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Possibly. I'm not saying I would never do it and if he stands there like a lemon long enough there is clearly no choice - just that there will usually be a way of managing timewasting I would prefer and I've never felt the need to do it (and in 20+ years as a keeper with a decent repertoire...

I've also never penalised for this. I can't envisage getting involved unless there is a motivation for time-wasting - in which case he will almost certainly do the same thing at goal kicks. Much preferable to dish out a YC for that, in which case you've dealt with the issue and avoided the...

On this subject, anyone else notice the most blatant ignoring of the undershorts law I have seen for years in the recent Forest Chelsea game ?

I agree with the spirit of your suggestion that we should remove clear instances where the law says do A and everyone does B, particularly where players, coaches, spectators, pundits and officials all prefer and expect B. Your example highlights why it is not always that simple. As others have...

As with much in refereeing and wider life, I find myself drawn to the middle ground on this. I do get frustrated by the clear aberrations in the current LOTG where one thing is written, but everyone accepts that something different will happen. Top of the list for me is the 6-second rule...

Another great spot

Chapeau sir. Your referee colleagues around the world are purring at that decision

For me this is comfortably within the definition of normal football contact I also don't think what football wants is a foul, but the #1 point is that is just not in the same postcode as Clear and Obvious.

Definite dive. If that's in the penalty area VAR is getting involved

Agree it is bound to be different this year. Last year mid-season had catch-up from no promotions at all during COVID and gaps caused by referees deciding not to return to the fold (plus what I have seen, which is many more referees deciding to have a better balance and close more dates...

53 - here is the list with FAs. A fond personal memory ... Step 5/6 to Step 3/4 Referee & Step 3/4 to Step 2 Assistant Referee (Level 4 to Level 3) (53) Elliot Bell Liverpool FA Mark Bell Durham FA Daniel Blades Kent FA Martin Bloor Hampshire FA Tommy Breen London FA Joshua Brookland...

To be fair on Q4 there is a big difference between LOTG and reality. Good luck applying the letter of the law in your next National League 4th on that one ! That doesn't, of course, mean we shouldn't know the theory

Competent officiating performance, although the ref does love his whistle - began to get on my nerves after a while. Also couldn't help noticing he had a yellow whistle and what looked like a wedding ring on - I know at least one observer who would have had him on both of those !

Good luck spotting that one as AR !

Agree with this. For me it fits within 'an attempt to play the ball'. As JamesL says, not a good attempt, but an attempt nonetheless. I also think YC fits expectation - to go RC for this, I'm wanting clear reason to believe (and sell) no attempt - in the grey area am always going yellow.

1. Pick your battles. There are very few games where everyone is going to behave nicely for 90 minutes. If you are getting involved in minor breaches of technical area etiquette early in the game when it's not causing any practical problem, for credibility you are going to have to be prepared...

I thought these were straightforward unless we want to unpick whether 'at the end of' means 'after completion' or 'during the last part of' ?

As with any 'official' process, common sense should also guide us. Slavishly following rules rarely leads to good places. For example, I'm not asking for a name if I know it already - particularly if the player knows I know it as that just winds them up. So : - not for a second yellow - not...

Agree with this. Being seen as overly busy is to be avoided ! The big difference with inter-team arguments is they are usually quickly diffused by other team members, so no need to get involved in anything below a blatant RC offence. E.g. I can't imagine ever going AA for team mates having a...

If it's causing an issue and it happens again, you can just go Persistent on the second offence - even if you haven't actually stopped play for an IDFK on the first one. Keeper would much rather have ball in hand and just get on with it, so I'm only giving the IDFK if the ball has been released...