Mooseybaby
Retired big bad baldy in all black!
Took the day off yesterday (ageing bod is creaking a bit after a busy pre-season/start of the season), so went for a road trip across Dorset to watch my son's team in a cup game. The lads played well to earn a very well deserved and comfortable away win. 
Whilst at a game I am very reluctant to openly criticise a fellow man in black, especially to other parents etc, we all have good days and bad days and know it's a tough job blah blah blah...
However I wouldn't go as far to say the referee was cheating, his impartiality at times was somewhat questionable.
The first foul throw by my son's team was instantly blown for, no complaints correct decision, some kids just don't get it. Throw goes to the home team, player takes it with another swan lake impression with foot up by standing knee except this one is ignored. Counted at least 6 occasions in the first half where the same player from the home side did exactly the same thing, not a single foul thrown given against him.
Midway through the 2nd half, away team keeper (who likes to go walk about) challenges an attacker on the corner of the box and in the process falls on the ball and handles. Free kick fair enough, never a dogso situation, despite several shouts from the home parents. Keeper retreats back to his goal only to be called by the referee and given a somewhat lengthy lecture with plenty of finger pointing to the sidelines.
Several "over the top" challenges by home players, some given others not, went without a single word being said to the offending player.
Late in the game, home side pulls back a late consolation from a penalty. Away keeper admittedly somewhat frustrated looks to kick the ball back to the centre circle for the restart, but slices it badly and goes more sideways than forwards and straight over a fence adjoining the pitch. Cue shouts of "He's wasting time ref" from the home parents, referee (who I am not entirely sure saw it properly) stomps down the pitch army style from half way and thrusts the yellow card at the keeper, head height and inches from his face, then wrote in his book as he walked back to the centre circle. Appeared a tad harsh, but could easily be interpreted as time wasting, but it was the manner in which it was handled which was very questionable..
His general demeanour at times was somewhat aggressive towards the away team players, the handling and "time washing" incidents prime examples.
Found out after the game that the registered referee is a close relative of the home manager. Now we all know that many grass roots teams would struggle to play fixtures without the help of volunteers as referees/assistants etc (Ref'd enough of my son's games down the years after being initially roped in at 24 hours notice to help out, was asked to do it again, caught the bug, so decided to go official). Clearly some people are able to "detach" from their connections during the match to remain as impartial as possible a lot easier than others!
Whilst at a game I am very reluctant to openly criticise a fellow man in black, especially to other parents etc, we all have good days and bad days and know it's a tough job blah blah blah...
However I wouldn't go as far to say the referee was cheating, his impartiality at times was somewhat questionable.
The first foul throw by my son's team was instantly blown for, no complaints correct decision, some kids just don't get it. Throw goes to the home team, player takes it with another swan lake impression with foot up by standing knee except this one is ignored. Counted at least 6 occasions in the first half where the same player from the home side did exactly the same thing, not a single foul thrown given against him.Midway through the 2nd half, away team keeper (who likes to go walk about) challenges an attacker on the corner of the box and in the process falls on the ball and handles. Free kick fair enough, never a dogso situation, despite several shouts from the home parents. Keeper retreats back to his goal only to be called by the referee and given a somewhat lengthy lecture with plenty of finger pointing to the sidelines.
Several "over the top" challenges by home players, some given others not, went without a single word being said to the offending player.
Late in the game, home side pulls back a late consolation from a penalty. Away keeper admittedly somewhat frustrated looks to kick the ball back to the centre circle for the restart, but slices it badly and goes more sideways than forwards and straight over a fence adjoining the pitch. Cue shouts of "He's wasting time ref" from the home parents, referee (who I am not entirely sure saw it properly) stomps down the pitch army style from half way and thrusts the yellow card at the keeper, head height and inches from his face, then wrote in his book as he walked back to the centre circle. Appeared a tad harsh, but could easily be interpreted as time wasting, but it was the manner in which it was handled which was very questionable..
His general demeanour at times was somewhat aggressive towards the away team players, the handling and "time washing" incidents prime examples.
Found out after the game that the registered referee is a close relative of the home manager. Now we all know that many grass roots teams would struggle to play fixtures without the help of volunteers as referees/assistants etc (Ref'd enough of my son's games down the years after being initially roped in at 24 hours notice to help out, was asked to do it again, caught the bug, so decided to go official). Clearly some people are able to "detach" from their connections during the match to remain as impartial as possible a lot easier than others!
however, Exhibits A and B follow: