RateTheRef

Will this mean finals will be done only by SG1 officials again then?

How old is Mr Ricardo? Good to see some very positive comments on here about him.

What a sad state of affairs when a poster FEARS a certain referee getting a play off game or having the possibility of promotion. Your resentment towards Mr Madley certainly runs deep Hendo.
What I would say is that he has been back in England since 2020. Three seasons is hardly rushing him back to the EPL if that is indeed what happens. Given the meteoric rise of referees like Lewis Smith for example who I believe this week took charge of a Championship fixture while he is still a 2a referee (with no negative feedback that I’ve seen so well done Mr Smith), it strikes me as odd that Mr Madley, a former FIFA and EPL referee doing well below that level should keep you pacing the floor on an evening.

Very well done to all involved in the Play Offs and good luck to ALL who are in the shake up for promotion this season. I am sure they are all merited and fully deserved.

I don’t know when the news of promotions will break but perhaps, just in case the worst happens Hendo, you should book a nice relaxing holiday away from it all

I have to say I have watched a lot of referees in my time but I did see Mr Singh Gill this season and was rather struck by his lack of movement. Whether it is an attempt to appear in control or not I’m not sure but a lazier looking referee at that level I have not seen.
Hopefully his coach has pointed this out and you see a marked improvement.
It was such an ‘I don’t care’ body language it was quite startling.

I did see his father referee a number of times also but I don’t remember anything negative about him which is always a good sign isn’t it. Perhaps he could offer some tips on looking interested at least

What is your issue with Mr Madley, Hendo?
Have you met him in person and had a falling out because it’s so clear that it’s more than just you thinking he isn’t a good referee, there’s something clearly personal

Very unfair to say any championship game is ‘easy’ for any referee. I get what you’re saying though. Madley is a very safe pair of hands and I also think he will be back in the PL after one season.

Good games for Smith and Linnington. Both starting off where they finished and it seems these two and maybe Madley will be the ones they will push this season to move on to better things

Congratulations to both James and Bobby. I am surprised Ben Toner missed out but I suppose we will never know what happened in the interview process for how these decisions were made. I very much look forward to seeing James Bell referee next season. Not sure how old he is but perhaps one for the future?

I have to say though some of the above comments are terrible. I find the comments of Hendo particularly poor form. Either congratulate the pair or say nothing, that’s my opinion.
I too have never detected arrogance from Madley and whilst I haven’t met him personally I have only ever heard positive things about how decent a person he is off the field. I believe BMB said she has met him several times and has said exactly this.
Clearly he made a mistake a few years ago but does one mistake make a bad person? To suggest that as a result of this mistake he shouldn’t have the opportunity to return to the upper echelons of refereeing is frankly laughable.
To then suggest that he is somehow the chosen one is equally laughable. This ‘chosen one’ was sacked from his job and had to move abroad to continue his life. I remember watching the Football Focus piece he did which very much explained that. Clearly someone on here has an axe to grind with Madley. Have you actually met him in person Hendo?

Anyway, congratulations to them both. Bell will look to prove himself next season and good luck to him, Madley will be an excellent addition to the Championship group and having officiated at the top of the game for a number of years I would expect there could be a return to that level in the near future. Maybe Hendo simply doesn’t like the fact that it appears the cream does rise to the top as it seems to have done with Madley this time. One assumes he finished in the top three this season to be considered for promotion and having refereed the Play Off Final last season one assumes he was probably top then as well. He can’t be as bad as some of here make out can he if that’s the case.

Well done James and Bobby and very best wishes