RateTheRef

Quote from: Readingfan on Mon 26 Sep 2022 09:21

Could UEFA do more to develop English referees at international level outside Oliver/Taylor? Have Pawson/Kavanagh fulfilled their international potential so far and how many appointments have the referees beyond that had on-field as opposed to Fourth Official/VAR?

A very good question posed.  I think Pawson has probably reached his potential as an international referee. He is 43 years old now so I don't think is going to go much further. Kavanagh is 37 so has some years in which to advance. When he came onto SG1 some years ago he was believed to have the potential to go right to the very top, UEFA Elite and he still may achieve that but I don't think his progress has been quite as rapid and seamless as was once hoped.

Having said this I wonder how easy it has been for aspiring international referees when England has two such experienced and very well regarded  referees in Taylor and Oliver. They have been the natural picks when English referees have been appointed to major competitions and matches. Some years ago I felt that Joe Worrall was similarly disadvantaged in his international career when England had Courtney ( most deservedly ) and Hackett ( most undeservedly ) as the two senior English international referees. In the latter case I thought it really appalling in that, in every way, Worrall was a far superior referee to Hackett.

Of course there is nothing to say that a country cannot have three or more Elite referees, I believe Italy and Spain have done so, but it doesn't seem to happen for England.