would you describe a fair charge?
09 March 2006	Abuse referees and you will lose them
16 March 2006	Illogical free kicks against substitutes
23 March 2006	Technology gives referees eyes in the back of their head
30 March 2006	Referees don’t play the compensation game
06 April 2006	Blue card for the sin-bin
13 April 2006	Fair play and winning can go together
20 April 2006	Still room for more women referees
27 April 2006	Is it ‘in the spirit’ to stop the game?
04 May 2006	Law book that changed the world of football

Season 2004/5

01 Sept 2004	The goal that never was – never
08 Sept 2004	Confusion over friendly substitutes
15 Sept 2004	It pays not to get shirty
22 Sept 2004	A better explanation for a change of mind
29 Sept 2004	Blades or studs – just make sure they’re safe
06 Oct 2004	Chiles should learn the Laws – not the rules
13 Oct 2004	Penalty is goal-scoring opportunity say coaches
20 Oct 2004	Today’s corner tactics lost on yesterday’s p
27 Oct 2004	Goalkeeper sees red over illegal handball
03 Nov 2004	The referee is always the fall guy
10 Nov 2004	Being dropped into trouble
17 Nov 2004	Let referees decide when to stop play
24 Nov 2004	Is offside too hard for television commentators?
01 Dec 2004	Choice of goals is no toss-up
08 Dec 2004	Attempts to foul can also be penalised
15 Dec 2004	Should we adopt silence from the touchlines?
22 Dec 2004	Quick free-kicking Henry does it again
31 Dec 2004	Calling to deceive is cheating
05 Jan 2005	Offside research is not on the ball
13 Jan 2005	Will referees get electronic line judges?
20 Jan 2005	You’ve given us nothing ref
27 Jan 2005	No place for Bling in football
03 Feb 2005	Can Players’ Union stop the diving?
10 Feb 2005	Not in front of the children
17 Feb 2005	Does a referee need tunnel vision?
24 Feb 2005	A game of two complete halves and an interval
03 Mar 2005	Intricate rules for penalty deciders
10 Mar 2005	Stopwatch allows for time lost
17 Mar 2005	A cure for the abuse of managers
24 Mar 2005	Fans rage too much against referees’ decisions
31 Mar 2005	Will vetting turn some referees away?
07 Apr 2005	Blocking is impeding – whatever players think
14 Apr 2005	Players need referee’s permission to return
21 Apr 2005	The Laws have been changing for 120 years
28 Apr 2005	The referee should be ‘The Man in Black’
05 May 2005	Shins need protecting – even for Summer Sixes

Season 2003/4

03 Sept 2003	Friendlies don’t always turn out that way
10 Sept 2003	Unwelcome task for fourth officials
17 Sept 2003	Refs get tough at penalties
24 Sept 2003	Referees’ Big Brother Assessors
01 Oct 2003	Substitute quiz at Madejski gallery
08 Oct 2003	Nothing professional about denying a goal
15 Oct 2003	Don’t believe everything you hear on TV
22 Oct 2003	Things have changed since Reading’s first game
29 Oct 2003	How much should a referee tell?
05 Nov 2003	A change to decisions at the toss of a coin
12 Nov 2003	Would no sendings-off improve spectators’ enjoyment?
19 Nov 2003	Assistant referees are part of a team
26 Nov 2003	Bad language is a curse on our game
03 Dec 2003	10-yard rule is right way to reduce dissent
10 Dec 2003	Referees are clamping down on injury time
17 Dec 2003	What happens when matters come to a head?
24 Dec 2003	When can a referee change his mind?
31 Dec 2003	Referee’s authority covers substitutes on the line
07 Jan 2004	Research pays off for top referees
14 Jan 2004	When innocuous and clumsy can become cautionable
21 Jan 2004	Bright future for women referees
28 Jan 2004	Name-calling can make things clearer
04 Feb 2004	If there’s no gain, there’s no offside
11 Feb 2004	Restarts should not wait for the offenders
18 Feb 2004	How referees cope with abuse
25 Feb 2004	Only penalties can hold up final whistle
03 Mar 2004	Have we become immune to cheating?
10 Mar 2004	Who watches the penalty-taker?
17 Mar 2004	McCoist’s given me a new belief in TV pundits
24 Mar 2004	Players’ extra equipment must be safe
31 Mar 2004	The bare facts of violent conduct
07 Apr 2004	Young players should enjoy football
14 Apr 2004	How referees make it to the top
21 Apr 2004	Nearness to play means better decisions
28 Apr 2004	Common sense can’t change the law
05 May 2004	Will the artificial grass be greener?

Season 2002/3

04 Sept 2002	World Cup recollections
11 Sept 2002	Hands-on refereeing can sometimes work
18 Sept 2002	The International Board gets shirty
25 Sept 2002	Is this the correct treatment for the injured?
02 Oct 2002	Don’t believe all you hear on television
09 Oct 2002	Lessons from a sporting television summer
16 Oct 2002	You can’t throw it away with a throw-in
23 Oct 2002	Pro-footballers to mind their language
30 Oct 2002	Goalposts must be up to the mark
06 Nov 2002	Adam Crozier has been good for referees
13 Nov 2002	Electronic ref is not here yet
20 Nov 2002	A different ball game since Jeff Astle played
27 Nov 2002	Incentive scheme will help bring back refs
04 Dec 2002	Should the lad Harper have gone for hand
11 Dec 2002	A caution is a punishment not a booking
18 Dec 2002	Conspiracy theories are attempts to shift the blame
02 Jan 2003	Referees have human rights too
09 Jan 2003	Removing the annoyance of encroachment
16 Jan 2003	Handball is not always what it seems
23 Jan 2003	Safety on the field is referee’s main responsibility
30 Jan 2003	70 years of awards for worst job in local football
05 Feb 2003	Referees can’t worry about cost of decisions
12 Feb 2003	Impeding an opponent can be legitimate
19 Feb 2003	A foul needs to be serious for sending off
26 Feb 2003	Referees can’t retract decisions for wasted advantage
05 Mar 2003	Referees and clubs have different agendas
12 Mar 2003	Cautions can sometimes wait
19 Mar 2003	Spitting is not the right image for football
26 Mar 2003	What kind of football do spectators want?
02 Apr 2003	A little psychology helps the referee to stay calm
09 Apr 2003	A close eye must be kept on substitutions
16 Apr 2003	Quick free kicks are within the spirit of the laws
23 Apr 2003	When fourth officials take the middle
30 Apr 2003	Seventy five years of referee training

Season 2001/2

05 Sept 2001	Refereeing revolution starts now
12 Sept 2001	Should a referee whistle?
19 Sept 2001	Little change to the laws for once
26 Sept 2001	Down in the dug-out something stirred
03 Oct 2001	It’s not the yellow card that slows play down
10 Oct 2001	Women’s football will need more women referees
17 Oct 2001	Timekeeping is the referee’s job
24 Oct 2001	Late flag shows assistant is on the ball
31 Oct 2001	s it time to give blades the boot?
07 Nov 2001	Refs have stopped getting shirty with scorers
14 Nov 2001	Keepers may deserve the benefit of the doubt
21 Nov 2001	Barthez does it again
28 Nov 2001	Why diving has increased
05 Dec 2001	Ten-yard forward march stops at penalty area
12 Dec 2001	No demotion for top referees
19 Dec 2001	Safety first for referees
02 Jan 2002	Managers should support referees over diving
09 Jan 2002	It’s easy to referee on television
16 Jan 2002	Parents should give young refs a break
23 Jan 2002	The name changes but the Law remains the same
30 Jan 2002	Are professional referees to blame?
06 Feb 2002	Referees must be spot-on at penalties
13 Feb 2002	Countdown to six seconds
20 Feb 2002	How red and yellow cards started
27 Feb 2002	Throw in should be free from distraction
06 Mar 2002	Stick to laws of the game, not laws of the court
13 Mar 2002	Lining is not an easy option
20 Mar 2002	Footballs galore
27 Mar 2002	Seven is the magic number
04 Apr 2002	Is it offensive if football imitates life?
12 Apr 2002	What would we like to see at the World Cup?
17 Apr 2002	Abuse is the big turn-off
24 Apr 2002	Jobs for redundant pros – as referees

Season 2000/1

31 Aug 2000	A Cautionary Tale from Euro 2000
06 Sept 2000	Six Seconds Countdown
13 Sept 2000	Refs come from All Walks of Life
20 Sept 2000	Retaliation is no excuse
27 Sept 2000	Making kicks more even
04 Oct 2000	Beware dangerous equipment
11 Oct 2000	Handball at the Olympics
18 Oct 2000	Beware of parents
25 Oct 2000	Let’s make the most of assistant refs
01 Nov 2000	Should age matter?
08 Nov 2000	More duties for the Fourth Official
15 Nov 2000	Putting up with barracking
22 Nov 2000	Wired for sound
29 Nov 2000	Attempting is as bad as succeeding
06 Dec 2000	Fiery players need protection as well
13 Dec 2000	A little sportsmanship gone wrong
20 Dec 2000	Better a late flag and get it right
03 Jan 2001	PMT – Pre-match tension
10 Jan 2001	The referee is always right
17 Jan 2001	Time the FA used its Loaf
24 Jan 2001	Diving is Cheating – Whatever name you call it
31 Jan 2001	The Ten-yard Experiment
07 Feb 2001	Always Play to the Whistle
14 Feb 2001	Do We Need to Tolerate Offensive Language?
21 Feb 2001	Who said it’s a man’s game?
28 Feb 2001	Phases of play help offside decisions
07 Mar 2001	Tackles must be clean
14 Mar 2001	Football shirts are for wearing not pulling
21 Mar 2001	Nets make goal judgment easier
28 Mar 2001	Goalkeepers’ handling can be an offence
04 Apr 2001	How should we view football’s video nasties?
11 Apr 2001	Sanchez still has his moment of fame with Reading
18 Apr 2001	Get out of the way Ref!
25 Apr 2001	Recognition for Fair Play
02 May 2001	Why do we do it?

Season 1999/2000

08 Sep 1999	Some things never change
15 Sep 1999	Fans pay the price again
22 Sep 1999	Communication’s the name of the game
29 Sep 1999	Referees aren’t all that bad
06 Oct 1999	Still a man’s game
13 Oct 1999	The language of football
20 Oct 1999	A day out in Manchester
27 Oct 1999	Being in the right place
03 Nov 1999	Are refs or players ruining our game?
10 Nov 1999	Why did the referee do that?
17 Nov 1999	Fit to referee
24 Nov 1999	Super League in by back door
01 Dec 1999	A quick change for the better
08 Dec 1999	Honesty on the local parks
15 Dec 1999	Refereeing’s a funny old game
22 Dec 1999	Communication – the lost art?
30 Dec 1999	Football past and future

Season 1998/9

21 Oct 1998	Penalty, ref!
28 Oct 1998	Football unites to condemn Di Canio
04 Nov 1998	It’s a whole new ball game
11 Nov 1998	Let’s enjoy our soccer
18 Nov 1998	Unsporting behaviour
25 Nov 1998	The new disease
02 Dec 1998	A game of cards
09 Dec 1998	Full-time refs not the answer
16 Dec 1998	Offside? No way
23 Dec 1998	But what is the Football Association about?
30 Dec 1998	Direct or indirect, ref?
06 Jan 1999	The worst job in refereeing?
13 Jan 1999	But does the punishment fit the crime?
20 Jan 1999	Bad language is the curse of our game
27 Jan 1999	‘Referees lack consistency’
03 Feb 1999	Can consistency really exist?
10 Feb 1999	You don’t have to be mad
17 Feb 1999	Replay or not replay? That is the question
24 Feb 1999	Women in black
03 Mar 1999	Only the fourth official
10 Mar 1999	Not a level playing field
17 Mar 1999	As good as scoring a goal!
24 Mar 1999	Getting a result
31 Mar 1999	But do you KNOW the law?
07 Apr 1999	Have you ever seen the laws?
14 Apr 1999	What is the FA up to now?
21 Apr 1999	What is a referee?