Members Blogs

I've noticed in the last few days search queries leading to this site for fitness tests. I'm guessing It's promotion candidates looking up fitness tests. Something to be aware of The FA have increased the level 4 test, to a minimum of 2600 metres to be covered in a continuous 12 minute run. Continue reading...

‘Referees in the media’ will be published at the beginning of the week on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading. “You are there as the pitch policemen to make sure that things are being done in accordance with the Laws of the Game. Try also to act in a preventative manner – don’t wait until something happens, try to stop it before it happens.” Hugh Dallas, Uefa referee instructor. “The consensus was that there will always be tackles that are borderline but it’s important to return to the message that the players have consistently had over the last three years. That message is that if you commit to a tackle that’s at speed and with intensity, typically with both feet off...

The general reaction on telling people that I am training to become a qualified referee is; “Why would you want to go and do a thing like that”. So, before you all judge me as some power mad saddo, these are the reasons: Primarily, it is because my playing days have pretty much come to an end – old injuries and 18 years of being kicked with alarming regularity have led me to take the decision to hang my boots up – before that decision is made for me. Believe it or not, referee’s have to be pretty fit and becoming a referee will mean I at least have to retain some sort of fitness level Having played and watched football for the best part of two decades, I think I may have a decent enough understanding of the game to be quite good at it...

I have been playing and watching football for as long as I can remember – I am a fan, not only of the team I support (I think referees are allowed to support a team), but of the game in general. Appreciative of what the sport offers, I completely understand why millions of people across the globe give up their time every week to either play or watch the beautiful game. But why are we constantly hearing that there aren’t enough referees – surely everyone wants to give it a go? Don’t they? On the 18th January 2012 I took the plunge and started an FA referee’s training course. This is my story about swapping goalscoring glory for a book, cards and whistle. A no frills journey about becoming a fully qualified referee. A bit about what...

As a former Premier League Assistant (1994-98) and Football League Referee (1998-2004) Lee Cable, now a National List Assessor and Regional Referee Coach, has much experience and wisdom to impart. The advice he gave us at a recent meeting of Kingston Referees’ Society was relevant to all levels of the game. Pre-Match Preparation • Know the Laws, including Interpretation and Guidelines • Be fit enough for the game you’ve been appointed to • Deal with admin efficiently • Look good: kit and personal appearance Selling Decisions Ideally, there are no surprises, with nobody saying, “What was that for?” Effective communication will enable others to understand your decisions. • Confident body language • Clear, positive signals • Use whistle...

This week it was announced that the Premier League are going to be working with clubs to talk to them about the run of dangerous challenges we have had recently. While its a positive move, I would also like to see the FA use the various media outlets (Sky, BBC, Web) to explain and share the DVD they will be using.This is a crucial step and will help educate everyone. Unfortunately it will kill the debate and Sky & BBC would never take part. This weekend we had the Robert Huth sending off. Which according to MOTD wasn't as his feet were on the floor and it wasn't two footed so it wasn't a sending off. ********!! Stoke City v Sunderland by kevnido Stoke City v Sunderland by kevnido It doesn't matter if a player is taken out by a foot...

Some how the fact that ESPN was free this weekend in the UK escaped me until this afternoon. On finding this out I quickly turned over and caught the back of Genoa vs Lazio. Amazingly the first thing I saw on turning on was this challenge. (Not the greatest video in the world ill admit) Now I don't get to see a lot of Serie A but how the heck was that not a red card. Now you can argue the Referee didn't see it, but he decides to play the advantage so in effect acknowledges there was contact. The rest of the highlights if you want to watch Continue reading...

A collection of news links that explain themselves! ROBERTO MARTINEZ claims referees see Wigan as an 'easy touch.' Nigel Pearson isnt happy with Referee Gavin Ward Retired French FIFFA Assistant Stéphane Duhamel has been found hung Uefa say there are 3 key elements to being a succesful Referee Scottish Referee's have taken to Boxing Training Steve Mclaren is on the look out for a ghost! Continue reading...

You cant help but to have heard of the shocking news from Egypt, where 73 people have been killed with a further 1000 injured. This happened after Al Ahly vs Al Masry and after the Arab spring has grabbed the worlds attention. Games in Egypt can be so voliatile that they quite often bring in European referee's. Former Scotish Referee Stuart Dougal has talked to the BBC about his experinces. Link to Video Continue reading...

FIFA have released the Agenda for 126th International Board meeting to take place in March. There are a few interesting points on the agenda, however Im not sure how many of these will be approved. One of the main things is a fourth sub maybe used duirng extra time. An interesting idea, however can we make sure its not a defender! Also if a player uses tape on his socks, it has to be the same colour as the sock! One addition, which I think is a good idea is if a goal is scored direct from a drop ball there is now provision for this. If a dropped ball is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded If a dropped ball is kicked directly into the teams’ own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team...

I thought I'd seen everything in last week's game but it seemed that football still had a few old tricks up its sleeve. The falling temperatures meant that the game was in doubt but the early morning sunshine saw the white coating melting away but the top layer of the field was crusty. I did have to laugh when one of the players told me we could play as it would "take a stud". It was the perfect opportunity to trot out my one liner "... yes mate but when you weigh as much as I do, everything takes a stud ...". I didn't expect to see sparkling flowing football from the bottom team in the league against the team 4th bottom. I wasn't disappointed in that respect but what I did see was generally honest endeavour from two groups of players...

‘Referees in the media’ will be published at the beginning of the week on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading. “What are you doing, ref?” Tony Soprano in the HBO series The Soprano’s (season one, episode 1) I’ve been watching. “We’ve got some reports that people are buying referee outfits in districts too … so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some penalty flags get thrown at some members of Congress’ offices.” Jamie Henn, communications director for 350.org, during a protest against the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline where activists where dressed as referees to ‘blow a whistle’. “Their preparation for officiating at UEFA matches will start here.” Pierluigi...

Mexican referee Marco Antonio "Chiquidracula" Rodriguez's decided to be a bit different when showing the yellow card to two players in the Tigres-Santos match. Rather than show each player the card, he pulled out two yellow cards and showed them at the same time, earning himself a 5 game ban! Mexican Soccer Federation secretary general Decio de Maria said in a statement: "The situation of having drawn two yellow cards at the same time is outside the role, not something that is considered in the arbitration rules and is considered as if he had not responded to what happened and did not sanction it. Continue reading...

Following on from the photos in the earlier post. Ive managed to find a video. The players did well to play the game, but at times its a bit of a farce. Continue reading...

This is from the build up fro the Niger equaliser against Tunisia in Fridays Africa cup of nations game. If you touch it or not is it really sporting for an attacker to jump like this when competing for the ball? It's clearly a distraction technique. What do you thin Continue reading...

The problem/benefit with tournaments, is that with the right schedule Games need to be played. The photos are from Libya vs Zambia. Do you play? Oh they tried to make it better at half time Continue reading...

Due to lack of time and as a result enthusiasm the blog sort of of disappeared. It hadn't I just didn't update my card details for the hosting. In sure no one missed it. Continue reading...

A new section has started on the Dutch Referee Blog: Life after refereeing. This is how I got the idea: Two weeks ago I got an e-mail from a retired Romanian referee, named Daniel Munteanu. He was an international referee and had officiated with René Temmink, a Dutch referee. ‘Got his e-mail address?’, he asked. I know some refs but not all of them. Little research finally got me in touch with a car dealer with the same name. And yes, it was him. Doing this, I wondered why I shouldn’t let these former referees talk about their refereeing experiences. They both agreed to answer the four questions to give an impression of what they do now and what they did before. Today I’ll publish the first part with the Romanian referee. Munteanu at...

Almost, Sir Alex! “To play or not to play, that is the question”, words first uttered by William Shakespeare who played in goal for Brentford! Whenever you apply advantage in a game you have to consider the football skills needed to fashion a goal-scoring opportunity from your shout of “Advantage, Play on”, coupled with the double-arm signal which, when given on the run, makes you sound like a neutered tomcat. You also have to consider in which part of the field play is operating, and for an advantage to have any chance it needs to be the attacking third of the field. Consider also whether it would affect your control for the rest of the game. So there is plenty to think about. Let us consider this scenario. Play is in the final third...

‘Referees in the media’ will be published at the beginning of the week on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading. “Ofcourse I talked with my assistant about this. He says he did not spit. But that will be investigated.” Says referee Dennis Higler about his assistant Richard Slop, who is accused of spitting Dennis Hollart from Almere City. “Based on our insight into his economic conditions, we have written off damages in the millions of crowns and are glad thereby to contribute to ending this unfortunate case which without a doubt has had large, personal consequences for Ronni Norvig.” Says DBU spokesman Lars Berendt to Reuters about the settlement the Danish FA has made...