Football past and future

For months it seems, the media have been preoccupied in an unprecedented way with the turn of the year. and now, with the Millennium less than three days away, it is our last chance to reflect on the transition from the second millennium AD to the third and to wonder what that new future will hold for our national game.

Football, or something vaguely resembling it, has been traced back to the first millennium, and ancient China amongst others has been given credit for it. No doubt in the fullness of time ancient cave drawings even more vaguely representing our game will be discovered in some remote corner of the world. What is much more recognisable is the game that emerged during the last century with the break from rugby and the embargo on handling the ball. And it is what has happened since then that should concern us today

The cost of commercialism

When professionalism was legalised in 1885 and the Football League established in 1888, a particular die had been cast and the seed of the developments we are seeing today was sown. The reservations then expressed about the changes professionalism would bring are little different from those being voiced today over a century later. Some would argue that all is well because football has proved resilient enough to survive. Others, including many referees, would point out the cost in terms of the spirit and ethos of the game where big money is involved.

Many would argue that the packaged and petulant mega-star entertainment in wonderful stadia in front of state-of-the-art electronic wizardry is becoming as far removed from the game still largely enjoyed on the local parks as modern local football is itself removed from the medieval village ball game.

Does it matter? For the spectator probably not - you just watch the two types of game with different expectation and live with the differences. But the backwash effect of the super-leagues on the rest of the game seems to be largely negative.- the bad habits of the stars soon catch on.

The future of refereeing?

The dilemma for referees and refereeing is stark. Though no-one seems to admit it, at the highest level, nothing less than perfection is now acceptable (unless, that is, the referee can guarantee that it is only our team that benefits from any errors). No referees can ever achieve that standard for a variety of reasons, even if they are full-time paid professionals. So something has to change and maybe the new millennium will show us what. Electronic aids are likely to be able to offer some support but they cannot alone solve the problem. And yet, as I have said on a previous occasion, I can personally imagine nothing duller than Roboref who gets every decision predictably and clinically correct.

End of the series

As John Moore revealed last week this is in fact the last article in our present series. and the 44th. Although we have not been attempting to train our readers to be referees, we have discussed aspects of very one of the 17 Laws and commented on many of the current issues as they have arisen. We have been pleased that some of the articles have been reprinted in a local club's programmes and in at least one referees' magazine. Also they are all available on the Reading Referees' website (which was rated top referees' site this month by Soccerlinks - www.soccerlinks.co.uk).

For those who in fact do wish to become referees, our next training course starts on 25 January. Full details will be published in the Evening Post in a few days time, or can be obtained by telephone from Brian Wratten on (0118) 978 2681 or Malcolm Garstang on (0118) 943 3973. They are also available on the website together with an online request form.

With every good wish for the New Year.

Brian Palmer

 

© B. Palmer 1999

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