RateTheRef

I decided to take a Boxing Day trip to Crawley Town today for a welcome change. This is the first time I have seen either team this season and the first time I have ever seen Mr Young.

It was a game that needed refereeing with Colchester setting out their stool from the off with one of their players dragging down a Crawley player off the ball from the kick off. This was a tactic Colchester seemed to look to employ repeatedly through out the first half with at least 6 free kicks being given to Crawley for similar offences. Crawley however largely seemed to try and play football.

Come the second half Colchester opted to go for the fall over screaming tactic more than the off the ball fouling and it was pleasing to see this was equally as unsuccessful. On the three occasions I had “serious concerns” for the severity of the Colchester players injury I was relieved to see them recover quickly when Mr Young made it clear he was not interested.

2 goals, 4 cautions (none of which were wasted) and what I would say was a safe and competent performance and a safe pair of hands.

An interesting discussion topic and one that has been quite hot in my office today. Firstly, I will start by saying I hope the player recovers in full as none of us want to see anyone in this condition after playing the game we all love!


The delayed flag question:
It’s something that I have said from the start with delaying the flag for any law 11 decision you naturally leave a risk of collision and potentially serious injury for a player (I do except for that same risk exists when they are on site however there’s no grounds to stop again in this situation). This risk is made greater and players are travelling at speed and in particularly in 1 V 1 situations.

I am certainly not looking to pass blame on the assistant involved in this situation because I firmly believe that they are following instruction from the powers that be however for me this was not a marginal decision.

This was a clear offside that at any step of a game we as match officials would be expected to judge that decision correctly. It’s my opinion that keeping the flag down provided no benefit to the game with such a clear margin of offside and therefore exposed the players to an unnecessary risk. We need to get back to trusting our AR’s to raise the flag when someone is in an obvious offside position. Let them back themselves, and the years of excellent decision making they have demonstrated in order to be at the top table. Let them raise the flag and take that risk away.

For the marginal decisions, and by marginal I mean crossover at speed or anything where the flash lag effect could be apply, or even the little toe offside decision. Then I think you have to keep that delayed flag if we are to fully benefit from a technology we have.

That’s really poor from Oliver and team for me. It’s a clear act of SFP in real time and it amazes me he has to be sent to the screen. As for playing on I think it’s equally as poor, it is irrelevant whether Palace are on the attack or not here. The game should always be stopped straight away after a challenge like that. Even if he doesn’t see the contact from the boot (which would suprise me) the keeper has landed on Mateta’s head so clearly potential for a serious injury.

Absolutely mindless from the Millwall keeper aswell, Let’s hope the injury is no to serious and a speedy recovery.

As for the chants of let him die from Millwall fans. What a lovely example of the beautiful game you all are. Utterly disgraceful

Quote from: Midlander on Sun 26 Jan 2025 16:26

https://e0.365dm.com/25/01/2048x1152/skysports-arsenal-wolves_6810766.png?20250125194920

So for those who say it’s only SPA and a standard trip are we all happy with contact being initiated half way up the calf with studs to trip someone up? If so then I am glad I no longer play the game.

Personally I think it’s a really good spot by MO and whilst it’s probably not the worst tackle we will ever see it doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. If anything the fact the Arsenal player is about 1/2 a yard too far away from the player when he brings him down probably stops the damage being any worse.



I know there will be lots on here who think I am wrong and that’s ok but for me you simply cannot plant 4 studs into the calf regardless of what your intention.http://

If that still image is the initial point of contact then I can understand your opinion. I only look at the YouTube highlights and from what I saw I didn’t really see studs in the calf (I’m aware that it’s the same angle). It’s all to do with point of contact and whether MLS does scrape down his leg. I still think that MLS kicked Doherty in the shin first and then his studs came down on the top of Doherty’s foot. That’s how I perceived it

That’s a fair perspective of the images, I have also got this one from another angle. It’s all a game of opinions in the end :-)

https://x.com/keaneyjoe/status/1883553009973805328?s=61

I am stunned that this was not an OFR yet….. I am somehow even more stunned that Mark Clattenburg came in to say the player could not be sent off as they didn’t make contact. He then went on to say it is only violent conduct IN LAW if they make contact. Well Mr Clattenburg if you read this forum here is a quote from the Laws for you relating to VC to help you in the future

Violent conduct
“Violent conduct is when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, or against a team-mate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made.
In addition, a player who, when not challenging for the ball, deliberately strikes an opponent or any other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent conduct unless the force used was negligible”

A clear attempt to use the elbow to hurt someone and it’s gone completely unpunished.

I see both sides to this but think the referee is well within their rights to stand by a red card here. Whilst the initial contact grabs the upper chest the next motion heads up towards the neck with a push motion in the neck/chin area. Doesn’t sit in the clear and obvious area for me so not an OFR and refreshing to see a referee back their own decision after the OFR.

I believe Harry Lennard has retired and is no longer an employee of a PGMOL so he’s FIFA badge will have been relinquished and they’ll be another spot for an assistant referee. I understand he’s moved on to a company to work on the implementation of semi automated offside technology.