Are refs or players ruining our game? 

I hasten to point out that this is not my heading but one that appeared in a national newspaper the Monday morning after 14 players had been sent off in the four divisions of English football over one weekend. (Last weekend the tally reached a new and shameful record of 26, though that did include the Scottish Leagues). 

One of the questions in the article was "Do referees dish out red cards when a verbal warning would do?". I read this to mean that the media had gone mad (as usual).. Of course there are times when a verbal warning can be given and common sense can prevail. It happens all the time, even if the commentators and fans don’t notice it However, when a red card is warranted, then there must be no other course of action. That is the Law. 

Paul Gascoigne, the other week, was sent off for swearing at an assistant referee. No subtlety you understand, but right in his face. In the post-match interview he even accepted he did it. Spitting in a player's face? Acceptable? I think not. If that sort of thing happened on the local parks there would be a riot. I have said many times before that grass-roots players are, in general, much better behaved than the professionals. 

A lack of respect

The one thing that appears to be missing from football at the highest level is RESPECT. And not only respect for match officials. There is a lack of respect for fellow players and, more importantly, a profound lack of respect, a contempt even, for the paying public. 

I wrote the other week that the press seemed to be getting off the referees’ backs. I was wrong. The very next weekend I read a number of other articles with headings such as "Graham's Ref Rage", “Jones fury at Kev red card", “Rovers ready to lynch the referee". What on earth is going on? Do the people who write these headings really believe that match officials are deliberately going out on a Saturday afternoon to see how many headlines they can create? Now the press might argue they are ‘merely reporting’ and not getting at referees, but it would be naïve to assume that their hysteria doesn’t make the officials’ job harder. 

Only when players start acting like sportsmen and giving respect to match officials and colleagues alike will any sanity return to the game.. A referee getting a decision wrong is no reason to spit at another player. An assistant referee, right or wrong, does not have to have a player come to him and call him a w***** in front of umpteen cameras and 30,000 spectators. 

The Laws must be applied

There is one set of laws in football, laid down by the International Board and applied by human beings. That is the case and will continue to be so. Those that break the laws should be punished and that is the end of it. Circumstances will always allow for common sense but there must be a limit, and after their moments of madness, most players will admit it. Some, like David Platt last weekend, may even be big enough to apologise and admit their guilt publicly, but there are not too many about. If referees were ever to stop applying proper sanctions, you might as well tear the book up and go back to watching bare knuckle fighting. When one player receives his ninth red card, do you really think he is being unfairly treated? 

They still prefer to have a ref

One last thing about local football. There are less-than-perfect referees and some poor decisions around. If I said anything different, I know I would be justly criticised. But those officials who turn out week after week do so for a love of the game and the players know that. Of course players will argue about decisions – we did ourselves - and they will go down to the pub afterwards and slaughter a referee’s performance. But just ask any team in the lower divisions on a Sunday whether they would rather have a referee appointed than one of their own standing in. I know from personal experience that teams ring up even at the last minute, hoping you are free and will do their game. 

We do our best in the Referees’ Association by recruiting and training new referees and giving them support, but the one thing to guarantee a referee’s return the following week is respect. 

John Moore

© J. Moore 1999

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