RateTheRef

Says twice in the report that it was a comment of a sexist nature - not abusive or discriminatory and that the game continued until half time ? Only then did the referee decide she couldn’t continue ?

I may be in a minority here, but if we are abandoning games solely because of sexist comments, have we not lost the plot ? Is this were we are going now - abandoning games because a member of the crowd has said something we don’t like ?

Quote from: Blind Referee on Mon 20 Oct 2025 17:21

Quote from: TA_Ref on Mon 20 Oct 2025 16:13

It really does feel to me that Farai Hallam is the top SG2 at the moment. Another Good Friday night fixture for him.

Does it - can you expand on this further ? He’s clearly in favour and being pushed ( no doubt he will get an SG1 game shortly ) but from the matches / clips I have seen of him this season, he’s far from the top SG2 referee

Edit - Just fixing the quote.

Well it’s only my opinion. I wasn’t stating a fact.

I just feel like he’s had some really good appointments thus far. He’s been to all the relegated grounds already with some of them being good games (Ipswich v Sheffield United* and Southampton v Middlesbrough). The two matches I have watched him, the Ipswich game and Leicester v Pompey, he has performed very well in my opinion. The appointments he’s had and how well he’s performed makes me believe he’s one of the top performers so far this season. Just my opinion, thats all.

I’d like to know what games you’ve watched of him that makes you think he’s not had a good start however.

*I’m aware of their poor start but before the season started you would’ve said that was a standout game.

Didn’t say he hadn’t had a good start - said he’s being pushed - from the bits I have seen, he lacks man-management, wants to be everyone’s friend and has a reactionary style as opposed to a proactive style - far better, more complete referees in SG2 that are not being pushed like he is

Dermots been stealing a living for a while now - becoming more and more like a politician each week - never gives a straight answer and gives a reply which fits a narrative - always defends the supposed “top” referees yet seems happy to throw the lesser lights under a bus
What started as a really good idea now has the opposite effect - does nothing for refereeing credibility or support - everyone knows refereeing is difficult, but him defending clearly incorrect decisions is pointless and naive

Outstanding performance from probably the most underrated referee on SG1 - decision making was consistent and of the highest order, was busy without being over bearing and pitched his involvement level perfectly - made a potentially tricky opening game look a breeze - very well done indeed - shows you don’t need to be 6ft tall, have a single digit body fat and be able to run a marathon in under 3 hours to be a top class referee

Well for 78 mins Piardi looked like he belonged on the game and was having a great game… then it went pear shaped badly. Last call of the game and he, imho, got it terribly wrong. Clear penalty to Australia and a YC.

I now look at Rugby and appreciate their openness and honesty, the communication as Piardi spoke to the TMO was bizarre but genuine.

I thought the Morgan clear out was legal, tight call whichever way he went the other side were going to be outraged

Thought he did ok throughout, didn’t try to be the centre of attention, let both teams compete at the breakdown and allowed the game to flow.

Was generous to the Wallabies at the Scrum - couple of resets where the Lions dominated and should have been awarded penalties

Great game though, the two returning Wallaby forwards made a massive difference until they both went off - think if they had stayed on longer Australia may well have won

Quote from: aaa on Fri 18 Jul 2025 13:40

Step 3 to 6

Couple of years ago, the FA provided a directive to improve playing time but this new form is all about managing the game, therefore you should expect playing time to slow down considerably.  Referees' would now do everything to speak with players, become players' best friend and make sure they tick all the boxes especially when being observed.

Not when I am observing they won't.  Slowing the game down unnecessarily is just as likely to hack off everyone and as failing to get involved when required.  You will get as much credit for that from me as you would for a 70 yard sprint in the 85th minute after meandering about aimlessly for the rest of the game.  Referee the game, don't tick boxes.

Good for you - glad there are still some assessors / observers / whatever, about that still understand the game and understand the game is not all about the referee - people actually pay to watch the football

I went to a game several years back ( friend was playing ) - there was a CORE coach from Burton watching the game (someone I knew from my active days ) - referee had a very difficult evening - missed several clear offences of SFP, wound up everyone and made what could have been a straight forward game very challenging

Bumped into said CORE coach after the game who asked me what I thought - told him probably wasn’t the referees finest evenings work and had lots to work on - he then proceeded to show me his tick spreadsheet with all the “good” things the referee had apparently done - things like you have mentioned above - the showy sprint after 85 minutes, the stopping off a corner to randomly speak to 2 players and the like

Refereeing has never been a tick box, paint by numbers game - it’s about understanding the game and the players, and adopting a style which suits - the latest fad and directional change by the FA is another nail in the coffin for refereeing and the paying public

Interestingly, both Sam Allison and Sunny Singh Gill, who were given Premier League games last season, have been overlooked for this - does this call into question either a) the decision to award them Premier League games in the first place, or b) the coaching they have had since then ?

Either way, both seem to have had a massive fall from grace this season

Given she has already been appointed to a European Final, not sure she was given the game to “test her out” ? It’s not my feeling that her big decision making is not good enough, its the fact the in her last two games of note ( better ?) she has made an error, which has been overturned by the authorities - certainly in the European final you can strongly argue her decision affected the result

I think she is a competent referee, but certainly no where near international standard, she is being pushed / promoted in my opinion for none ability reasons