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Does the A button still change the timezone? (Still some trauma here from not being able to reliably tell the time for the 6 years I had mine!)

I agree with what you say. But we have different experiences. I work on a national womens futsal league (in another country). Spectator numbers are small, televised audience is small (online). We have been briefed that the clubs want the referees to be proactive with the restarts to speed up the...

…in high levels futsal (televised etc.) the teams know part of our job is to hurry them up. Flagrant slow walking to a corner can lead to the count starting…

Sorry to mention futsal… the 5s works in futsal and the powers have had years to study it. In futsal the teams also understand it. At the highest levels they appreciate that the 4 second count is for the benefit of the paying punters. The count starts when the player is ready - but also if...

You speak the truth… just… but you are omitting the one before Palmer’s - a bog standard missed advantage that irked the fans. Palmer’s was actually an amazing opportunity for the referee. If he waits a moment - or gets help from the AR - he can have an advantage, avoid booking the blue star...

Prem refs have completely given up on proactive warnings and “fifa fingers” before corners. It’s the wild west. Must have been briefed. Is the idea there have been too many goals from corners so now defenders (and GKs) have carte blanche? Watching, I thought it was nuts. …and IMHO we cannot...

Was Ekitike offside and interfering for the goal? Was it Virgil or Hugo in the cartoon VAR?

I think our other readers have probably switched off by this point! (I did 4 quite serious futsals last weekend. Had great colleagues for each- makes such a difference - two refs anyone???)

(Hmm.. slight issue here is futsal DOGSO law means that a foul by the last defender is not DOGSO if the goal is guarded 😱 and we don’t want that in big football!)

If the previous Nike shorts had pocket problems - i can’t wear them because everything falls out - zips bring more problems than they solve. I have about 9 pairs of ref shorts, Patrick, Adidas and Nike. Adidas 2014 (?) with the little purple hem are the easy winners. The Adidas 16s all exploded...

AFAIK Ref Abroad organize all the foreign refs for the relevant Ibers. Sometimes there are local refs as well. Then, some refs come as groups with RDOs, observers/mentors, some come as mates, some on their own. Every one I’ve been to has had a mix. Of course, nice to have quality groups - but...

I’ve rambled in about Hokas here before. The Challenger 8 wide is in the post as I write and will be next ref shoe. I have Clifton wide models as well that I l’ve done about 500 matches in. I already know the new Challenger model as I already have a non-black pair. Challenger is a trail shoe...

That’s something for competition rules. (AFAIK shorts clash is not a thing so I would not worry, but there might be better advice…)

I got some great advice: “no one wants water polo football.” Basically, if nothing happens for long periods don’t get trapped thinking every contact is a foul. And be proactive with the non-decisions. When there is contact and action be in the game. Mens’ games basically never go off the boil...

It’s not for everyone so don’t beat yourself if it’s not for you. And yes, it helps if you have pseudo-masochistic tendencies and an irrational love of football. I would never have got past first base if I hadn’t had a close community. To ref grassroots alone is one of the toughest gigs going.

Really tough one. Great example of how the laws cannot cover every scenario. The defender might have some kind of impact but a good left foot and it’s an open goal. The yellow/red hinges on context for me. I don’t know the match score/temperament. But I can see the GK makes the most blatant...

Echo that. Barca was 30+. Cascais high 20s. No restrictions on footwear (like UK 3G?) so your Copa Mondials will be OK but Hokas rule. I have taken almost every shirt I own and used them all (you English guys with one stinking black shirt after day 1!). I took own stash of protein bars and...

Oops Talksh*** parroted this in some detail. I tried to correct them. Does seem like a monumental gaff!

Cascais twice 2019 and 2023. Overall great, lots of commuting to matches as the pitches are all over. So be prepared for yomping. There’s not much time for socializing so do as much as you can. A day or two in Lisbon alya good idea. There are mix of team ages and that means 7-a-sides as well as...

I so met him in a dream last night, I kid you not. We discussed top flight refereeing and living in Brighton. He didn’t mention this so I don’t think he’s bitter!