Except that type of challenge really should be SFP. A straight leg with flush contact on the inside of the leg should be a send off, but in our age of “keep it 11 v 11” hasn’t been. Perhaps we are moving back to this type of challenge being properly sanctioned.
I’ve thought this before. In a case like this where it is very obviously clear that an error in communication or procedure has occurred a public apology is fair enough and probably needed. When it is a subjective decision that the media don’t agree with, there’s no need to publicly criticise officials. In private whatever needs to be said can be said, however apologising for controversial and subjectively ‘wrong’ decisions will likely make VARs less willing to intervene, (and is maybe even one of the reasons there’s been accusations of VARs being less willing to challenge more experienced on-field referees). Apologising for everything also removes value from apologies such as the most recent one - it now feels routine rather than a special acknowledgement that a serious error has been made.
"He'll get a 7.9" is meaningless and insufficient, particularly for the VAR.
Oh yep - fully agree. Wasn’t arguing that Jones should’ve been mitigated down, just for clear protocols.
Fair point, as the 6hr UAE is a bit longer I think, But Times journalist like Martin Ziegler are being mischievous with their line of attack, about them being tired. They know full well, people reading their articles and tweets will link the UAE trip and the City group. Howard Webb should have also seen this coming.
In my defence I meant a maximum of 7.9. That's just how the marking works, don't shoot the messenger.
Depends who made the request, these are FIFA officials so if FIFA asked for them to officiate in the UAE PGMOL can't refuse. But completely agree they shouldn't be officiating 48 hours later. I suspect the challenge is that there just aren't enough SG1 officials to have stood them down.
From what I read an approach was made to the FA which was approved by PGMOL. As Martyn Ziegler in The Times is reporting “Questions for PL and PGMOL now about possible fatigue + whether referees working in Gulf states for one-off matches causes risk of conflict of interest”
A message from the Specialist AR union
.By their standards, this is a really really poor decision. Lining is incredibly difficult, but by the standards and measurements that they operate on at SG1, this would be a clanger.A message from the Specialist AR union
For those describing the initial decision by the AR in strongly derogatory terms, I'd encourage you to consider the speed of the players and therefore the timescales involved. Whilst these decisions look 'obvious' when freeze framed, in real time they are extraordinarily difficult. The AR involved will, of course, be very disappointed and will be marked down appropriately ... but this was just one of many highly challenging decisions they will have had to make through the course of the game.
For context, this season at Step 1 (obviously WAY slower and easier than the EPL!) four of my eight KMI decisions have come down to less than 0.2 of a second. So if you're fractionally out of line, switch off momentarily, distracted by play nearby or unsure of the exact moment the ball is played then you are highly likely to get the decision wrong. Maybe, despite their professional status and good remuneration, a little empathy and understanding is in order!
Yes, can’t blame the AR at allA message from the Specialist AR union
For those describing the initial decision by the AR in strongly derogatory terms, I'd encourage you to consider the speed of the players and therefore the timescales involved. Whilst these decisions look 'obvious' when freeze framed, in real time they are extraordinarily difficult. The AR involved will, of course, be very disappointed and will be marked down appropriately ... but this was just one of many highly challenging decisions they will have had to make through the course of the game.
For context, this season at Step 1 (obviously WAY slower and easier than the EPL!) four of my eight KMI decisions have come down to less than 0.2 of a second. So if you're fractionally out of line, switch off momentarily, distracted by play nearby or unsure of the exact moment the ball is played then you are highly likely to get the decision wrong. Maybe, despite their professional status and good remuneration, a little empathy and understanding is in order!
Of course that's what they're doing!
