Hey Paul,
How was the transition to becoming a ref in France? Any big hurdles?
The language mostly! Most senior games kick off 3.30pm (3pm in winter) on Sundays. Youth games are played at the same times on a Saturday. This season the official match record is being done on a tablette, which means less writing in reports, as just have to give details of red cards in reports.
The French also have their take on the LOTG. It is black & white here, no real discretion for the referee. It is deemed this challenge is a yellow, this a red and so on. The players expect it as well.
As for me, well I referee a l'anglaise!
30 seconds added for every substitution, and at all amateur levels they use roll on roll off subs. Add one minute for every injury (longer obviously if it is over a minute). I recently played 9 minutes of added time at the end of the match, and the home team scored the winner (3-2) 20 seconds from the end!
The good thing is the respect for the referee (mostly). Very little back chat, and you will quite often hear the captain shout, in French obviously "he has whistled, say nothing".
I am just coming to the end of my 9th season here, and have already refereed the County Cup Final, and Play-Off Final.
Enjoying the twilight of my refereeing career in warmer climes and a nicer atmosphere.