Issue 149

Who'd be a ref?

20th November 2006

By and large, referees are regarded as the most hated men in sport, but seemingly more so in football. One poor decision from them can cost a team dearly. It is a job which often sees them becoming scape-goats amongst fans for a team's dismal performance, and chants of 'the referee's a w*****' are synonymous around the majority of footballing, and indeed sporting venues.

But recently this hatred has begun to take on a more sinister form, a form where anger is being translated into violence. We need look no further than the recent FA cup clash between Newport and Swansea, in which an innocent official was struck by a missile, later identified to be a coin, and consequently spent a night in hospital. Why would someone take such violent and drastic action I here you ask, well it was because the home manager was asked to leave the dugout following a confrontation with the fourth official, and then proceeded to push the referee. Well knocking an official out with a coin sounds like a justifiable course of action, doesn't it?!

Whilst referees may be accustomed to abuse from fans, something they most certainly are not accustomed to, yet something that is being seen more and more in football, is abuse from the player's. If we take the example of the recent Premiership match between Tottenham and Chelsea, the reaction of some of the Chelsea players following John Terry's dismissal was nothing short of despicable. These men obviously need reminding they are rolemodels to thousands if not millions of children all over the world, and to display anger in such an aggressive manner toward an official is irresponsible, and an image that surely has no place in Sport.

If we were to compare this with the reaction of the England rugby team, when the referee concerned disallowed a seemingly legitimate try shortly before the England rearguard collapsed against New Zealand, we saw a team understandably unhappy, but who just returned to their positions ready to play. No fuss was made and a thoroughly enjoyable, bar the score, game was enjoyed by all.

So where does the responsibility lie to stop this kind of scene becoming part and parcel of British sport. Well, one person culpable is the team Captain, who as a leader, is responsible for making sure his charges maintain discipline. The finger could also be directed towards Managers and Chairmen who, like team Captains, are responsible for each and every player that represents their club, and should do so with pride and honour.

One solution that may well be implemented on a far greater scale, is the introduction of fines and police action against clubs, players and fans alike. Regardless of what action is taken, one thing is for certain, and that is that there is absolutely no place in sport for this kind of behaviour, nor should there be.

Sam Pettit