Mini Law Quiz – Oct 2015
The Goalkeeper in his own penalty area realises that a deliberate kick back to him from one of his defenders is a little wayward and likely to go into the goal, so he dives and denies an obvious goal by …
Sept 2015 Mini Law Quiz
In the Norwich City v Crystal Palace match, Simon Hooper in his first game after being promoted to the Premier League, disallowed a goal by Cameron Jerome, scored by what many thought was a brilliant overhead, scissors kick. No opponent …
Bewildering Stoppage at the Mad Stad
At the Reading v Huddersfield game last week there was a mystery stoppage that bewildered players and spectators alike. Late in the second half, Reading were in possession just outside the Huddersfield penalty area when the referee blew his whistle …
Are Video Referees on the Way?
A fan of this column in Australia emailed me after my article on retrospective punishment. ‘Isn’t it true,’ he wrote, ‘that football is lagging behind in the use of technology? In cricket they can detect the slightest touch of the …
When Tackles Become Fouls
One of the difficult decisions a referee faces, is when two players from opposite sides tackle simultaneously for the same ball, particularly if one of the players becomes injured. Was it just a collision or was there a foul and …
Give Young Referees a Chance
Earlier this season a fourteen year old girl referee, Emily Dyke, posted an appeal on grassroots Facebook. She said that she had been abused by parents when refereeing matches for 8 and 9 year olds. ‘I find it difficult to …
Retrospective Punishment – Catching the Cheats
The retrospective three match ban of Chelsea’s Diego Costa was probably no surprise to anyone. The television replays so clearly showed his mauling of Arsenal’s Laurent Koscieiny, which was committed out of the referee’s view. It has however highlighted the …
Overhead Kicks can be Dangerous
One of my sons, who lives in Norwich, tells me that supporters of the Canaries still blame the referee for denying an equalising goal during their first match back in the Premier league against Crystal Palace. Cameron Jerome brilliantly executed …
Referees and Injury Treatment
Against Swansea, Jose Mourinho’s shocked many with his blatant anger towards Chelsea’s club doctor, Eva Carneivo and club physio, John Fern, for treating Eden Hazard on the field of play. He knew Hazard would have to go off after treatment, …
A Change to Offside
The start of the football season is not the same without a controversy or two and this year was no different. Bournemouth in their first away game in the Premier League lost after having a goal controversially disallowed for offside. …
