How many more incorrect red cards, indefensible onside /
offside decisions and lost points must Premier League clubs go through before
the Football Association finally take action against those who seem to be untouchable?
In a game of high stakes, with the eyes of the world
watching, it is unfortunate that another weekend will be remembered for the
abhorrent decisions taken by those supposedly responsible for rules and
governance of the national game.
The tired old excuse of the Referee’s Association that “the
modern game is so fast; split second decisions must be made in real time with
no replay” just doesn’t stand up anymore.
The Professional Game Match Officials Board was set up in
2001 when the status of Referee at the highest level changed from amateur part
time teachers and police officers into dedicated professionals.
It was setup with the “responsibility of developing
excellence in officiating in the English game at the professional level”. It
later became a public limited company and changed its name to the Professional
Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
When the news was unveiled to the football public in June
2001 former FIFA Referee Rodger Milford declared “I am sure this will mean more
consistency from the officials on points of law which cause controversy". How ironic is it that 11 years later that
very statement couldn’t seem further from the truth.
As an Association, the FA, quite rightly chooses to openly punish
those managers and players who contravene its rules. Statements on websites and via media agencies
let the footballing public know who, why and what their players are being disciplined
for. The same is not true for the
professional referee’s who officiate on the game.
The select group of referees earn an estimated £30’000 - £60’000
per year depending on exact numbers of matches officiated. This is a far cry from the part time wages
that were given out pre 2001. Although
still a long way from the hundreds of thousands of pounds earned by those
players and managers at the very top, referees are paid a wage on a par with Football
League 2 players and as such, should be subjected to the same public
explanation of sanctions and disciplinary procedures that those players are.
The FA is always very quick to administer financial and availability
sanctions to players and managers, but referees are subjected to either a lower
league fixture or rest week.
It is now time that referees and assistants at the very top
receive a fine equivalent to their match fee if they make a horrendous game
changing decision. You only need to look
at the live Super Sunday games today, 28 October 2012, to see just how incompetent
decisions can affect games in the most severe of ways.
A closer program of integration is needed between the PGMOL and
clubs, it is also blatantly obvious that the time has come for the FA to hold
its officials to account publicly and state exactly what is happening. A simple statement on a par with that rolled
out for players and managers would restore confidence of a waning public who
see an ‘old boys club’ where in house never minds replace a much needed disciplinary
procedure.
Genuine parity throughout football would bring officials back
into line, if officials make cataclysmic errors like the world witnessed again
today, then they should be fined their match fee.
Also like their professional player and manger counterparts it’s
time they faced the press after the match. The old ways of staying silent and
slipping out quietly just doesn’t wash anymore.
Will the FA act? I very much doubt it. Is this a more serious issue than removing
your shirt during a goal celebration, or, having the wrong coloured sock tape?
Most definitely
11 years after its inception has the PGMOL and FA really
made its officials more accountable regarding their performances in matches?
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