referees should be accountable after a game.

[ted1965]

When are referees going to be held accountable for their actions during a game. We keep hearing the most ridiculous suggestions for so called improvements to football and yet the men who can destroy a game or season of a club with one imbecilic decision can melt away into the night and not have to explain their thinking, or be asked questions as to why they made this or that decision.

This is the 21st century, the man who controls the game isn’t allowed to explain his thinking, he is protected from the media and therefore isn’t held accountable, sure he can be demoted but that still doesn’t explain his decisions during a game.

The decision to send Andy Griffin off today was one which even the experts couldn’t believe.

The fact that it wasn’t even a foul, the ball was clearly won by Griffin, the opponent didn’t appeal for a foul and Griffin came away with the ball and everyone seemed surprised that D’urso awarded a free kick to Rangers. Okay even though it wasn’t a foul, it’s conceivable he thought Griffin had caught the player before the ball and therefore gave a poor decision against Griffin.

I just can’t fathom for the life of me how he went from getting the free kick wrong to deciding to send off Griffin, even if it was a foul it was a free kick and nothing more, it was his first tackle of note.

I want to hear from the referee how he went from getting the decision of giving a free kick to sending off a player for winning the ball fairly. The result for the player an automatic three match ban, unless the decision is rescinded, though considering the ridiculous ruling against Middlesboro the other day.

I wouldn’t hold my breath on the red card being over turned unless D’urso has the balls to admit he was totally mistaken and after reviewing the evidence he can’t change the outcome today but accepts Griffin shouldn’t have been dismissed and therefore wont have to be incorrectly punished for a second time.

That could have been done in 5 minutes after the game if officials were allowed to explain themselves and then be shown evidence immediately, of course that wont happen because irrespective of how many mistakes officials make they never have to answer for them to those who they effect.

Okay it didn’t make much difference we had been poor before Griffin was dismissed though to be honest it wouldn’t make any difference if it had been the last kick of the game, it may not have made much difference to us losing today but a three match ban for a player for being incorrectly dismissed could make a big difference in the next three games. It’s the lack of accountability that is the issue here, the lack of standing up and saying why and then if needed admitting you got it wrong.

Over to you Mr. A D’Urso.

[luke45]

good post ted, agree with all the above.

[MarkWolstanton]

The problem with the likes of D'Urso and any other incompetent ref is that even if you drag them before the public to try and explain their nonsense is that they will blame their masters and claim they were only "following directives".

I can absolutely guarantee the defence for this one will center around the clamp down on "lunge" type tackles and i will not be the least bit surprised if the sending off is upheld by fools who cannot actually determine what the spirit of the clampdown is.

No one is going to complain about jump tackles in the direction of your opponent being penalised. They are dangerous, the player is out of control of his actions and they can lead to the dreadful injury we saw the Arsenal player suffer last week.

They are not trying to stamp out players launching themselves in a direction where no opponent is standing in an attempt to gather the ball in or is going to arrive at until after the move has been completed.

The only danger involved was to Griff himself when the QPR player eventually arrived on the scene and fell over him.

It is another example of allowing idiots to referee at the top levels who have no playing experience or concept. To ref at this level it should be mandatory that you have played football at a decent level for a number of years. That would at least give us half a chance of eliminating the joke bookings and sendings off dished out by frustrated would be Hitlers who are there determined to be the center of attention in a world where they could never hope to be if it was down to football/athletic ability rather than a small man officious nature.

[banksie66]

"It is another example of allowing idiots to referee at the top levels who have no playing experience or concept. To ref at this level it should be mandatory that you have played football at a decent level for a number of years. That would at least give us half a chance of eliminating the joke bookings and sendings off dished out by frustrated would be Hitlers who are there determined to be the center of attention in a world where they could never hope to be if it was down to football/athletic ability rather than a small man officious nature".


Styles maybe - but don't you think it's 'cos they're plain incompetent rather than seeking media attention?

[MarkWolstanton]

I was thinking more of a "I'll show you who is important/boss" attitude rather than headline grabbing motives although some clearly do not understand that the media and supporters are there to watch the football and not the referee.

I did cover off the incompetent angle at the start of my post. Clearly D'Urso is incompetent. He has demonstrated it on frequent occasions.

[TheBra1n]

D'Urso admits that his heart might beat a little faster when he reaches for a red card. "But it doesn't give me a buzz. I'm depriving a player of doing what he does, and the crowd of seeing a top player play.

says it all for me

[mumf14]

And was demoted as a result of his incompetance Wooly....

[MarkWolstanton]

Clearly not far enough, mumfy.

[TheBra1n]

why if a referee isnt good enough to ref a premier league game IS good enough for the championship

[tuum]

The Brain - two points
I am not sure what your cryptic response to the D'Urso quote you posted is trying to say. To me, that quote is a perfectly reasonable & understandable thing to say and I would suspect the vast majority of referees (and supporters) would agree.
The Premier League is the top league, with the best players and the most pressure. They are under constant scrutiny from the media. It stands to reason that they should have the better referees. You may have an argument that all televised games should have premiership referees but on a week by week basis it is perfectly reasonable that the lower leagues get the less capable or least experienced referees. I am sure if you speak to WBA/Bristol/Crewe fans etc they will complain about how some ref or other has cost them points.

Regarding accountability of the Refs. I agree in principle with the OP but I believe the ref does account for his action (to the FA/Football League) in his report. The assessor will also have an opinion. I am sure any amateur referee will be able to explain exactly how this all works - we, as supporters, just don't get to see the reports.
Putting the ref in front of a microphone 10mins after the game finishes may not be a good thing. I am happy to accept that refs make serious mistakes occasionally and that this is what makes football such a great and emotional game. Asking him to then justify his decision puts added pressure on a ref when IMO it is not absolutely necessary.
I am sure the FA have good reasons for wrapping their refs in cotton wool. I, for one, am prepared to accept the current situation..frustrating as it may be at times, particularly when a poor decision affects my team personally.

[hanibal7]

after the pathetic decision to send off griff,did liam get booked also???
or was it cresswell.that could be more suspensions for theplayer now.

[tuum]

According to BBC the only booking was Creswell.