Members Blogs

‘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. “After the match we change clothes, fill out the match form and send it via iPhone.” International referee Danny Makkelie from the Netherlands on the modern way of sending the match report in the weekly section on the Dutch FA website. “It was a real shock and probably the most disappointing decision of my career.” Graham Poll about missing the Euro 2004 in Portugal. “The top two is the same every season, of course.” One of the players in the Scilly league on group of islands on the south-western tip of England. The comptition contains two teams who play each...

‘Let adversity be your calatyst to greatness Lucas’, is what referee Adrian Skeete tweeted to Lucas Leiva from Liverpool. That motto has brought the referee from Barbados on the international refereeing list. This is the third part of an interview by Dutch Referee Blog with him. You can read part one and part two on this blog. How do you think of goal-line-technology? “With the game changing on a constant basis, with new technology being used to create lightweight balls, ‘techfit’, aerodynamic clothing for players, nutrition and training providing intensely high fitness levels of players; I believe it would benefit football referees greatly by introducing technology into the game.” “Although this is true, we have to draw the line...

Supporting Leeds United through the 80s and 90s provided a rollercoaster ride of relative highs and lows as the once great club initially looked to some old boys (Billy Bremner, Allan Clarke and Eddie Gray) to raise them back to the level many of the fans thought they deserved to occupy. The truth was that too much was expected too soon of so many young players and when they did begin to develop into effective professionals, too often this happened after they had left the club (David Seaman, Dennis Irwin, Tommy Wright to name a few). This meant the club languished in the old Second Division for longer than they cared to with the excitement of challenging in the end of season play-offs and the FA Cup semi-final, the only bright lights...

Adrian Skeete has officiated his last match for 2011 already. The season final was this week. “And it went well”, says the referee from Barbados. This is the second part of an interview by Dutch Referee Blog with him. You can read part one here. How do Concacaf and Fifa support you in becoming a top referee? “I’m in the Refereee’s Assistance Programme, which is a project put together by FIFA to assist in the growth and development and all referees. Making sure we interpret, and implement the LOTG the game, providing fit, healthy, consistent quality referees in the region.” Logo Concacaf “To date there are no full-time or professional Referees in the Caribbean Football Union. This, however, is not because of lack of talent, fitness, or...

Adrian Skeete wants to be world’s best referee. This year the 33-year-old from Barbados made his debut on the international Fifa referee list. Dutch Referee Blog interviewed him. This is part 1, the rest will be published later this week. Adrian Skeete Twitter picture How did you become a referee? “Football and sports – and my wife of course – have always been my love of my life. As a young child I had always envisioned becoming a Premier League football player, but I was never really good enough.” “During a holiday in Barbados, I met my future wife at the age of sixteen and instantly fell in love with her, but we lost touch. By chance at twenty-one – five years – later, we met again, and we’ve never looked back. She convinced me...

‘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. “It doesn’t cost you a title. Every time they have won the title they have had decisions that have gone their way big style.” Graham Poll criticizes sir Alex Ferguson after another referee blast from Manchester United’s coach. “I want you to know that you played a part in my refereeing career – even those of you who criticized are part of what made me a better referee.” Said Héctor Vergara before his last international match ever. The Canadian assistant referee retired on 11-11-11. Read the interview of the Dutch Referee Blog with Vergara here. “Discipline in...

Fresh form 5 days away in sherwood forest and all the Christmas lights. This weekend sees no football for me however will see the yearly battle with the Christmas tree! My wife wants to put it up early this year for the little one which is fair enough. Where will you be this weekend? Post your game below Continue reading...

Referee Markus Wingenbach cancelled a goal in the German Bundesliga match between SC Freiburg and Hertha BSC. But was it a right decision? Freiburg players celebrated a goal, which was approved by the Wingenbach. But after a discussion with his assistant, the referee let the cornerball be retaken. Take a look at the position off the ball. Would you order a re-take? Here’s what the Laws off the Game mention about the position of the ball with a corner kick: 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. “The look on their face is priceless when I appear in my referee uniform.” Barry Cook becomes a Scottish top class referee instead of goalie on high level. Worth reading monologue from Cook. “So I used to do the lines and slowly I got a passion for refereeing.” Mohammed Salim was named as one of the best referees of Fiji. “We’ll definately go talk with the father and we send an apology letter to the referee.” A member of a Dutch sports club after a parent of his club scared a 12-year-old referee off, so that he left the pitch and went crying to the dressing...

Over the weekend there has been the shocking news coming from Germany of the attempted suicide by Babak Rafati the Bundesliga Referee. Details are not clear, however his assistatns were concerend that he was 15 minutes late for their pre match meeting at the hotel. When they entered his room following asstiance from hotel staff he was found in the bath having cut his wrists. The match he was due to take charge of Cologne and Mainz, was abdonded and rightly so. While this is worrying news on its own. I wonder what the issue with German football is. Over recent years there has been the suicide of Robert Enke, the German national team keeper. THere has also been Breno the Bayern Munich defender who set fire to his own home. Also...

Help the Refereeworld to create a referee museum with referee fashion and equipment from their beginnings up to the present day. Liked the idea, because it would be very interesting to see different styles and so on. I’d suggest the official rule book which was sold for 881,250 pounds last year. The Rules, Regulations, & Laws of the Sheffield Foot‐Ball Club (1859). Photo by Sotheby's Their call: “We hope this will bring together many referees from all over the world - along with their uniforms, snapshots, and stories. Whether old or unusual whistles, tie-and-jacket outfits from the 1930s, or current multi-functional jerseys - we’d be pleased to receive any and all photos you might have, as well as a short description that...

An interesting game today as the home team from last week were the away team. Pleasantries were exchanged before the game and off the field but after 2 cautions and a dismissal for the away team, the referee was accused of playing up to the assessor (me). Nothing could be farther from the truth. While in last week's game, they had been on the receiving end of a fairly physical appoach by their opponents, this week, they snapped and harried at most early challenges. The home side reacted in kind and the result was a game littered with poor challenges and appropriate disciplinary action. In the end the team in black won, with 6 cautions and 1 dismissal and for the first time this season it took me until 7:30 to get the heat back into my...

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So following my post earlier this week re Japan being unofficial world champions. They only went and lost to north Korea. I wonder though if in North Korea there telling people they are the world champs :) Continue reading...

The Premier League referee's have been turned into cartoons for the Get on with Game Kids campaign. The get on with the game campaign is a extension of the respect campaign. With the focus on Kids its helping try and explain to children why you need Referee's and should show them respect. However this does not just focus on football, but uses football to educate children on everyday respect. Its well worth visiting the site, even if its just to guess the Ref :) Link to Mirror Story Link to Get on with the Game Kids Continue reading...

This Saturday I will be at my first game as a supply league assessor. Going to be an interesting experience, and one Im looking forward to. Ive found with the colder weather that Ive missed being involved recently. For me this is when the season starts, the cold weather, crap pitches and floodlights. Where are you this weekend, what game will you be involved in as a player, referee, or spectator? Post in the comments below. You can post anonymously as I know for a fact there are some football league guys who read this. Continue reading...

“Referees would have issued a red card for sexually inclined words or phrases rather than for terms insulting one’s appearance.” That’s the conclusion of a study by researchers at the University of Vienna. The Austrian scientists also found that referees regularly ignore the use of swear words by players on the pitch. Their research shows that only 55.7 percent the participants will give a red card in response to a verbal offence. (Will add table with stats about ‘yellow’, ‘admonition’ or ‘no reaction’ next days. Tell me if you’re interested.) Referees from Vienna referee organisations were placed in front of the computer and got the question what they’d decided if a player would use a particular swear word. Eleven from the 230...

If you want to read some really good quality writing on football/soccer you really should check out Pitchinvasion.net There is a great article on there about Jack Taylor, the last English Referee prior to Howard Webb to take charge of the world cup final. I would really suggest you take some time and read the article in full. Continue reading...

If your aware of Google+ then this will make sense to you, if not don't worry :) Google. have now opened up "brands" on Google+. Now I don't see this blog as a Brand (what is a brand anyway). However I thought I'll grab the page while I can, but also may be able to do something more interactive than the blog allows. Ill feed the blog in, but also put some other content up there. It may be that with my thoughts with the blog, that it may become an extension or replacement for the blog. Link to the page on Google+ Continue reading...

This passed me by until I was reading this weekends Non League paper. Japan’s Masaaki Toma, has been in England taking charge of a variety of games as part of an exchange. Masaaki Toma refereed England vs Mexico a couple of years ago. While he has been in the UK, he has refereed a Conference North fixture between Solihull Moors and Boston United. He also took charge of Brentford vs Basingstoke in this weekends FA Cup. Link to story on Pro Referee and link to the BBC Continue reading...