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... but you can't make the problem go away. Redefine 'clear and obvious' or use different words and you just create a different arbitrary line with arguments about what is either side of it. The only way of solving it is to go with simple right or wrong, but we know many decisions in football...

On the contrary, it's part of what makes it the beautiful game and I think things tend to go wrong when we take simple principles and create Laws that try to cover every possibility when they palpably can't (cf handball or even worse Law 12.4). It just ends up confusing everyone without...

Fair points. I guess another practical issue for me is that rugby doesn't go straight to yellow card for talking out of turn to the referee. They have the 'march 10 metres forward' rule, which makes sense as a penalty in rugby in a way that doesn't really translate to football (as we have...

Blue card - good idea. Anything to make it more obvious what the decision is Blue card for SPA - hmm. Will need very clear definition of SPA & can see a whole new section with the usual, and arguably unavoidable, grey areas. Also what happens in the case of a Reckless tackle that is also SPA ...

With Maidstone we are talking FA Cup and National League North. There is nothing in those competition rules opting out of part of Law 4.

I'd say bring it up as a known issue in the pre-match brief when all 3 officials and observer are there. Two possible outcomes : 1. We enforce - tell the club at teamsheet exchange and then enforce on a 'no surprises' basis 2. We ignore because it's not important - happy days I've heard a...

If undershorts can be worn to match the colour of the bottom of the shorts, why can't undershirts be the same? I agree that would make common sense, but it is definitely not the way the law is written.

I don't think so. This is the explanation issued when the Law was updated in 19/20. The word 'exactly' seems deliberate and I think this was added for sleeves that have more complicated patterns like checks or stripes. I also vaguely remember seeing an example being quoted at some point -...

Anyone else surprised by Maidstone players being allowed to wear black undershirts in this game ? I know a few observers much further down the pyramid who would be sharpening their pencils seeing that. Interestingly, in my experience, I have found the further up the leagues you go, the more...

Beyond practical issues, I know some referees will also avoid leaving themselves open for late throwbacks for 'O'ther reasons. Not much imagination needed to work out their logic That being said, I do tend to leave myself open when free and have picked up a couple of late fixtures I have...

I wouldn't bet on it ! 2 lines and 1 middle for me this month at level 3. Same as last month - lots of time on the couch ! The middle will almost certainly be observed and nearly a month after the last one. That's the bit I find hardest

Start them both before I blow the whistle. Saves fumbling around and then I can be 100% focused on where I need to move to.

Love the word usually. For context, the player's action in the example I cited in my earlier post was closer to Gordon Banks in 1970 v Brazil than a careless placement of hand. On that day football, at least those at the game, expected a YC!

I had this last season. YC felt spot on in the moment and was 100% as expected by all concerned. I only realised there was a potential problem when I came to record it after the match. I went C1 UB in the end, rather than C1 HB. It felt like a bit of a cop out, but my argument (with...

90 minutes is mandated across all the Contrib leagues - I know as I've done all 3 this season ! I've only once had less than 90 minutes, when the M25 had one of its fun days and I arrived just over an hour before KO. Once you are used to the routine of 90 minutes, that felt really rushed and...

Great call from the referee for me. He's read exactly what Harry Kane has done

The problem is that what is and isn't a clear and obvious error is still subjective. You just move the grey area to a different place and in the process correct fewer errors

Papering over cracks. There are many things that could and should be improved with VAR, but in Mikel Arteta style, this is just a distraction from the underlying problem. Managers and pundits were no happier before VAR, will be no happier with assigned VAR teams, 10 Assistant VARs or anything...

and even in the sometimes holier than thou world of rugby, apparently their best on-field and TMO officials are either crap, corrupt or both !

Sanction would be C1. Normally AA (Aggressive Attitude) in our system as caution code if it's a bog standard handbags altercation There are many things in our games that can surprise us, but this is one of those nice predictable ones. In most matches, if the game situation is as you describe...