Search results

A young rugby league player in France has been hit with a 20-year ban from the game after allegedly hitting a match official. The incident took place during an Under-19 Elite clash between Racing Club de Saint-Gaudens and Limoux on December 15. It is claimed that the Saint-Gaudens player, who...

Interesting Facebook Post from Durham, where referees in the local Referee Society have written to clubs and leagues to express concern about the increase in abuse and threats towards referees from participants and spectators. Sound familiar? I forgot to mention - the letter is about Rugby...

Two laws up for possible change at this weekend's IFAB AGM. Dropped ball procedure. Ball out of play. Also discussing the various trials that have taken place, e. g. 6 seconds for goalkeeper, concussion subs., etc.

Just watched 10 minutes of Rugby League on TV. Discussion between the match referee and VAR was professional, calm, polite ("Show me that again, please, slightly slower") and effective. Audio fully broadcast on TV. Very impressive. Player sin binned. The restart was a penalty, which the taker...

The English FA have announced that points deductions will apply in grassroots football for repeated serious misconduct by players and/or team officials, with effect from the new season.

Interesting new idea - used for the first time in a Benfica women's game this weekend, following a medical emergency in the technical area being dealt with swiftly. Unlike yellow and red cards, which punish teams for breaking football’s rules, white cards are designed to recognise and praise...

Congratulations to Tony Aslam, referee observer and FA referee mental health champion, and Jawahir Roble, a referee in London, both recognised in the New Years Honours List. He is a valued member of the observation appeals panel. Tony helped vulnerable people during lockdown in addition to his...

Watched a game this week (as a spectator, not an observer) in which the referee sent the home captain (a qualified referee) to the sin bin for the second time after 60 minutes. Three minutes later the team's coach made his third and final substitution (no injury involved, so presumably...

Having read with interest the various views expressed about the current law on handling, the possible changes for next season, the opinions about recent examples in the Premier League, and the various suggestions about changes, here's a friendly challenge for all contributors and readers. Some...