Refereeing

[AldershotSam]

This is my first time making a thread (I usually just sit back and read threads on here) and I hope that i'm not repeating anybody's previous thread.

Over some of our recent fixtures, games have imho been ruined by poor refereeing. you may say 'ohh its just because you lost', but I and others genuinely feel we are being robbed. Obviously the standard down here in the national league isn't going to be world class but you would hope for a decent level of refereeing. I was wondering what other peoples opinions are on the matter?

 

[Luke Imp]

Ohhhhh, it's just because you lost.

I think I've become quite immune to the refs down here now. It was a bit of a shock initially but you become that used to seeing it, it almost becomes accepted.

I managed to unknowingly slag a ref off to his face at work a couple of years back.

 

[AldershotSam]

Jim Kellerman was sent of for this challenge at the weekend, much to most of the grounds astonishment. Apparently even the Eastbourne commentator said he was surprised he was sent off. It is a one footed challenge and he got the ball 100%, yes his studs are up but is that really a red card challenge? As I saw Lew on twitter write; 'Blood rush to head moment for Sunday league ref. Gave it no thought.' Sums it up perfectly I think. I know it isn't the league but the referees still cover the same level-ish.

 

[AldershotSam]

I managed to unknowingly slag a ref off to his face at work a couple of years back.

Haha!

 

[The_Boss]

Jim Kellerman was sent of for this challenge at the weekend, much to most of the grounds astonishment. Apparently even the Eastbourne commentator said he was surprised he was sent off. It is a one footed challenge and he got the ball 100%, yes his studs are up but is that really a red card challenge? As I saw Lew on twitter write; 'Blood rush to head moment for Sunday league ref. Gave it no thought.' Sums it up perfectly I think. I know it isn't the league but the referees still cover the same level-ish.

Look at his face, he's well trying to "do him" there. No place in the game for thugs like Kellerman.

 

[Sparrow]

Try being an 'unpopular' part-timer. We're constantly reffed out of games by the National League.

 

[LeWhites]

We've had some shockers this season. I don't remember the refs being so poor when we were playing regional football, they seem to all want to make a name for themselves at National League level.

You'll have seen a few times this season that I've slated referees, and more often than not it's decisions that have gone our way. The referee during the Sutton game a couple of weeks ago was one of the worst I've seen.

 

[eightiesrobin]

In the past three and a bit years, I've watched my team in 2 seasons of National League and 1 and a bit seasons of National League North. The single biggest difference is the card-happiness of the refs in the higher level.

In the North, I think you may have to punch someone in the face to get sent off, and the yellow comes out only on your fourth infringement.

This is clearly based on (my) anecdotal evidence, I have no stats to back up my assertion, which is therefore, pointless.

 

[LeWhites]

I managed to unknowingly slag a ref off to his face at work a couple of years back.

The majority of them I'd have no problem with telling to their face. It's not even minor mistakes, it's just sheer incompetence.

During the Sutton game the ref (Chris O'Donnell) missed a couple of blatant penalties, gave one for nothing, missed a goal that was about a yard over the line and lost all control of the game. Some of the tackles were awful and the ref waved play on, Ira Jackson nudged someone in a 50/50 and gets booked for it? Sutton received about 5 yellow cards in the first half, couldn't work out what any of them were for.

I'm sure Sutton will have had something to say to the FA, yet 4 days later he was back refereeing Barrow v Maidstone?

In his last 3 games he has given out 16 yellow cards and 2 red cards - surely not the mark of a competent referee?

 

[AldershotSam]

Look at his face, he's well trying to "do him" there. No place in the game for thugs like Kellerman.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Pretty much every game in the Conference North was marred by terrible referees (and liners too), but the standard is better at this level. Maybe one in three games now our fans will say "the ref had a shocker", which isn't that bad really. It's usually things like 50/50s not being given in our favour or wrong calls with throw ins that get the fans worked up, and I can't think of many card incidents in the past couple of seasons that were massively wrong in our games.
Thing is, people watching the Premiership or the World Cup say the same about refs that they're terrible and they ruin games - what are we comparing it to? Refs have always got things wrong, it's an impossible job. Unless it becomes a ludicrous situation where a ref is blatantly favouring a side (I bet that's never happened in any games you've seen), then suck it up.

 

[wilsontown]

Jim Kellerman was sent of for this challenge at the weekend, much to most of the grounds astonishment. Apparently even the Eastbourne commentator said he was surprised he was sent off. It is a one footed challenge and he got the ball 100%, yes his studs are up but is that really a red card challenge? As I saw Lew on twitter write; 'Blood rush to head moment for Sunday league ref. Gave it no thought.' Sums it up perfectly I think. I know it isn't the league but the referees still cover the same level-ish.

Nice to see Antony Straker wandering about doing sod all as usual in that pic.

 

[Jemfy]

Jim Kellerman was sent of for this challenge at the weekend, much to most of the grounds astonishment. Apparently even the Eastbourne commentator said he was surprised he was sent off. It is a one footed challenge and he got the ball 100%, yes his studs are up but is that really a red card challenge? As I saw Lew on twitter write; 'Blood rush to head moment for Sunday league ref. Gave it no thought.' Sums it up perfectly I think. I know it isn't the league but the referees still cover the same level-ish.

It's harsh but justifiable. It's studs up, which is generally considered reckless. You've seen worse given a yellow, but that doesn't mean it's not an OK decision. If it was that bad the club would appeal the decision and get it overturned - they won't because it holds up, if nothing else, under the clause "in the referees opinion".

 

[Jemfy]

If you think the standard of refs is bad at that level, I wish I bothered to remember half the terrible decisions I've seen over the past few years. The one that stands out was a lino who gave an offside directly from a throw in.

 

[AldershotSam]

Nice to see Antony Straker wandering about doing sod all as usual in that pic.

Haha I take it he didn't have a very good spell at York then? He has been man of the match for 2 games in a row now and has made his 240th appearance for Aldershot Town.

 

[DontBringBertie]

It's harsh but justifiable. It's studs up, which is generally considered reckless. You've seen worse given a yellow, but that doesn't mean it's not an OK decision. If it was that bad the club would appeal the decision and get it overturned - they won't because it holds up, if nothing else, under the clause "in the referees opinion".

How can you slide tackle without being "studs up"? Might as well just ban slide tackles. Judging by the photo it doesn't even look like a foul.

 

[LeWhites]

How can you slide tackle without being "studs up"? Might as well just ban slide tackles. Judging by the photo it doesn't even look like a foul.

Anybody who's played football will know that it's impossible to slide tackle without studs up. It's not even dangerous unless you're coming over the ball, which he clearly isn't.

 

[wilsontown]

Haha I take it he didn't have a very good spell at York then? He has been man of the match for 2 games in a row now and has made his 240th appearance for Aldershot Town.

Such a strange player for us - it was really frustrating because you could see he did have some actual talent, unlike most of the dross we've had recently. Before he came to us Southend fans were saying they got about one decent game in five out of him, and we didn't even get that. When he did have a good game he'd look unplayable though. Eventually seemed to give up completely and was binned by McNamara.

 

[Chris FGR]

The refereeing standards arent the best, but then neither is the playing standard. What else would you expect in the 5th tier?

Since we've developed a reputation as one of the cleanest sides in the league, refs have started being a bit more reasonable towards us in most of our games this season anyway imo. They know who the footballing sides are, and who the cloggers are.

 

[Jemfy]

How can you slide tackle without being "studs up"? Might as well just ban slide tackles. Judging by the photo it doesn't even look like a foul.

toes down, studs away from the man...

The whole studs up thing becomes more of an issue when the tackle is directly in on the player from in front - which is a dangerous thing to do to begin with IMO, rather than coming across the man with the aim of getting to the ball before them. The difference being when slide tackling from head on, even if you get the ball first you are very likely to make direct contact with the man and possibly cause injury.

 

[Chris FGR]

Talking of refs, hopefully we get Constantine Hatzidakis again soon, especially at home to Aldershot in a couple of weeks.

Whenever he referees us we seem to do very well, including at The Rec a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Sparrow]

There seems to be a bit of a pattern emerging now. First Will Evans and now Jim Kellerman. It's good to see referees are clamping down on these Aldershot thugs.

 

[FGRJC]

Jim Kellerman was sent of for this challenge at the weekend, much to most of the grounds astonishment. Apparently even the Eastbourne commentator said he was surprised he was sent off. It is a one footed challenge and he got the ball 100%, yes his studs are up but is that really a red card challenge? As I saw Lew on twitter write; 'Blood rush to head moment for Sunday league ref. Gave it no thought.' Sums it up perfectly I think. I know it isn't the league but the referees still cover the same level-ish.

. Don't know what your argument is here, studs showing, and foot above the ball... If this tackle was made on one of your players you'd be calling for a red...

 

[Boz]

Since we've developed a reputation as one of the cleanest sides in the league, refs have started being a bit more reasonable towards us in most of our games this season anyway imo. They know who the footballing sides are, and who the cloggers are.

Since when? Not seen that much of Forest Green highlights this season, but you were the dirtiest side to visit Prenton Park last season and with the thug Bennett still amongst your number, I'm a tad sceptical about the new clean Forest Green.

Best refereeing Anthony Backhouse v Maidstone, worst so far Andrew Miller at York. However one game isn't much of a sample to judge on. A number were promoted to football league duties this season, in some cases this was arguably too soon. Hence more inexperienced NL officials making up the numbers this season.

 

[Greenacres]

Since when? Not seen that much of Forest Green highlights this season, but you were the dirtiest side to visit Prenton Park last season and with the thug Bennett still amongst your number, I'm a tad sceptical about the new clean Forest Green.

A quick check of the FA website (http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/fairplay) shows that only two sides haven't had a player sent off this season, those being FGR and Barrow. There is maybe a third as Wrexham have a zero in the red column, but they also appear not to have had any yellows either, so I suspect that might not be correct.

Back to the subject of refs, there are good and bad, no different to any other league. I know it is said that you don't notice the ref if he is doing a good job, maybe that should be if the players aren't doing anything stupid. This season I have seen situations where there has been a foul and the ref stopped play immediately, but equally where they played advantage and then called play back if there wasn't any. I suppose we should remember that it is easy to be critical of someone doing something that many of us have never tried, but also that there would be no games without people willing to give it a go.

 

[Silver Stone]

I can't say I've noticed too many awful refs yet. Most likely because we're used to referees being even worse at the levels we've been playing at.

 

[Raymondo316]

Compared to the refs in the Kent & Ryman Leagues....there pretty damn good at this level.

 

[Shotsfan1993]

Talking of refs, hopefully we get Constantine Hatzidakis again soon, especially at home to Aldershot in a couple of weeks.

Whenever he referees us we seem to do very well, including at The Rec a couple of weeks ago.

And whenever he referees us we always end up with 10 men, so no thanks!