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REFEREEING
Joint Publication of The FA and The RA

Dealing with Mass

Confrontation
HOWARD WEBB

Protecting the Image

of the Game
MIKE RILEY

Respect
BRIAN BARWICK

CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTERS
Martin Atkinson
Neale Barry
Brian Barwick

09
MASS
CONFRONTATION

Ian Blanchard
Chris Checketts
David Elleray
Darren England
Dean Mohareb
Paul Mullen
Alan Poulain
Mike Riley
Steve Swallow
Howard Webb

14
SPEED TO
REFEREE

The FA Disciplinary Department

Dealing with Mass Confrontation
Laws of the Game
Proactive refereeing
Speed to referee
Managing the Game
A coaching qualification can help
your refereeing
Protecting the image of the Game
Chief Executives view
Progress report
Biggest video referee decision
in sporting history
Refereess academy send two to Dallas
RAE News
Recruitment and retention

26
PROTECTING
OUR GAME

Paul Mullen
Howard Webb
Neale Barry
Martin Atkinson
Steve Swallow
Ian Blanchard
Darren England

05
06
10
12
14
18
21

Mike Riley
Brian Barwick
Chris Checketts
David Elleray

26
30
34
36

Dean Mohareb
Alan Poulain
Ian Blanchard

40
42
44

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

PAUL MULLEN

THE FA
DISCIPLINARY
DEPARTMENT
Recent comments from Brian Barwick
on a number of voluntary initiatives
to be piloted at grassroots and youth
competition levels, which aim to create
a better environment for match officials
and players, have also focused
attention on the disciplinary processes.
The Disciplinary Department of The FA,
and I am sure all match officials, will
welcome all attempts to improve conduct.
The Football Association Disciplinary
Department is responsible for managing
and administering the disciplinary procedures
from clubs from the Premier League to Step
four of the National League System (Northern
Premier, Southern and Isthmian Leagues).
Responsibilities include processing cautions
and dismissals, managing the disciplinary
database, and the administration of Regulatory
Commissions, Appeal Boards and County
FA appeals including those for wrongful
dismissal and mistaken identity.
Match officials at all levels play a vital role
in all aspects of Disciplinary procedures
especially those undertaken post match.
At the top of the game this might include
submitting caution and misconduct reports
forms verbally via the Press Association, and
at County level it might be to attend and
provide evidence at Regulatory Commissions.
The department works extremely closely
with The FA Referees Department. We work
together to monitor constantly and review
procedures to ensure that match officials are
complying with processes and requirements
in a timely and effective manner, as well as
taking feedback from match officials on how
systems can be improved.

AIM TO CREATE A BETTER

ENVIRONMENT FOR MATCH
OFFICIALS AND PLAYERS

It is essential that match officials complete

caution and misconduct reports forms
accurately, using agreed terminology so that
reports can be processed promptly and
accurately. The timing of submissions is
critical, especially those from PGMO and Panel
Officials officiating from the Premier League to
the Football Conference National Division,
who are subject to time-critical appeals for

wrongful dismissal and mistaken identity.

It is imperative that when reporting
misconduct, forms are submitted to the
correct Association for processing. Failure to
do so can cause significant delays to the
disciplinary process. The FA Disciplinary
Department still receives many submissions
from match officials who should have
submitted them to the respective County FAs
for processing. Therefore, it is essential that
when officiating in a match, especially FA
Competitions, match officials are aware of
where to send both participating teams
misconduct reports.
Finally, we recognise the commitment you
make to attend a Disciplinary and Regulatory
Commission to act as witness to, for example,
an extraordinary incident. This can be
somewhat of a challenging experience for
some, but we would remind all match officials
that once you have given your evidence your
role in the process is complete. Any decisions
are out of your hands and one should not
dwell on the outcome.
The FA Disciplinary Department greatly
appreciates the professionalism, dedication
and diligence that match officials show in their
work which as you know is far from finished at
the final whistle! By doing so, you help us to
provide an accurate and efficient service to
the many players, clubs, administrators and
media who rely on The FAs Disciplinary
Department to maintain and uphold the
integrity of our disciplinary procedures.
Paul joined The Football Association in
May 2002 and is the Head of Governance
Projects, where he manages strategically
planned projects on behalf of the Director
of Governance and Head of Football
Administration. For the past six months,
he has been the Acting Disciplinary
Manager at The FA. Paul was an apprentice
footballer at Sheffield Wednesday before
a playing career which included spells at
Farsley Celtic, Hanwell Town and
Prestwood. Paul also acted as Club
Secretary for 3 years whilst at Prestwood

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

HOWARD WEBB

DEALING WITH MASS

CONFRONTATION
FACTS

HOWARD WEBB
Age
36
History
Promoted to National List
Referee 2001
Promoted to Select Group
Referee 2003
Promoted to FIFA Referee
2006
Highlights
2001 FIFA World U20
Finals in Canada Referee
Community Shield 2005Referee

To be appointed to a major domestic Cup

Final is every referee's dream and words
can hardly do justice to the thrill I felt
when I received the call notifying me of
my appointment to referee the 2006-07
Carling Cup Final. I was excited at the
prospect of refereeing a high-profile
match between two giants of the English
game, Arsenal and Chelsea, at the
impressive Millennium Stadium in Cardiff
and pleased that I would be working with
an excellent team: Dave Babski, Darren
Cann, Lee Probert and Gavin Ward.

My key priority was my personal safety even

big guys can be inadvertently knocked to the
floor! I faced a mass confrontation so took up
a position to observe the melee as accurately
as possible whilst also ensuring that I didn't
'lose' the two instigators, Toure and Mikel.
The best starting point for disciplinary action
after a mass confrontation is to identify the
instigators - usually the player who commits
the initial offence and the one who reacts to it.
In fact, The FA expects that in instances of
mass confrontation, two yellow cards is a
minimum requirement.

Cup Finals can often fall short of pre-match

hype but nothing could be further from the
truth with The Carling Cup Final 2007! The
match was excellent, with Arsenal's new
young talent giving a strong, established
Chelsea side a real run for their money. The
game was played at a fast pace and although
I occasionally had to impose my authority with
a quiet word, public rebuke or yellow card,
the match was played in a good spirit with no
undertones of unpleasantness. As such, the
incident which occurred in the 90th minute
really did take me by surprise.

Toure and Mikels actions were compounded

by the size and unsightly manner of the fracas
they had caused (even occupants of the
technical area were involved) and I decided at
a very early stage that two red cards for the
instigators was the only suitable punishment.
Toure was well known to me but I was less
familiar with Mikel and had no view of his
number. To ensure he didn't 'disappear' into
the crowd of players, I grabbed his shirt and
guided him away to where I could observe the
confrontation this is not something I would
recommend but my actions illustrate how
referees think on their feet on such occasions
and sometimes do unexpected things.

As we entered the last minute of regular time,

Chelsea were leading 2-1 and Arsenal were
desperately pushing for an equaliser. Kolo
Toure had the ball at his feet in a central
position several metres into the Chelsea half.
Chelseas Jon Obe Mikel was tugging at Toure's
shirt as Toure looked to offload the ball towards
Eboue on the right flank. Arsenal were looking
to keep the play moving and I waited
momentarily to see if an advantage could be
on. My assessment of the players' mood at that
point gave me the confidence to do so.
However, the resulting pass fell short of Eboue
but as I blew the whistle Toure reacted angrily
out of disappointment and frustration. Being a
big guy, I tried to intervene quickly between
the warring factions as hands were thrown
towards faces. I hoped to deter others from
joining the fray. No such luck! In a flash, several
other players arrived, some to protect their
team-mates, others to pull team-mates away.

It was reassuring to see that my colleagues

had followed my pre-match instructions and
had left their touchline positions to adopt the
viewing positions outlined in my pre-match
instructions: the assistant nearest to the
incident looking, together with myself, for the
initial instigators whilst the other assistant
looked for players coming into the melee from
distance to become unnecessarily involved.
I have been taught that management of mass
confrontations can be enhanced by strong use
of the whistle and I adopted this approach,
hoping that my whistle would have the same
effect as a police car siren might have on a
group of youths fighting in the street.
The confrontation eventually subsided and I
then isolated Toure and Mikel before

BEING A BIG
GUY, I TRIED
TO INTERVENE
QUICKLY

dismissing them one at a time, pausing

between the two red cards to ensure that
there was no chance of hostility between the
two players as they left the field of play. I then
asked my two assistants if they had witnessed
any red card offences and Darren informed
me of an act of violent conduct by Emmanuel
Adebayor. As I had not witnessed the incident
myself, I needed information to 'sell' the
decision to the players and asked Darren to
outline the nature of the violence he said a
punch was thrown and I showed Adebayor
the red card. He responded angrily, refusing
to leave the field of play. When he queried
what it was he was supposed to have done, I
used Darrens information and told him it was
for throwing a punch and that his refusal to
leave the field of play would only result in
bigger disciplinary problems. He continued to
protest but eventually left the field of play.
The final piece in the jigsaw was to ask my
team if yellow cards were needed. This may
seem minor after three red cards but I had a
job to do and Dave informed me that Frank
Lampard and Cesc Fabregas deserved cautions
for their aggressive but not violent involvement.

The match finished shortly afterwards and

following the presentation of our mementos,
I left the field of play bitterly disappointed
that the match had erupted into mass
confrontation. For a domestic cup final under
my stewardship to end in such controversy
took the shine off things but I have learned
over many years that referees have a job to
do and have to show courage. The support
we received afterwards from members of the
refereeing family really was appreciated and
confirmed that we had had no choice other
than to take the action we did.
However, there was more to come as we had
to ensure that the reports were completed
correctly and, as it turned out, there was also
a disciplinary hearing to attend. I will deal with
those next time but hope that this article has
given some insight into how I dealt with what
was probably the most publicised mass
confrontation of the season.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

2007 CARLING CUP FINAL

Howard Webb steps in between Arsenal and
Chelsea players as they clash in the 90th minute
of the Carling Cup Final. The altercation had
been sparked by a shirt pull by Jon Obi Mikel on
Kolo Toure. Mikel and Toure were later sent off
for their part in the mass confrontation.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

QUESTION 1
An assistant referee draws your attention to an incident
by an attacking player who makes a two-fingered signal
to him having just been penalised for an offside offence.
Do you:

NEALE BARRY

LAWS
OF THE
GAME

a. Ignore the incident because you feel it will spoil an otherwise

good game?
b. Send off the offender for using offensive or insulting or
abusive language and/or gesture?
c. Speak firmly to the player but allow him to remain on the
field of play?
d. Caution the offender for showing dissent?

QUESTION 2
When a player takes a goal kick, it strikes the referee
whilst still in the penalty area and continues into play.
What action is taken?
a. No action is taken.
b. The goal kick is retaken.
c. An indirect free kick is taken from the place where the ball
struck the referee.
d. A dropped ball is taken from the place where the ball struck
the referee.

QUESTION 3
You have awarded a goal kick when you see two attackers
standing close to their opponents penalty area strike one
another in the face. What do you do?
a. Send both off for violent conduct; show both the red card
and award a direct free kick to the opposing team from
where the incident took place.
b. Send both off for violent conduct; show the red card and
restart play with a goal kick.
c. Caution both for unsporting behaviour; show the yellow card
and restart play with a goal kick.
d. Send both off for violent conduct; show the red card and
restart play with a dropped ball from where the incident
took place.

QUESTION 4
A goalkeeper takes a direct free kick out towards the
corner flag. As he tries to play the ball across the penalty
area it goes into his own teams goal. What action is taken?
a.
b.
c.
d.

The free kick is retaken.

A corner kick is awarded.
A goal is awarded.
A goal kick is awarded.

ANSWERS
Q1 - B, Q2 - A, Q3 - B, Q4 - B

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

11

upon by the referee. Demonstrating that we

have tried to manage a situation means that if
we then take disciplinary action no one should
be surprised and it should be the players and
not the referee who is criticised.
There are many other examples of
preventative refereeing. A penalty kick
situation is an ideal time to tell the goalkeeper
briefly to stay on the goal line and not to move
forward. The players around the edge of the
penalty area can be reminded that they must
not encroach before the ball has been kicked.
Again as this can be seen and heard there can
be little complaint should a retake be required.
Some forms of disagreement can be dealt
with in a number of ways, from the quiet word
to a public rebuke making everyone aware that
this won't be tolerated and stronger action will
follow. This does not though allow acceptance
of a show of dissent that undermines authority
and a caution must follow.

MARTIN ATKINSON

PROACTIVE
REFEREEING
WE MUST PROTECT THE IMAGE OF THE
GAME AND THIS IS WHY WE DO THE JOB
AND TAKE SO MUCH ENJOYMENT FROM
OUR LOVE OF THE GAME.

Management and proactive skills are

valuable assets for todays referees at all
levels. Poor management can cause
problems which may escalate and
threaten match control if not addressed
swiftly. We often hear the phrase "use
common sense" directed at match officials
and although this is not within the Laws
of the Game, we certainly can manage
some situations with good communication
and a proactive approach.
The 'ceremonial' free kick, corner and penalty
kicks are all areas where we can save ourselves
problems by taking control at an early stage. At
a ceremonial free kick a strong confident "wait
for the whistle please and later a stand still,
don't encroach" may prevent cautionable
offences occurring, especially if accompanied
by body language which gives a positive image
of a confident referee.
Holding and blocking in the penalty area
before corners and attacking free kicks is
common within our game. We need to take
precautions and tackle the potential problem
areas before the kick is taken by giving an
early warning to the players concerned. This
will send out a clear message and then if
misconduct occurs there can be no surprise to
anyone when an offence is detected and acted

After the quiet and formal word the main

weapon in the referees armoury is the caution.
It should send out a clear message to the
offending player, the teams, and the viewing
public. It should be used to maintain control,
not in an attempt to regain control. Bo
Karlsson, a member of the UEFA Referees
Committee, often wisely says: Using a card is
like using a gun. You only have so many bullets
and you have to be careful who you shoot."
Strong refereeing does not always mean lots
of cards personality and presence can have a
major impact on the game and an awareness of
the changing phases of a game assists in this
process. The start of each half often signals a
teams intentions and their added
determination to impress. Raising our profile
as the mood of the game changes, working
harder with the players and using the skills I
have mentioned during the potential problem
periods of the game are keys to successful
control and management.
One area of the game that does not require
management, but firm action is violence and
serious foul play. Tackles which are brutal must
be recognised and dealt with strongly. These
challenges endanger the safety of an opponent
and clearly risk serious injury to a player. The
airborne challenge when the player has no
chance of playing the ball without causing
harm to an opponent must be deemed as a
red card offence and everyone expects this
disciplinary action to follow.
We must protect the image of the game and
this is why we do the job and take so much
enjoyment from our love of the game.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

13

STEVE SWALLOW

SPEED
TO
REFEREE

How many of us, when training to referee,

go out, twice, three times a week and run
at a constant pace, for an extended period
of time? If this applies to you (and it does
to many of us!), then you need to ask
yourself, Am I really preparing myself
to referee?
Any training is better than none, but it is
always important to consider the activity for
which you are training and the physical
demands that it makes on you. One particular
aspect that is often neglected by referees is
speed training. Although refereeing is seen
by many as an endurance activity, there will
be occasions during any game when a referee
is called upon to show a good sprint in
order to gain a credible position from which
to make a decision. If you are acting as an
Assistant Referee, the need to sprint will be
even more frequent. Therefore, it is vitally
important that we pay attention to speed
within our training programme.

SPEED & AGILTY EXERCISE

Figure of eight sprints
Utilising the penalty area, start at A
Sprint the outlined course arriving back at A
Try to focus on not cutting the angles as
sharp as possible on your turns, getting a firm
foot plant, the head in the right direction, and
first two three step explosion
Quality acceleration, deceleration, change of
direction and accelerate away again not
running wide around the corner
Walk very slowly across the goal-line to B
Start your next sprint from B around two
minutes after you started your first sprint (or
after your heart rate has returned to 60-65%
of your maximum heart rate)
Sprint again along the course outlined
arriving back at B. Now walk slowly across
the goal-line back to A
Repeat this for a total of four-eight sprints
(depending on your fitness level)

When planning your speed training you need

to remember:
Effort Speed training should always be
done at maximum effort. Therefore, you
should never be exhausted when you start
a sprint.
Intensity Ten seconds per sprint as an
absolute maximum. The average sprint in a
game is two-five seconds. Therefore, there is
no point in training by running the 100 metres.
Volume You should conduct a small
number of drills (four-eight), with rest periods
in between. We have already said that you
should never feel any exhaustion when you
start a sprint. As a general rule, you should
allow a recovery time of one:ten between each
sprint. i.e. If you work for ten seconds, you
recover for 100 seconds.
Here are a few examples of speed sessions
that you could use in your training:

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

15

AM I REALLY
PREPARING MYSELF
TO REFEREE?

SPEED & AGILITY TRAINING

Place several sticks (or cones) on the floor
and space them out at varying intervals of
three seven feet apart
Accelerate 15 metres from the start
On reaching the first stick/cone step over it
Continue with a measured stride length and
frequency as dictated by the distance in
between the sticks/cones
Decelerate slowly after reaching the last stick
Repeat x four

REMEMBER
A warm down is even more vital than normal
after a speed session. If you fail to warm
down properly, you will almost certainly
encounter significant muscle soreness.
Focus on your technique. Get somebody to
watch you and tell you whether your running
style is efficient.
SPEED EXERCISE
2x 30m, 2x 40m, 2x 50m sprints
Perform each sprint maximally. Your HR
should be back to 60 65% HR max prior
to each individual sprint. A very, very slow
walk back to the start is usually a good way
of determining your recovery time in
between sprints.

In summary, we are always looking for that

little bit extra to improve our game. Improving
your ability to sprint will help your refereeing
and will go a long way to improving the
accuracy of your decision-making, thus
benefiting your control.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

17

You blow the final whistle, the conclusion of

another successful game. But, of course, your
management skills must remain at an all-time
high. Why? Well, this final article considers
the management skills required after the
conclusion of the game.
The first thing that usually happens after you
have blown the final whistle is that players
converge on you, hopefully to offer you
congratulations or to praise you on a job well
done. Its important that you remain calm,
confident and display a positive attitude, no
matter what. A good shake of a players hand,
accompanied by eye contact and a short
comment such as Well done, Unlucky or
Great goal if appropriate, go a long way to
show that you have true feeling for and an
understanding of the game.
Of course, some players may be annoyed
with a decision that changed the outcome of
the game. In this case dont say anything to
inflame the situation remain calm, observe,
listen and keep your distance. I dont think
its useful to enter into a protracted dialogue
at this stage; its simply a matter of
maintaining self control. The same can be
said for managers who obviously want to
have their say.

IAN BLANCHARD

MANAGING
THE
GAME

Managing the Team

When operating as a team, with neutral
assistant referees, it is important that in your
pre-match instructions you ask your assistants
to join you at the final whistle. When walking
off continue to observe and listen to what is
happening around you. In the confines of your
changing room offer congratulations to the rest
of your team and explain that after showering
and changing you will offer some feedback on
their performance as well as obtaining details
of any misconduct.
It is important that as the match referee you
have kept a true and accurate record of all
incidents during the game. This includes
goals scored, cautions, sendings off, any
other misconduct and any extraordinary
incidents such as a crossbar breaking,
serious injury to a player or floodlight failure.
Confirmation of all misconduct details with
your team is essential. Gaining an
understanding and confirmation of whether it
was a tripping offence, dissent or violent
conduct is so important. As the referee you
are required to submit reports to the
appropriate authority within 48 hours of the
game, not including Sundays. I shall offer
more information on report-writing later in
this article.

Feedback
When working in a team of three, you as the
referee must take a positive lead and after the
game is over, in the confines of your dressing
room, with no one else present, offer feedback
to your assistants on their performance. This
should be honest and balanced; offering good
points and any development points. An
example might be:
Referee I have to congratulate you on your
positioning today, you were always well
positioned to see offside situations, throw-ins
and offences in front of you. I think a lot of this
is down to your good fitness level.
Assistant Referee I train a lot
Referee Can I ask you to consider just one
point? I felt on 2 occasions you were a bit
quick with your flag for offside situations.
One where the ball was clearly going towards
the goalkeeper and another where I dont
think you saw the defender to your far side
who was keeping everyone onside. Give
yourself time, even count 1, 2, 3 which gives
you time to analyse what is happening,
whether the player is interfering with play or
an opponent or gaining an advantage and
more importantly, it allows you to make a
credible and correct decision.
Every game provides you, whether as referee
or assistant referee, with a chance to develop
your skills as a match official. In addition, it
provides you with an opportunity to learn from
the experience of taking charge of a game.
When working in a team of three, as the match
referee you are the leader and manager of the
team and you owe it to your assistants to
provide them with high quality feedback. Lets
face it, they aspire to be in your position and
want advice, help and guidance from you on
how to get there.
Hospitality
When invited to have a drink by the home
club, if facilities exist, you have to decide
whether to accept politely or decline.
Generally speaking, I always think it is good
manners to accept any hospitality offered.
This allows you to continue to be an important
part of the game. If asked to talk about the
game, be mindful of questions relating to
misconduct. What you say innocently may be
taken out of context and come back to haunt
you at a disciplinary hearing. It is best to avoid
any discussion of player misconduct.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

19

Reflection
All good referees reflect after a game and
analyse their performance. This need not be a
scientific analysis but simply, by posing
yourself some key questions, you can learn so
much about yourself as a referee.

HOW DID I
RESPOND TO
THE PRESSURES
OF THE GAME?

Reporting on the game

The advent of the multi-caution report form
has made life a lot easier for the referee, but
I cannot stress enough the importance of
making sure all sending off reports are
completed accurately and in time.
At some point soon after the match it is
important that you review all major incidents
that led to you issuing a red or yellow card.
Have your match record card in front of you
and re-live incidents as they occurred in the
game. Think back to the 31st minute when
Blue 5 committed a high two-footed lunging
tackle for which he was sent off. Ask yourself
where this incident occurred on the field of
play. How, far away were you? Did you have a
clear view of the incident? Were the offending
players feet both off the ground? Did he have
control of his body? What was the point of
contact between the offender and the
opponent? Where was the ball? What action
did you take and why?
This last question is important and the Laws of
the Game offer you clues as to what you
should record in your report. If you send a
player off for a two-footed, high, obviously
dangerous challenge then say so. In this case
excessive force was used that would endanger
an opponent and a player was sent off for
Serious Foul Play.
The whole essence of managing this important
aspect of a referees responsibility is to relay an
accurate picture of an incident to someone
who was not there. Before submitting your
reports read them through carefully and ask
yourself is this accurate and does it make
sense?

How did I get on with the players?

How did I manage key incidents?
What was my positioning like at set pieces?
How did I respond to the pressures of
the game?
How was my level of fitness?
How did I apply the Laws of the Game?
By looking back you begin to compile a
dossier of your strengths as a referee. It may
be that you are a good manager of players, a
great communicator, but why do you keep
missing challenges that cause you problems?.
Are you too far away from incidents? Do, you
adopt a poor angle or is it a question of not
being fit enough?. So by questioning
yourself you should be able to identify not
only your strengths but areas that need
working on. Then its a case of doing
something about it. If its an improvement in
fitness that is required then organise a training
regime; get yourself down to the local football
field and start training.
How you manage the game before, during and
after a match has tremendous impact on the
game itself. We have looked at how to prepare
for the big occasion, how to handle and
manage players during the game and finally
what you can gain from every match you are
involved in.
Refereeing a game is so much more than
knowing the Laws and applying them. The
management of the game before, during
and after it is where the very good referees
shine out from the good referees. It doesnt
take more effort, just more thought and
application.
I trust this series of articles will assist you in
Managing YOUR Game.
Ian Blanchard

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

21

I have no doubt that my coaching

qualifications (and what they have taught me
about the game) are a considerable help to me
in my refereeing and were partly instrumental
in helping me gain promotion to Level Three
at the end of season 2006-07. I hope that this
article will illustrate the benefits of acquiring a
coaching background and the advantages it
brings to your performance as a referee.

DARREN ENGLAND

A COACHING QUALIFICATION
CAN HELP YOUR REFEREEING

KNOWLEDGE
OF DIFFERENT
SYSTEMS TEAMS
MAY USE WILL
IMPROVE YOUR
REFEREEING
PERFORMANCE

How many times have you heard people

say referees have never played the
game or referees dont understand the
game? There is a view in football that
referees are remote from the game and
make mistakes because they do not
understand the game. That may not be
totally fair but certainly a better
understanding of the playing side of the
game can help referees.
I played a lot of football as a youngster and
when I began coaching at Barnsley FCs
academy I took The FA Level Two coaching
qualification. In 2006, I gained the FA Level
Three (UEFA B Licence) qualification. I also
studied coaching and refereeing as part of my
degree in Sports and Recreation
Development.

Understanding of key terms

During a game you will often hear
players/coaches shout terms like in the
channel, round the corner and turn them
around. These commonly-used terms may
mean nothing and, on one level, that does not
matter but if you do understand such
instructions it can considerably aid your
positioning and anticipation of what the next
phase of the game is likely to be. Following a
coaching course broadens your knowledge of
coaching terms and can help you greatly. For
example, if a coach shouts to the full-back to
play the ball into the channel you will know
that the ball will probably be played down into
the wing area. Knowing this, you should then
position yourself near this area. This may be
crucial in identifying offences which, as we
all know, if missed can lead to a whole host of
problems that may affect your control of
the match.
Understanding systems of play
Nobody expects a referee to know the finer
points of the sweeper system, for example, but
having some knowledge of the different
systems teams may use will improve your
refereeing performance. For example, at the
start of the game you notice that the teams
strikers are quite small and quick. From this
observation it would be sensible to predict that
a lot of the service these two strikers receive
would be at their feet and not in the air.
Knowing this as a referee you would be more
alert on challenges from behind and maybe
late challenges on strikers after they have
released the ball. Conversely, two tall forwards
may suggest a lot of long, high balls so that
when the ball is played to their goalkeeper you
may need to make an early start on your
movement upfield to be able to reach the
dropping zone more swiftly.
Different formations may alter a referees
positional strategy. For example, if a team is
playing in a 4-4-2 diamond formation then they
have a narrow midfield, which may affect your
movement. This diamond formation will mean
that the play is more likely to come through
the middle of the field and there is little width
to their play. Consequently, your diagonal may
need to become narrower to be close to the
action, but not so narrow that you become
tangled with players in a crowded midfield. In
contrast, a team which is playing 3-5-2 may
want to utilise the width so you will need to
adopt a wider patrol path. Having the coaching
knowledge to recognise these formations can
be of great positional benefit.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

23

HAVING A COACHING
BACKGROUND HAS HELPED MY
POSITIONING CONSIDERABLY
Understanding specific tactics
Tactics for particular match situations may
range from who takes the corners to variations
in marking (zone-marking or man-marking). A
simple thing like whether a corner is going to
be in-swinging or out-swinging may affect
where your optimum position is likely to be.
For example, if an out-swinging corner was
being taken then you may need to adopt a
position further away from the goal-line
towards the outskirts of the penalty area as the
ball will be moving away from goal.
Playing an advantage or giving a free
kick may be dependent on your knowledge of
who has been going up for attacking setpieces. Have the two big centre-backs been
going up? Have they already scored from an
attacking set piece? So when a foul is
committed in an area where an unopposed
cross can be delivered is it more advantageous
to the team to have the free-kick rather than
play an advantage? All these questions can be
more effectively answered to the benefit of the
game (and your performance) if you have
some coaching knowledge.
Awareness of other tactics such as
wasting time and/or pressurising the
opponents can also benefit your control. These
types of tactics are unsporting and involve a
sense of gamesmanship which can tarnish the
reputation of the beautiful game. For example,
a team may be losing 2-0 and they then score
in the last 10 minutes of the game. Then they

would be rushing to get the ball back to the

kick-off for the game to resume. However, the
team who are winning will now try to hold the
ball and this is where a possible confrontation
may develop. With a coaching background you
may be more attuned to the likelihood of this
happening and would move nearer to the goal
area to avoid or minimise any confrontation.
I find that coaching and refereeing
complement each other. When I am refereeing
I understand what the players are trying to do
and can even sympathise more with the
coaches. More importantly, when I am
coaching I sympathise more with referees and
try to pass this on to other coaches. Having a
coaching background has helped my
positioning considerably. It also has helped me
to communicate with the players on a level
they understand and on reflection my player
management has improved. I have no doubt
that taking coaching qualifications not only
improves your refereeing performance but can
also help you gain more respect from players
and coaches.
Darren England is a Level 3 referee and a
Football Development Officer for Barnsley
FCs Football in the Community scheme.
He is also a UEFA B Licensed Coach.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

25

MIKE RILEY

PROTECTING
THE IMAGE
OF THE GAME
THE BEAUTY OF THE
GAME DERIVES FROM
THE SKILFUL PLAYERS
WHO EXCITE AND
ENTERTAIN

Reading some of the more lurid

newspaper headlines over the last year
you could be forgiven for coming to
the view that the image of the game
was tarnished beyond repair and the
beautiful game was no longer worthy
of the sobriquet and, in turn, that it is
not really worth protecting.
Headlines of endemic corruption in
major footballing nations, investigations into
possible financial irregularities in player
transfers; off-field indiscretions by players; a
match in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign
abandoned as a spectator attacked the
referee. It is against this background that a
national newspaper launched its campaign
against the game that ate itself, criticising
what it perceived to be a collective greed and
a lack of integrity that were undermining the
foundations of the sport. The implications
seemed clear: with the foundations crumbling
and new traumas uncovered almost daily, it is
not the image of the game that was under
attack but its very survival.
And yet, whilst this evidence seems
compelling, how do we rationalise this image
with the sense of anticipation as kick-off
approaches for our next game? How does it

equate to the euphoria throughout Italy as

their team triumphed in a World Cup Final of
amazing drama and excitement? Attendances
in the Premier League and Football League last
season increased by over 15%; Wembley
Stadium now provides one of the greatest
sporting theatres; and then there are Lionel
Messis wonder goals. The evidence of these
and countless other images testify to the
excitement, passion and emotion of the game
that we love.
The image of the game may well be
under threat but such is its power to engage,
entertain and enthuse millions of committed
fans, that it is undoubtedly worth our collective
efforts to protect it. The question for us, as
match officials, is how best can we work with
the players and coaches to ensure that their
passion and commitment is channelled to the
benefit of the game?
There are many areas in which referees
and assistants work to promote the spectacle
of football. However, there are three key
challenges we face as match officials which
threaten the integrity of the match and, if
unchecked, tarnish the image of the game.
Simulation can result in the deceiver
triumphing. Whilst it is encouraging that there

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

27

is increasing condemnation for such unsporting

acts, witness the recent punishment for Saulius
Mikoliunas of Lithuania for deceiving the
referee in their Euro 2008 match against
Scotland. Referees need to remain vigilant and
have a clear strategy to ensure that the cheats
do not prosper.
Confrontation in its many forms presents
an unedifying and highly visible image of the
game in conflict. What is the role of the
referee and assistant in preventing
confrontation and, if unsuccessful, in dealing
with its ramifications?
The beauty of the game derives from the
skilful players who excite and entertain. As
referees we cannot allow brutal play to go
undetected or unpunished. In 1966 Pele was
kicked out of the World Cup and the game as
a whole suffered. We are fortunate that the
modern game supports strong action against
offenders. We need to ensure that our actions
protect the skilful players and protect the
image of the game.
Let us consider our role as match officials
in combating the three key threats to the
image of the game; simulation, confrontation
and brutal play.
Simulation
Simulation, perhaps, poses the greatest
challenge to the referee. The speed of the
game is such that the slightest contact
between players can easily result in players
crashing to the ground. Detecting this contact,
often in a crowded penalty area, is
problematic. Determining whether it was the
attacker or defender who initiated the contact
calls for the wisdom of Solomon. The pressure
on the referee to get the big decision right is
intensified by the knowledge that, very often,
the award of a penalty kick can determine the
outcome of the game.
To combat this threat the referee must
consider strategies for positioning, recognition
of the offence and for punishing the deceivers.
The aim of successful positioning is
obvious. We always strive to be in the right
place at the right time to give the right
decision. To achieve this the referee must
consider the A, C, B of positioning.
Paramount to effective positioning is
maintaining the best viewing Angle. Research
illustrates that an angle of 45 degrees to an
incident affords the best position to make the
correct judgement. It may come as a surprise to
note that an unobscured viewing angle is more
important than being close to the incident.
So only when the correct viewing angle
has been obtained should the referee position
themselves to be close to the incident. Close
does not require the referee to be stood
alongside the players. The referee should aim
to have a view that enables them to absorb all
the visual clues relating to an incident. If we
are too close we narrow our field of vision. For
example, from only two metres can you really

watch the feet of the tackler and any challenge

made with body, hands and arms? If we are
too distant we are unable to focus sufficiently
on the challenge. Research suggests that the
optimum viewing distance from a challenge is
15-20m.
With the angle and closeness secured,
the referee, or those fortunate to work with
assistants, should then work to keep the Ball
between the referee and the active assistant.
This triangulation maximises the team viewing
angle and increases the chance of the team
making the right decision.
As football is a fluid game it requires a
fluid response from the referee if the right
position is to be obtained. Slavish adherence to
the traditional diagonal will not always provide
the best angle or take us to 15m from the
challenge. Our challenge is to continually
evaluate our current position, whilst predicting
and preparing for the next phase of play. Good
anticipation allied to a good level of fitness
maximises the potential to be in the right place
to make the right call.
Good recognition requires an
understanding of a players motives and
awareness of the visual clues in each incident.
For example, there is an obvious incentive for
a losing team to attempt to win a decision
near the end of the game; we need to be
mentally prepared for the situation if it arises.
Similarly, the movement of the ball after a
challenge often gives clues about the degree
of contact, if any, made by the defender. We
need to analyse the key decisions in each
game, learn from them and then incorporate
those lessons into our recognition strategies
for the next match.
With good positioning and good
recognition we maximise our ability to make
the right decision. Having done so we must
then take the correct action to punish those
who have attempted to deceive us. There are a
range of options available to the referee. These
include ignoring the minor appeal, the quiet
word, a public admonishment, through to the
issuing of a yellow card or even a second
yellow card.
Positioning, recognition and punishment
are all strategies that assist in the detection and
eradication of simulation in our matches.
Having employed them, adapted them to suit
the way we each referee, we must then have
the courage to take the action that we believe
to be correct. If we can be in the right place at
the right time and then have the courage to
make the decision we believe to be right we
can prevent the deceiver from triumphing and
the image of the game will benefit.
Confrontation
Confrontation presents a different type of
threat to the game. By its very nature it is
public and attracts unwelcome attention.
Dissent, intimidation and player conflict
undermine the integrity of the game.

To protect the image of the game we

must retain our authority, dignity and the
respect for the role of referee as arbiter. If we
allow dissent to go unchallenged, our
authority is eroded and our ability to manage
those who challenge us is weakened and the
spirit of the game suffers. There are many
strategies that are effective in combating
dissent as Ian Blanchards series on Managing
the Game illustrated. Each of us needs to
establish the tolerance level that allows us to
maintain our dignity and successfully manage
the players and having established that
benchmark we should act to discourage those
who seek to confront us. As good
communicators we can manage those who
disagree with a decision. However, when a
player elects to increase a private
conversation into a very public disagreement
then we must protect our authority.
If we fail to respond to these challenges
dissent can quickly lead to attempts to
intimidate the referee. It is far easier to prevent
intimidation by dealing with dissent than it is to
respond to the challenges posed by players
crowding and harassing the match officials. The
image of the game is best served by the referee
ensuring that their safety is never jeopardised.
Confrontation between players can also
threaten the image of the game. The passion
of the players is one of footballs great
attractions. However, unchecked, that same
passion can lead to a deterioration in behaviour
that challenges match control. The alert referee
will recognise the signs that the tension is
increasing. As a situation arises the alert
referee will attempt to intervene to prevent
escalation. Identifying and isolating the initial
offenders may prevent others from joining the
fray. On occasions the passion is such that the
conflict is immediate. The referee must then
remain composed, observant and in control.
In the 90th minute of the 2007 Carling
Cup Final Howard Webb and his team
responded superbly to the threat to their
match control caused by player confrontation.
They remained calm, identified and punished
the offenders and retained total control of a
volatile incident. They brought an explosive
incident to a successful conclusion and
protected the image of the game.
Brutal play
The final challenge in our quest to protect the
image of the game is the recognition and
punishment of brutal play. We must ensure
that skilful players are allowed to flourish
without their skills being unfairly impeded.
Very often it is the intensity of the opponents
challenge that indicates the intention to do
harm. The tackle from behind made at pace
with little chance of playing the ball without
kicking the opponent. Jumping towards an
opponent at speed with an arm flailing
dangerously towards the head. When making
challenges players have a responsibility for

their opponents safety. Choosing not to

exercise that responsibility risks serious injury
and should be punished strongly with the red
card for violent conduct or serious foul play.
Imagine the consequences for the game
if Zidanes violent actions in the World Cup
Final had gone unpunished. By responding with
the correct action Horatio Elizondo restored the
integrity of the game and ensured that, in the
most important match in world football, the
referee team played their part in protecting the
image of the game. Working with the players
and coaches to ensure that their passion and
commitment is channelled to the benefit of the
game is not an easy task. And at times mislead
by the negative headlines we may be forgiven
for believing that it is simply not worth the
effort, that the image of the game is not worth
protecting.
But in responding to these challenges we
should be driven by the desire to be a part of
the spirit of football. It is a spirit that unites
communities, fosters friendships and captures
the emotions of millions.
In 1999 the city of Chisinau, Moldova
probably the poorest country in Europe, turned
off the power to the city so that there was
sufficient power to light the stadium where FC
Zimbru were to play a match in the Preliminary
Round of the UEFA Cup. The citizens were
proud to do so because Zimbru were
representing their country. For them the spirit
of the game was worth it.
In 2006 the players from Brighouse and
Normanton, all aged under 12 years old,
collapsed to the pitch after giving their all in
100 minutes of great football in the County
Cup Final. The victors were elated, the losers
despairing. They had experienced the joy of
playing the game and, as they applauded each
other from the field, they showed the power of
the spirit of the game.
There is a reason why we all work so
hard to protect the image of the game. Its spirit
is powerful, infectious and will captivate those
who embrace it. We should remember that
over the last 140 years football has earned its
sobriquet. It really is a beautiful game and we,
as referees, should be proud of our role in
protecting its image

WITH GOOD
POSITIONING AND
GOOD RECOGNITION
WE MAXIMISE OUR
ABILITY TO MAKE THE
RIGHT DECISION
REFEREEING VOLUME 05

29

BRIAN
BARWICK
I RECENTLY REVEALED DETAILS OF PLANS TO TRY
AND HELP IMPROVE BEHAVIOUR THROUGHOUT ENGLISH
FOOTBALL, AND HAVE BEEN HUGELY ENCOURAGED
BY THE RESPONSE

This is something of a personal priority for

me and it seems to have struck a chord across
the game.

disillusioned youngsters who have many

options to choose from to occupy their time
sporting or otherwise.

As the Governing Body, The FA has a

responsibility to the long-term health and
development of the game. We need to ensure
that children and adults continue to want to
play it, referee it, coach it and enjoy it. We
cannot take our position as the nations
number one sport for granted.

Football is a passionate game but we do have

to address that passion when it crosses the
line. An aggressive, win-at-all-costs climate is
not only unpleasant to play in; its also
detrimental to a child or young persons
development on and off the pitch.

We are getting a very clear message from the

grassroots game: that the behaviour of players
towards referees, and the general behaviour of
parents, spectators and coaches on the
sidelines, must be improved. In putting
together The FA 2008-12 National Game
Strategy, our vision for grassroots football, we
went out to collect the views and concerns of
those involved at that level.
Of the 11,000 respondents, 80% said The FAs
number one priority should be tackling abuse
towards referees. The feedback also revealed
that 70% of referees felt that general behaviour
is getting worse. We know that every day,
referees are walking away from the game fedup of the abuse and intimidation they suffer
every week. That is unacceptable: referees do
a difficult job honestly and to the best of their
ability, and deserve respect whatever their
level. Ironically, we also know that the number
one issue for players is to have a referee for
every game, so it seems to me that players
could help themselves a bit.
In addition, 73% of respondents wanted The
FA to tackle the abuse of players by parents
and spectators as well as coaches. Children
and youngsters should be able to enjoy the
game in a positive environment, not have to
put up with over-competitive parents shouting
at them for the whole game. We are losing

Taking no action is not an option, so what

are we doing?
We have put in place a pilot scheme, with
Respect as a working title. That means
respect towards fellow players and referees,
and by parents and coaches to their children.
The scheme will be run in a cross-section
of the grassroots game, incorporating adult
and youth leagues in eight County FAs:
Middlesex, Cheshire, Gloucestershire,
Cambridgeshire, Berkshire and
Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, East
Riding and Staffordshire. We have deliberately
chosen areas of the country where behaviour
initiatives of this kind have not been run in
this way before, allowing us to better gauge
their impact.
The first stage will be to monitor existing levels
of behaviour in those leagues. We will then
introduce a package of measures which work
together: roped-off areas for parents and
spectators; signed codes of conduct for players,
parents, coaches and referees with clear
sanctions for breaking these codes; and only
allowing the captain to speak to the referee.
We may learn that some things work and
others do not and that will inform us what we
do next. We have also consulted with leagues
in Lancashire, Oxfordshire and Surrey, who,

like others have already trialled various

initiatives to address behaviour.
The Respect pilot is part of a wider commitment
to supporting referees and young players.
We are investing significant financial resources
towards Referee Development Officers and
County Welfare Officers, and are exploring
other general ways to impact on behaviour
change, understanding research on possible
other disciplinary measures for consistent poor
behaviour on and off the pitch. This research
will involve representatives from County FAs,
players, referees and coaches.
We are also reviewing our online Soccer Parent
course and ensuring that we include clear
educational messages about negative and
abusive parental behaviour, and how this
impacts on children and young people.
While our initial focus will be on standards of
behaviour in the National Game, ultimately
improving behaviour has to be a whole-game
commitment. The second phase of any
campaign will be to involve and seek the help
of our colleagues in the professional game.
When I presented our plans to The FA Council
in early November, the reaction of the
professional game representatives was
extremely positive. Moving forward we will
speak to leagues, LMA, PFA and other key

stakeholders. It has been gratifying to hear

Arsene Wenger publicly support the captainonly initiative.
There has been some comment that we were
wrong to start at the bottom rather than the
top. I dont believe we have: this is the starting
line, not the finishing line. What we have done
is set the wheels in motion and start a debate,
taking a strategic, long-term approach to
improve matters at the level of football that
most people play the grassroots game.
Of course behaviour at the elite end has an
impact further down the football pyramid.
Players in professional football have
responsibilities as role models, and it is
undeniable that just as their skills on a
Saturday are copied on a Sunday, so some of
their less attractive behaviour is also reflected
on parks and pitches. We are conscious of that
and we are not ignoring it.
However, it is misleading to blame the
professional game for all of grassroots footballs
problems. I just dont buy that argument.
Its much more complex than that.
This is not a personal crusade, far from it.
We all have a shared responsibility to do
something about this issue and it will take a
joint commitment to make a real impact.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

31

THE RIGHT WAY

Teams from the Camden Sunday Football League
playing on Hackney Marshes demonstrate
respect for the game and each other.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

33

CHRIS CHECKETTS

PROGRESS
REPORT
One of the exciting challenges of the role
of the RDO is to capture, nurture and
maintain the enthusiasm of the youngsters
who enrol onto courses to qualify as
referees. The popularity of refereeing
amongst teenagers is extremely high and
this bodes well for the future providing
that we can keep them involved and
enthused. We would like to have every
match in the country controlled by a
qualified referee and if we can properly
look after those coming into refereeing
this target, which is some way off at the
moment, may become a reality within a
few years.
One of the biggest criticisms levelled at my
own County FA (Bedfordshire) during my
early days in the job was that we didn't
support referees in their early matches. To be
fair, it is very difficult - in my first six months
we had 100 new referees qualify and to
support them all with mentors is a difficult
task. I am fortunate that I have a number of
willing volunteers to do this and we now have

a better system than we used to, although it is

far from perfect. Part of my job, I believe, is to
try to bring about a change in attitude in
referees. A number of times I have come
across referees or parents who were critical of
the lack of support offered to a referee after a
difficult game but you can guess the response
when I asked "Did they report it? The help is
there, especially in the counties with full time
RDOs, but we are not mind readers!
Much of a RDOs time is inevitably put into
recruitment, retention and training initiatives
but there is also a lot more to the job than just
those key issues. In Bedfordshire we have
restructured our School of Excellence, with
great assistance from Dean Mohareb in
Cheshire, and expanded from ten to 28
referees each of whom have a mentor and
referees matches with Luton Town FC. The
opportunities are exciting and two of our most
promising young referees, Alex Buckley and
Lewis Fowler, recently travelled to Cheshire to
referee matches with their Academy and next
May we will be refereeing as a group at

Butlins tournaments. This is all part of the

retention drive and once people feel valued
for the job they do they are more likely to
stick with it when they encounter a
challenging game.
On top of that we have strengthened links
with schools and colleges and expanded our
training programme to incorporate into courses
for club referees and those involved in mini
soccer. Combine all of this with the IST
sessions for existing referees, Referee
Committee and School of Excellence meetings,
meetings with the FA Regional Manager,
liaising with the local newspapers, maintaining
contacts with RAs, supporting referees with
report writing and where necessary,
attendance at Disciplinary Commissions on top
of the daily correspondence and phone calls
then the lot of a RDO is a busy one!
The rewards can be fantastic. Following the
interview process for our School of Excellence
I called round one young referees house on
my way home one evening to offer him a

place. The broad grin from the referee and the

delighted reaction of his mum really made my
day. The young lad in question had battled
with a number of personal issues and both he
and his mum were delighted that he had
overcome them all to achieve something
worthwhile and be recognised as one of the
most promising referees in the county.

WE CAN MAKE
A DIFFERENCE
TO PEOPLES
LIVES THROUGH
FOOTBALL

Football and refereeing can offer the most

fantastic rewards that money simply cannot
buy but is only with the hard work of so many
volunteers in assessing, mentoring, instructing
and many other roles that this can be
achieved. It is right that counties are taking
refereeing issues more seriously and it is only
right that full-time staff support referees.
However, they cannot do this without the very
many excellent volunteers we have in the
country. I would urge all of you in football to
keep up your good work and know that your
contribution is valued and it is only through
your hard work that we can make a difference
to peoples lives through football.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

35

IVE
ACCEPTED
IT AND
MOVED
ON
There are many lessons about the role
of technology and attitudes to refereeing
decisions that football can learn from
this incident.

DAVID ELLERAY

BIGGEST VIDEO
REFEREE DECISION
IN SPORTING
HISTORY

When Australian referee Stuart Dickinson sat

in the Television Match Officials box studying
footage of Mark Cuetos try he was probably
unaware that he was about to make the
biggest video refereeing decision in the history
of sport. The delay of well over three minutes,
whilst the 39 year old ex-policeman watched
and re-watched the footage, seemed like an
eternity but he eventually told Irish match
referee Alain Rolland that Cuetos foot had
made contact with the touchline and he was in
touch and so no try. With that decision
Englands hopes of retaining the rugby World
Cup faded and a remarkable tournament,
almost devoid of complaints about referees
(apart from the ungracious Australians), ended
in controversy which raged for several days. To
be fair to Dickinson, whichever way he had
decided would have been controversial as it
was a touch and go decision.

Technology:
To my mind this incident decreased the
attractiveness of video referees in football for a
number of reasons:
Reaching the decision took over three
minutes. Even in rugby where they are used
to lengthy stoppages for scrums, line outs
and penalty or conversion kicks this seemed
excessive. In football, with its almost nonstop ebb and flow, such a delay would be
intolerable
This was a black and white decision of fact
(did his foot touch the line or not?) and yet
there is still debate about the decision. In
football whilst decisions like did the ball
cross the line? are black and white many
are subjective: interfering with play when
offside, tackle worthy of red or yellow card
etc Subjective decisions do not commend
themselves to third party, sterile viewing
Perhaps most worrying were Dickinsons
post-match comments How I wish there
was freeze frame but with the language
barrier between me and the French TV
producers I was not able to get frame by
frame picturesso I had to make the
decision in real time. If the technology does
not work in the World Cup Final what hope
is there for routine matches?
As with cricket, the replays were shown to
the crowd who could make their own
decision; they could also be seen by the
players. Whilst cricket and rugby fans and
players are generally accepting of referees
decisions I can not imagine football
spectators and players accepting such a
decision (when they have seen it on the
screen) with the equanimity which was
evident in Paris that Saturday evening.
Arguing with the referee, charging at the
TMOs viewing box, fighting between rival
fans would be real dangers.
No, for me, the World Cup Final confirmed
that we should forget about technology for
decision-making in football, except for judging
whether the ball fully crossed over the line for
a goal. Allow the human element to remain.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

37

ON ANOTHER DAY
WELL GET THE
DECISION OUR WAY
Respect
For those of us involved in football the most
important lesson we can learn from the rugby
World Cup, and especially the final, was the
almost total acceptance of referees decisions
by players, managers, coaches and fans and,
interestingly, the media. Imagine the storm of
protest that Alain Rolland and Stuart Dickinson
would have faced had the same decision been
made in the football World Cup Final (or even
The FA Cup Final). We only need think back to
the appalling treatment of Urs Meier
(disallowing an England goal in Euro 2004) or
Anders Frisk (after Barcelona v Chelsea) in
matches of less significance than a Word Cup
Final to have some idea of how our media and
fans would have reacted. It does not really
bear thinking about.
The dignity shown by the English players and
coaching staff, and the impressively high level
of respect for refereeing in rugby are a
powerful lesson to all who are involved with
the round ball. Football can learn a lot from the
following comments:
Brian Ashton, England coach, philosophically
remarked I saw it on the monitor like
everyone else. Ive accepted it and moved on.
Theres nothing more you can do about it.

Until football begins to show the same respect

to its mach officials then we will continue to
battle to preserve the image of the game and
recruit and retain enough officials to cover
every game in the country.
As well as players, managers and
administrators, the media have a role to play.
Can there have been anything more
hypocritical than Andy Gray appearing on TV
to commend rugby for the respect it gives its
referees and demand that football does the
same? Here is a man who has done more to
undermine match officials in the PL than any
other pundit, with the possible exception of
Alan Green and Alan Parry. If Andy Gray spent
more time explaining how difficult it is to
referee and showed the same level of
sympathy and understanding we saw and
heard from the rugby media during the rugby
World Cup then football would have a greater
chance of putting itself in order.
Yes, it was a fascinating tournament, all the
more so for the lessons football can learn from
Englands remarkable resurgence and an
extraordinary few minutes.

Paul Sackey, England wing I was right next to

Cuets when he touched down.on another
day well get the decision our way, so we just
have to accept it and move on.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

39

DEAN MOHAREB

REFEREES
ACADEMY
SEND TWO
TO DALLAS

I HOPE THAT THE

EXPERIENCE I GAIN WILL
BENEFIT BOTH ME
PERSONALLY AND THE
CCFA AS A WHOLE
In 2006, Cheshire County FA sent two
Academy officials to the 2007 Dallas Cup
Tournament, which is considered to be
the most competitive international youth
soccer tournament in the world. Alan
Clayton and Michael Evans were
Cheshires first representatives at the
tournament and they worked alongside
FIFA and National List officials from
across the globe. During their two week
stay in Dallas, they both independently
acknowledge that the experience was
excellent and they now believe they are
better referees.
The Dallas Cup "Referee Family" is considered
by many to be the worlds best for a youth
tournament. World Class referees from around
the world, some of whom are FIFA referees
with past World Cup appointments, take part
in the tournament. Since Alan and Michaels
return from Dallas, many officials have
benefited from their experiences via the
training presentations the two officials have
delivered at various associations and at the
Referees Academy.
All Academy members have been given the
opportunity to apply to become Cheshires
representatives at the 2008 tournament. Six
were interviewed by the Officers of the CCFA
Referees Committee and Dallas Cup Staff
Member George McCaffrey, who has helped
secure the annual invitation. The candidates
had to deliver a 10-minute presentation and
answer a series of questions about how they
thought the Dallas Cup experience would
benefit their careers and refereeing in general
in Cheshire. Academy officials are encouraged
to give something back,

support and assist refereeing throughout

Cheshire. The Academy writes to every RA
district offering the chance of having the
Dallas Cup representatives deliver a themed
training topic based on their experience in
America. The aim of this is that as many
officials as possible to benefit from the Dallas
Cup, not just the two members who have
been selected to attend.
The lucky two who have been selected to
attend the Dallas Cup in 2008 are Stuart
Eckley and Louie Barnett. Stuart has been a
member of the Academy since 2005 and is
looking forward to developing his refereeing
whilst in Dallas.
I hope that the experience I gain will benefit
both me personally and the CCFA as a whole
Louie was invited in to the Academy in June
2006 and was attracted to applying by the
immense reputation that the tournament has.
I applied to go to the Dallas Cup because it is
an opportunity I wanted to seize. It's one of
the best youth tournaments in the world and
not many people get a chance to referee in it,
let alone have a lot of it funded for by their
County FA
Dean Mohareb is 24 years old and since
January 2005 has been the Academy
Director of Cheshire County FA. He is
also a Level 2 referee, officiating on the
Blue Square Premier and Football League,
amongst other competitions. Finally, Dean
is a member of the North West Area
Training Team, an FA tutor and FA
Licensed Instructor.

Academy members were all given the

opportunity to become instructors, assessors
or coaches when they are at an appropriate
stage in their development. This is another
example of how the Academy wants to

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

41

ALAN POULAIN

RAE NEWS
The Referees Association Centenary
Conference 1908 -2008 will be held in the
newly refurbished Renaissance Hotel in
Solihull on the weekend of 4th and 5th July
2008. A superb format is being arranged with
the finale being the Gala centenary dinner,
where we are planning for 500 guests to
attend. Already confirmed as our guest of
Honour is Geoff Thompson, Chairman of
The Football Association and also a UEFA
and FIFA Vice-President. Another guest,
Jose Maria Garcia Aranda, Head of Refereeing
at FIFA, has accepted a verbal invitation to
attend. Invitations to notable other guests
have gone out to all from past and present
football and refereeing eras. We are also
delighted to announce that, subject to lastminute changes, Pierluigi Collina will attend
the gala dinner and give one of the speeches.
The evening promises to be a celebration of
all that the Referees Association stands for
and will have an optional Black Tie dress code
which will lend a sense of occasion to the
event. Formal presentations will be made
during the dinner to all officials of domestic
Cup Finals and the Community Shield and we
are organising guest speakers. These will be
confirmed in the Conference programme.

1
Do you believe you are the oldest or
the youngest refereeing member of
the Referees Association?
2
We are currently searching our
records for the oldest member who
has refereed The FA Cup Final

During the day leading up to the dinner will be

held the Centenary Conference, which over
the past three years has grown in stature and
this year promises to be no exception. The
conference will be opened by David Elleray,
who will introduce Steve Smith from the world
of Athletics and in particular the High Jump,
Steve is a renowned speaker with a reputation
for getting everyone involved. He will give a
presentation entitled Raising the Bar and this
will set the scene for the learning workshops
that follow. There are 8 workshops, all will be
interactive and be given by invited
representatives from the PGMOL officials
group. Details of the programme will be
available early in the New Year with a booking

form and we recommend early completion to

avoid the disappointment of missing this
prestigious event.
We have some extremely important requests
to enable us to celebrate the Centenary of our
Association. Do you believe you are the oldest
or the youngest refereeing member of the
Referees Association? We are currently
searching our records for the oldest member
who has refereed The FA Cup Final, and we
need urgently any historic and interesting
photographs from members. Are you able to
help? If so, please contact Arthur Smith at
Coventry Head Office.
From our varied membership, we are seeking
sponsorship from companies who would like to
get involved in this once in a lifetime event. Do
you know of anyone who may like to sponsor
and who will be acknowledged in the brochure
for their contribution? We have already had
commitments from one member who will
sponsor the entertainment, whilst another
company will sponsor the stewards polo shirts,
suitably printed. We are looking for a company
to sponsor the RA Centenary dinner gifts, the
centenary coin and the wines. All donations
will be gratefully received and acknowledged.
It is extremely important that you book
early; places will be limited and will fill
up very quickly. You will not have another
opportunity to celebrate 100 years of
the Referees Association.
Alan Poulain
Chairman, Referees Association of England

3
Any historic and interesting
photographs from members?

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

43

IAN BLANCHARD

RECRUITMENT
AND RETENTION
Mindful of the problems all counties, and
indeed all countries, face recruiting and
retaining referees the FA Referees Committee
has established a Task Force under David
Ellerays chairmanship to look into this
important area of the game.
The Task Forces first meeting saw the
members respond to Davids challenge to be
bold and positive in their thoughts (blue sky
or out of the box thinking in modern jargon!).
We are very keen to do something concrete
and to take advantage of a number of timely
other initiatives not least the introduction of
Referee Development Officers and the Brian
Barwick led respect campaign.
The Task Force would really like to hear from
anyone who has a possible solution, strategy,
change or idea which might help recruit more
officials and help keep more of those we
already have. The more radical idea, the better!
There are already a number of excellent
initiatives which are working well
There is the P (Priority) Scheme in Cornwall
which when appointing referees gives priority
to games involving teams with a good record
of behaviour ahead of teams with a poor
disciplinary record. The Kershaw league in
Cambridgeshire has adopted a 10-point Code
of Conduct for all involved in their league
which is rigidly adhered to.
Another scheme is the Cheshire County FAs
SAFE WHISTLING AWARD. This award
recognises leagues that insist on good conduct
from their member clubs, players, team officials
and spectators and therefore, provide a safe
and enjoyable environment for Match Officials.

LETS HOPE THAT THIS AND MANY OTHER

INITIATIVES WILL HELP US RETAIN AND
RECRUIT MANY MORE REFEREES.

Other Benefits include:

Match Officials choosing to officiate for an
award-winning League rather than one that
has not received the award. This means that
all of the Leagues matches are likely to be
controlled by a registered referee.
Fewer complaints from residents about
inappropriate language when using
Council pitches.
Past players choosing to take up refereeing
after witnessing positive attitudes towards
match officials.
A smaller drop out rate from players
progressing from junior football to open age
football because of the improved
atmosphere at matches.
The FAs Chief Executive, Brian Barwick,
is determined to eradicate poor and
unacceptable behaviour from football.
A number of County FAs have been engaged
in putting together a behaviour initiative which
will be piloted in January 2008. This initiative
centres on roped off pitches, codes of
conduct and a scheme where Only the
Captain can talk to the referee under the
banner of Respect.
The results will be reviewed during the
second half of this season, with the potential
of a national campaign being in place for the
start of season 2008-09. Please send all
thoughts, ideas and suggestions to the
Task Force c/o Ian Blanchard, Head of
National Referee Development, The FA,
25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA or
e mail me at Ian.Blanchard@TheFA.com
Ian Blanchard
Head of National Referee Development

Participating clubs receive:

A certificate of recognition from the
Cheshire County FA
Posters for the league to distribute to clubs
to display on match days stating that the
League has received the award and only
good conduct will be tolerated.
Recognition within Cheshire County
Newsletter, and on the Cheshire FA website.
One free place on a Cheshire FA
Referees Course.

REFEREEING VOLUME 05

45

REFEREEING a magazine for referees by referees

Refereeing is a magazine which we would like referees of every
level, from Sunday football through to International, to enjoy and
find informative.
If there is something which you have read in this edition or there is
something you would like to see in the future, then let us know!
You can do this by emailing the Refereeing team at FAMOA@TheFA.com
You can also find all the latest news from the world of refereeing
by visiting www.TheFA.com/Refereeing
Refereeing is the official joint magazine of The Football Association and
the Referees Association

The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of

The Football Association.

Editorial Team: Ian Blanchard, Aaron Cue, Cassandra Rees, Ed Stone,

Neale Barry, Emma Wands, Arthur Smith, David Elleray, Alan Poulain
and Julian Carosi.

Published by: FA Learning, 25 Soho Square, London, W1D 4FA

Acknowledgements: The contents of Refereeing are copyright

of The Football Association. No articles, features or any aspects
can be reproduced or photocopied without written permission
of The Football Association.

Email: FAMOA@TheFA.com

Website: www.TheFA.com/Refereeing

The FA Crest is a registered trade mark of The Football Association

The Football Association 2004