The Ref Stop

Refereeing S.Housery

The Ref Stop
I’ve used this tactic a couple of times now…and it seems to work.

I have a player, commentating on my decision making as whether something is a foul or not. I then call him in to talk and I say…”do I tell you which pass to make.. “no”…comes the answer, did I tell you where to be on the pitch “no”…again comes the answer. Well then, don’t tell me how to referee and we’ll get on famously unless you want 10mins on the sidelines to think about it next time.
The players around me voice their approval….and it tends to mean I get no trouble from either team with their comments(dissent).
 
After the final whistle in a game about 5 years ago one of the losing team shook my hand and said “you were sh1t today ref”. My reply was “hang on a minute; you’ve just lost 2-0 and both were own goals, you’ve also missed a penalty and somehow it’s me who was sh1t”. Luckily the losing manager heard this and started laughing.

Same venue 2 years ago a player was attended to by the physio next to the opposite touchline from the dugouts. The player was in a bit of discomfort so I told the physio to take his time. When the player stood up I asked him to step over the touchline and I would wave him back on. They both started to walk across the pitch towards the dugout so I asked them to leave the pitch at the nearest point. Physio said “you told us to take our time” so I replied “yes, but I didn’t say to take the p1ss!”
 
My one was a team up here who most refs hate doing but they were local to me so I had done there teams at every age and was doing an OA game for the reserves they are 2-1 up in a cup game and the late 40s CB who’s a bit of a local legend (played Step 1 / 2 non leauge when he was younger wipes the legs off this young winger textbook SPA before I can say anything he turns and says in fairness ref I know you have to book me but 20 years and a fair few pints ago that’s a brilliant tackle we all laughed even the lad who just had a flying lesson. 🤣
 
My mate (who is a lapsed Catholic) performatively blesses himself and makes out as if he is praying silently at full time whenever he feels things are about to get confrontational.... I wouldn't recommend it for a whole variety of reasons, but he says it disarms whoever is about to give him an earful!
 
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