http://teamstre.am/29O6qeY Link directly to league statement: http://www.premierleague.com/news/65240
The first referee who actually enforces these instructions will be excoriated by the UK tabloids and then thrown under the bus by the authorities. Then all will be back to "common sense" where they were before. Actually, maybe not the first. But definitely the second.
Does anybody else feel that a lot of the issue with this (near-)constant ramping up and ratcheting back on particular points of emphasis has to do with the fact that the Laws are written to be comprehensive, rather than prescriptive, so that when very concrete fixes are rolled out they eventually erode in the face of the squishy Law(s) in question? Put another way: the Laws are based on ITOOTR and these outbursts updates are more akin to gridiron-style programming. I may be full of crap and you guys will tell me, but this language conflict just sort of struck me.
No, you're right...what's both great and terrible about the LOTG is the ITOOTR aspect of it, which I think is one of the biggest reason why soccer referees have a much harder time of it than other sports. You can easily end up with 10 different refs calling a play 10 different ways, which is why various organizations try to send out guidance to take away some of the opinion.
Obviously, whatever it is, it is not enough since it continues to happen. I know if I get surrounded, the yellow card comes out. Doesn't happen hardly at all to me because of the matches I do, but I will have no hesitation in pulling the yellow if/when it does.
Wow. I didn't really expect this reaction. We've often said that it is in the referees' hands to control dissent only to be reminded that if any individual referee were to take that step, they wouldn't ref again. Here, the FA is basically saying that if a referee wants to sanction this crap, we will support him. I think it is a huge step forward.
*If* there is follow through, it's a huge step forward. But its actions, not words that matter. And many are skeptical that the support will survive the implementation -- and I think are holding their applause until that actually happens.
We have seen this type of rhetoric before from MLS and nothing has come of it. I remember MLS and PRO specifically addressed contact with an official as point of emphasis for an upcoming season and dissent as well. It might have been last years POI or the year before. Anyway, nothing really came of that. There were several instances of players making aggressive contact with a referee and nothing was done. This year alone, I recall Penso getting mobbed and manhandled by LA Galaxy players for sending off Ashley Cole for two yellow cards within like 30 seconds and no red was given. As socal lurker said, until we actually see some of these new directives implemented on the field we will remain skeptical.
Problem is, the FA have a lousy record of actually supporting referees that follow these "point of emphasis" guidance. Perfect example was a few years ago when they issued some guidance that was meant to curb strong/dangerous tackles. It was enough made of it before the season that commentators/experts weren't surprised by it and just went "well under the new guidance that's a red" when the cards appeared in the first few matches (fans and managers made quite quite a big thing about it though). All in all there was 4 or 5 red cards in the first three gameweeks but then came the international break, appeals took place and all but one of the cards (one that would have been a red under any guidance) had their suspension suspended. And of course, when the season resumed the cards, to absolutely no ones surprise, stopped being handed out. So yea, I'm not holding my breath for this to make any significant change. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, I just find it hard to believe it.
I have two thoughts: 1) It CAN work, but will take time and consistent determination of the FA to actually support it. NHL did it a few years back, teams got the word, didn't believe it, refs followed through, league supported them, teams called the "bluff" turned out it wasn't a bluff and over the season it cleaned up. 2) I HATE directives like this. The "player does A, ref does B" drive me nuts, ESPECIALLY in the areas of player management. Yes the refs need the ABILITY to pull the trigger on red, but it should be a referee "in the moment" call.
While I largely agree (goes along with "zero tolerance"), if they REALLY want to make the change in tone, sometimes a black and white rule is the way it can get done. Then once the culture changes, bring back judgment and discretion. Just granting discretion, which has always been there in the LOTG anyway, puts the pressure on the individual referee to test the real support; publicly mandating that the referee issue the discipline shifts that pressure. The mandate also gives the referee a management tool to use: "John, I know that hand on my shoulder wasn't agressive, but you know what the league says this year. I don't have a choice on this one, I have to give you the caution."
And in a few years time, assuming the FA actually sticks with it, that might be possible. But right now it isn't. Starting from a bar set high and occasionally being lenient works well, starting from a bar set low and occasionally being strict doesn't. In effect it would be keeping it just as it is and I think we can all agree that the current climate isn't great. Oh SoCal...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ar...ion-real-change-come-referees-themselves.html Graham "Three Card" Poll is as skeptical of the new memo as we are.
Exactly. How about the folks who 'know' how the FA and EPL are going to react wait at least until after the first week (or month) to see how it unfolds. If not, can you prognosticators please let me know the next PowerBall numbers so I can finally retire.
Of course Poll couldn't resist blaming the referees for the game's current state, with a caveat hidden at the bottom about it depends upon "if they are supported by the Football Association", which is in and of itself technically but importantly incorrect. In fact the current state is entirely the fault of the leagues themselves (the FA only to some extent). Its referees share 0% of the blame. Dissent and FAOL could be eliminated almost instantly simply by using the only thing that really motivates referees, which is getting the next match appointment. If they reward those referees who punish dissent and FOAL, and not reward those who don't, the behaviors disappear by the second or third week of the season.