Search results

Absolutely @bester. And it’s been clarified by IFAB that, in the case of the ball hitting a match official, the point of that impact is where play is stopped (if, indeed, play needs to be stopped).

The ball going into the goal sounds like a pretty promising attack to me 😂. So, perfectly valid to stop for the drop ball. Technically, I believe the drop ball in this instance should actually be to the defensive team where it hits the referee (despite the question wording) .. but easier /...

Haven't seen the Zirkzee incident. However the goal that was disallowed for offside was (IMO) 100% correct based on current guidance around Deliberate vs Deflection. Maguire's body movement was instinctive and uncontrolled and therefore classed as a Deflection, hence the offside flag. Whilst...

I was given minor development (a couple of years back at Step 1) for waiting too long to flag a 'lone runner'. It was 30+ degrees and the attacker made his displeasure at the extra running he was made to do abundantly clear :)! However, before flagging"early" you really need to be clear that...

I think we agree completely. In real life, if you haven’t decided to penalise the offside offence before the tackle occurs then it’s a straightforward FK and YC. It’s just that law questions shouldn’t leave wiggle room and the reality is that an attacker simply running towards a ball can...

Not sure that it yet completely works as a question without any info on other attacking players. If there are clearly NO other (onside) attackers also running for the ball, then penalising the only one who is running toward it is both acceptable and recommended. Answer A If, however, there are...

Can I be Reserve AR, can I, can I, pretty please 😄

First challenge is possible to spot as a penalty from the alternative (and slow motion) camera angle .. very tough to spot live with the defender's toe millimetres from the ball Second one is also a foul for me but would have been a tough sell with the attacker staying on his feet. So, for me...

And a bunch of tulips for each keeper at match end if they haven’t infringed 👏😀

You’re right, it’s not in the least bit complicated for any one individual referee. However, unless there is a decent amount of consistency and coordination across referees, then it risks becoming confusing, complicated and frustrating for players and teams … especially goalkeepers!

Whilst sometimes we question the clarity of players’ thinking, to suggest that any defender would actually intend for the ball to hit their hand in this scenario (with the GK well positioned) would stretch credulity! In that sense, it’s clearly not deliberate .. but is the result of a clearly...

As far as I'm concerned, it's a completely acceptable / natural arm position for the body movement being undertaken. However, deliberately moving your whole body, including the arm, towards the flight of the ball like that, runs the risk of the ball coming into contact with the arm. The...

I agree with you, he has done neither of those things. It's therefore not an 'unnatural position' handball IMO. However, I believe this was correctly classed as a 'deliberate' handball because of the clear movement of the arm towards the ball .. the fact that the arm movement was accompanied...

I just said I didn't excuse it 😀😀😀. The cameras are set up to accurately gauge offside. They are not set up to accurately measure 1m at random points on the pitch so it becomes subjective. And for the avoidance of doubt, I have never been a fan of VAR and believe it creates more problems...

I in no way excused it. But mistakes can and will regrettably happen whether you have one official on the game or a dozen! Based on that (helpful) still, my best estimate would be that there is a little under 1m at the exact kick point. But judging this live would be very hard and I certainly...

Certainly looks like the offence was missed (rather than ignored!) for the Chelsea goal. In the first one, the question is whether the sixth Arsenal defender (that the two Utd players are close to) actually forms part of the wall or is separate to it … IMO, the latter, just!

I agree with the approach that punishing non verbal disagreement is more important and more sellable. I agree with the mindset that football at the higher levels should prioritise the overall spectacle rather than the sensitivities of the officials. But I’m also delighted that we’re seeing a...

As a referee tutor, this is part of what we are guided to instruct new starters. As someone who runs the promotion scheme in my county, it’s how I guide the promotion candidates. It’s clearly mirrored in the advice being given by the FA to Level 3’s and Level 4’s. And it’s most definitely...

I think the paying public prefer a good entertaining spectacle and would complain bitterly if a player from their chosen team was sent off for something non obvious and not dangerous. The guidance, top to bottom, is that dissent is OBVIOUS disagreement with a referee’s decision. Whilst this can...

On the other thread relating to this topic, I posted the IFAB guidance from a recent Facebook post of theirs. This is driving the guidance given by PGMO, FA and County associations. Should it have been written into the law, absolutely. But neither is it ‘hidden away’ or difficult to find