RateTheRef

First time I’ve seen Mr Bell in a full game. Is this his first Sky game since promotion?

Looks the part, moves very well around the pitch and generally refereed the game well. However……
Two big decisions in the game in the space of one minute, a penalty for both teams, and both wrong. Not just opinion wrong, just wrong.

The first one there is no contact made by the defender and I’m surprised the AR didn’t get involved there as he had the perfect view. Referee seemed to be very quick on the whistle, especially given that AR1 was best placed to make that decision.
A minute later a penalty kick is given at the other end which was outside the area. Sky said 4 yards which is very u fair on Mr Bell, it was closer than that, however it was clearly still outside. AR2 would surely have had an unobstructed view of this one so again I’m surprised that the AR didn’t get visibly involved.

On the whole this was actually a very good performance from a young referee who clearly has ability. However the top referees are judged on their big decisions and unfortunately on this front Mr Bell fell short. Certainly one to watch for the future though.

I’d be surprised if he is 43. If so then he certainly aged better than I did at that age!!!

As posted earlier whilst it is fantastic to see the first female referee promoted to the EFL, I do wonder how those referees who were not promoted would be feeling given that one of those promoted apparently (and I say apparently) finished nowhere near the top 6 and had no play off involvement. I am all for equality but this must be frustrating for the officials on the league

I believe that Madley got injured in the fitness test and therefore as the fitness test wasn’t passed he is no longer eligible for promotion.

I have to say that sounds extremely harsh that a referee can perform well for a whole season and then an injury or medical incident would stop them from being promoted. Surely if it’s an injury a referee should be given another opportunity to pass that? Is that the normal procedure? I thought officials had a number of opportunities to pass a test especially if injury was the reason for not passing first time?

Apologies

I’m sure if Madley had been that arrogant all season and acted like these leagues were below him then he wouldn’t have been appointed to this game which I assume shows he finished as number 1.

I believe referees are marked by observers and clubs at this level so clearly the people who watched him week in week out over the last 9 months felt he was the best performing referee.

I also think it’s unfair to criticise when a referee is felt to be under par but when they have an excellent game we have the attitude of we we expect that. If an excellent performance is expected of this referee every game then that doesn’t quite fit the narrative on here that he isn’t good enough for the next level?? You would expect excellence because the referee is in your opinion excellent generally to have gained that reputation...surely you can’t say you expect him to be excellent and then say he’s always rubbish in the same breath 😂

Have I potentially become regarded as ‘a source close to PGMOL’’? Now that would be amusing 😂

If so that is very lazy journalism isn’t it