RateTheRef

Quote from: Charlieboy on Wed 23 Jun 2021 18:20

Quote from: justalino on Wed 23 Jun 2021 09:35

Quote from: nemesis on Tue 22 Jun 2021 18:11

Quote from: justalino on Tue 22 Jun 2021 09:35

It is probably worth noting that the fitness test requirements are being ramped up over the next couple of years, along with the body fat limits being reduced, which is of course a way of getting rid of the older elements of each list without falling foul of age discrimination legislation!  This may explain the fairly unprecedented four promotions to the SG1 referees list.

Regarding the promotion of Rebecca Welch, none of us will ever know where she finished in the merit table and anything else is pure speculation.  Granted, she didn't get appointed to a play-off game but do remember she may have been injured or been unavailable for work/personal reasons.  However, if this isn't the case then it would be disappointing.  Ten referees were appointed to the play off games (including 4th officials) and you would have to logically assume these were the top ten referees in the merit list.  To then promote someone outside of that based on their belonging to a particular social demographic as a potential PR exercise would be wrong and totally unfair on the official concerned - it's a big step up from the NL to the EFL, not necessarily in terms of the standard of football but most definitely in terms of expectation, prestige and media scrutiny.

We will never know, but I really hope this promotion was made on the basis of merit and nothing else, as promoting someone before they are ready is totally unfair on the referee.

Even more unfair on the teams and supporters of teams they referee in their unready state. Not to mention unfair a referee who might have been ready but misses out in the interests of inclusivity and diversity.

Have to say with the abuse of match officials week in, week out by teams and supporters alike I couldn't really care less if it's unfair on them!  But I take your point.

Those supporters you don’t care about pay vast sums of money to follow their teams around the country and all they want is matches refereed fairly and in a competent manner, something that they don’t always get.

And those supporters that pay 'vast sums of money' use that as an excuse to behave in a manner which would get you arrested in the street or sacked in an office, but we pass it off as 'passion' because it happens within the confines of a football ground, so forgive me if my sympathy is running a little short.