Bobby Madley's return

[OnlyUseMeWhistle]

I must say I'm torn, as a disabled referee with a walking impairment who has had the FA fail me on disability discrimination before, seeing him back in at the top.

On the other hand he's shown more remorse and regret than most other people, obviously that came after he was "caught"

 

[Anubis]

I must say I'm torn, as a disabled referee with a walking impairment who has had the FA fail me on disability discrimination before, seeing him back in at the top.

On the other hand he's shown more remorse and regret than most other people, obviously that came after he was "caught"

To put in perspective, we dont have players or managers removed forever for racial, sexual, sectarian etc

we allow players and managers back into the highest level who have committed actual crimes

we " punish" the likes of Klopps antics, which are an affront to professional sport, with a two game ban
I see his return as glorious and inspirational, it would have been easy for him to chuck the lot and hide sulking that he had made an ill advised mistake

to be able to work his way back into the elite, possibly take the vacant title of third best ref in the country, is inspiring.

unless there is more to it, he made an immature and discriminating comment, I dont know him but I doubt that is a reflection of him as a person, he admitted it, accepted it, has no doubt resat courses, and its highly unlikely he will repeat his mistake.

he absolutely imo is entitled to officiate at the highest level

 

[JamesL]

To put in perspective, we dont have players or managers removed forever for racial, sexual, sectarian etc

we allow players and managers back into the highest level who have committed actual crimes

we " punish" the likes of Klopps antics, which are an affront to professional sport, with a two game ban
I see his return as glorious and inspirational, it would have been easy for him to chuck the lot and hide sulking that he had made an ill advised mistake

to be able to work his way back into the elite, possibly take the vacant title of third best ref in the country, is inspiring.

unless there is more to it, he made an immature and discriminating comment, I dont know him but I doubt that is a reflection of him as a person, he admitted it, accepted it, has no doubt resat courses, and its highly unlikely he will repeat his mistake.

he absolutely imo is entitled to officiate at the highest level

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I do hold the view that, just as in other walks of life, those that are involved in upholding the law are held to a higher standard.

I must say I'm torn, as a disabled referee with a walking impairment who has had the FA fail me on disability discrimination before, seeing him back in at the top.

On the other hand he's shown more remorse and regret than most other people, obviously that came after he was "caught"

I think the issue is not so much him getting back to PL but him being back refereeing in this country for you then.

You cant say you can come back at this level but you can't be promoted. If you allow him back, that comes with all the opportunities of his peers.

IMO, and as someone who marks the have you a disability box (sensory), I think he made an unconsidered mistake. He was outed by someone who he trusted and he has now served his time. And therefore should be allowed to resume his career.

 

[Anubis]

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I do hold the view that, just as in other walks of life, those that are involved in upholding the law are held to a higher standard.



I think the issue is not so much him getting back to PL but him being back refereeing in this country for you then.

You cant say you can come back at this level but you can't be promoted. If you allow him back, that comes with all the opportunities of his peers.

IMO, and as someone who marks the have you a disability box (sensory), I think he made an unconsidered mistake. He was outed by someone who he trusted and he has now served his time. And therefore should be allowed to resume his career.

We be hard pushed to find anyone who has never said or done anything which could be considered discriminating or offensive, ageist, xenophobic etc to anyone

If what he claims to have done is what he has done, imo, a few weeks off and resitting some modules, maybe a few outings as a walking football official would have sufficed,

i totally understand though (but disagree) that dismissal was required

 

[JamesL]

We be hard pushed to find anyone who has never said or done anything which could be considered discriminating or offensive, ageist, xenophobic etc to anyon

Almost typed this same thing. It's very true.
But there are some positions, whether we agree or not, that when you are found to have said or done one of those things makes.your position untenable.

Not necessarily refereeing, but it's certainly not an unknown Principle.

 

[OnlyUseMeWhistle]

IMO, and as someone who marks the have you a disability box (sensory), I think he made an unconsidered mistake. He was outed by someone who he trusted and he has now served his time. And therefore should be allowed to resume his career.

This is fair, I think as a player I'd be wary of being officiated by a referee who had priors but I've been let down before so wanted to sense check with the forum

 

[santa sangria]

I must say I'm torn, as a disabled referee with a walking impairment who has had the FA fail me on disability discrimination before, seeing him back in at the top.

On the other hand he's shown more remorse and regret than most other people, obviously that came after he was "caught"

I am a bit biased as I have met him and I was stunned. He spoke to a bunch of us (referees) a few years ago when he had not spoken so much in public and he was remorseful. He was also very articulate about the situation and range of emotions.

So, for me, it is an amazing comeback story. Hopefully a redemption story.

It does highlight that referees at the top level are held to very high standards (I don’t want to compare but much higher standards than players). The story also served a reminder, especially to younger people, about the long-term implications of social media content etc.

 

[RustyRef]

I've also met Bobby a few times and he a really nice guy. When he was dismissed, and he relocated to Norway, as well as refereeing there he gave up a lot of his time to go out and watch up and coming referees to try and help them.

He could have appealed the decision to sack him, he could have gone to the media initially and told them what happened, but he didn't, he took it on the chin and accepted what he had done was wrong. I don't think any of us can even imagine how difficult it must be when you have spent years working hard to get to SG1 and FIFA, only to then have it snatched away in an instant. It must have been absolutely devasting, even more so when it was a supposed friend that had reported you, and a lot of people would have just walked away from refereeing for good there and then.

I thought at the time, and I still do now, that the decision to sack him was over the top and an alternative sanction could have been found. I completely buy into the argument that referees must be held to a higher account than other participants, but not that much higher. A player sending the very same WhatsApp message would get, at the absolute most, a 10 game ban. A dismissal is hundreds of times more extreme than that, they could have suspended him for 10 weeks, for the rest of the season, demoted him to the EFL for a season, etc, but a dismissal was massive overkill (in my personal opinion of course).

 

[santa sangria]

A thousand times this. I didn’t want to go into detail. Couldn’t agree more. Well said.

 

[Mr Dean]

If I did what Bobby did, I would be sacked and probably named in the papers - some jobs carry an extra responsibility. Top level refereeing is one of them.

Saying that, I do believe in second chances and it's clear that he meant no malice and will definitely not be doing anything similar again.

 

[Centre_Circle_Ref]

I must say I'm torn, as a disabled referee with a walking impairment who has had the FA fail me on disability discrimination before, seeing him back in at the top.

On the other hand he's shown more remorse and regret than most other people, obviously that came after he was "caught"

Sorry, new here & just see this!

Are you aware of the actual incident that took place?

Agree it’s a topical point, but feel he’s more than related is debt and earned his stripes as it were

 

[OnlyUseMeWhistle]

Sorry, new here & just see this!

Are you aware of the actual incident that took place?

Agree it’s a topical point, but feel he’s more than related is debt and earned his stripes as it were

I am aware of the actual event yes and like I said he’s shown remorse.