Incident - Nanis goal - Manchester Utd v Tottenham Hotspur
If this were a case within the backrooms of Wembley stadium you would hope that Clatts would plead guilty and take the mandatory punishment of a week at Aldershot or Burton, or worse 4th official to Stuart Attwell.
There is almost no doubt this will happen, however serious questions must be asked. Clattenburg is one of the new generation of Referees, pampered professionals with fitness coaches, psychiatrist's and team bonding weekends. The whole idea of professional referees when they were introduced in 2001 was to reduce the pressure levels on the referees, taking away the 9-5 job and giving them sufficient time to prepare to potentially change the course of a clubs history with the single blow of a whistle. Referees such as Clattenburg,Webb, Atkinson, Oliver, Attwell should have to prove it works to stop any potential critics such as Sir Alex Ferguson claiming that a day job helps take the referees mind off big decisions made the previous week.
The incident itself was farcical : Nani fell under a timid challenge from Kaboul. Having fallen he then placed his hand on the ball. Gomes presuming it was a Tottenham freekick rolled the ball out to take the freekick, Nani then came from behind Gomes, pounced on the ball and slotted it home. Cue mayhem ...
1. The penalty decision was correct
The immediate concern was the penalty call, which Clattenburg got correct. Nani has previous for soft penalty appeals and this was no different, Kaboul brushed past him at best. Nani looked for it and got nothing.
2. The Assitant should have seen it.
Simon Beck, the assitant in question played a bemusing role in this. Firstly, the handball was in his "area of credibility" and therefore if seen he should of flagged. To then offer no assitance until after Nani had scored is unprofessional. If, as he claimed to Heurelho Gomes, he "knew it was handball" he should have flagged long before he eventually did, to save Clattenburg's dignity if nothing else. His other mistake was not then convincing Clatts to give the freekick for handball, if he had seen it he should have made the point clear to stop the game descending into farce.
3. Was Clattenburg blind to the handball.
If you see the replays and Clattenburg's positioning this is unclear. His position is first class for dealing with the penalty appeal and his release to the drop zone from the goal kick he would be expecting to come. However, could he see the handball ? Maybe. It appears at the point of hand to ball impact that he is looking at Scholes appealing for a penalty. Even so he must have queried how the ball had stayed on the field after Nani's fall to the ground.
4. Finally, did he play Advantage ...
For a referee of Clattenburg's quality you would hope this was not the case. In a recent assessment I was criticised for "giving advantages in problematic positions for the team with possession". This is effectively what Clattenburg seems to have claimed to have done, on a much bigger stage. The only person who can tell us if this was the case is Rio Ferdinand, who inexplicably was not told to "go away" by the officials. Clattenburg is contracted not to talk, Ferdinand isn't and could provide the answer to the lack of signal or call from Clattenburg.
Verdict : Guilty - but Beck must fall with him.
Sunday 31 October 2010
Monday 25 October 2010
Tough tackling
Apoligies for the delay from my last post.
The big debate on a national front has been the intensity of tackles coming from many a player in the premier league and how they are dealt with. It has always been part of the English game to have a tough, intense game. Take Leeds of the 1970's for instance, whos intimidatory tactics were just seen as "the game". Even the influx of more technical foreign stars has not curtailed this, suggesting that it is a part of the game deeply embedded in English footballing culture.
However, one part of the foreign game which has been imported is the intolerance to such tackles and behaviour. In the past fortnight we have seen tackles of "excessive force" from Karl Henry, Nigel De Jong, Jack Wilshere and Fabrice Muamba. They were dealt with by red card, nothing ( excluding an international voluntary ban), red card and a freekick respectively. Now this is seen by many, Danny Murphy for instance, as inconsistency. However, this appears unfair on the referees concerned. As is so often said, "two years ago that wasnt a red card", in Wilsheres case for definite this is true. But that doesnt mean it was incorrect. One of the biggest issues for referees, is to apply the leagues directives. The weekend of Wilsheres red, a clampdown on tough tackling was almost certainly the directive. Unfortunate, yes. Good refereeing, also.
The other big issue arising this weekend has been regarding the offside law. There is no doubt that in the case of the Old firm game and Kenny Miller and with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, that the officials concerned got it right. Andy Gray was in a typical "Super sunday last word" mood - to the point, but perhaps offering the common sensical view on football. He was right, how could Ronaldo come from 20 yards offside to score in a matter of seconds. This is the common sense view which most fans and referees (including myself) hold. However, this was until i heard the words of Dermot Gallagher this morning, who talked of the FIFA intitiative to allow the offside to give strikers a little more freedom and the fact that "being offside is not an offence". This must be forgotten but i appreciate if many more crucial games are settled by such controversial circumstances, it must be looked at.
On a personal front, I have been assessed twice in the space of three games. This is nervewracking and can lead to some needless mistakes. I can only await the report from assessors which have appeared genuinely happy with my performances.
The big debate on a national front has been the intensity of tackles coming from many a player in the premier league and how they are dealt with. It has always been part of the English game to have a tough, intense game. Take Leeds of the 1970's for instance, whos intimidatory tactics were just seen as "the game". Even the influx of more technical foreign stars has not curtailed this, suggesting that it is a part of the game deeply embedded in English footballing culture.
However, one part of the foreign game which has been imported is the intolerance to such tackles and behaviour. In the past fortnight we have seen tackles of "excessive force" from Karl Henry, Nigel De Jong, Jack Wilshere and Fabrice Muamba. They were dealt with by red card, nothing ( excluding an international voluntary ban), red card and a freekick respectively. Now this is seen by many, Danny Murphy for instance, as inconsistency. However, this appears unfair on the referees concerned. As is so often said, "two years ago that wasnt a red card", in Wilsheres case for definite this is true. But that doesnt mean it was incorrect. One of the biggest issues for referees, is to apply the leagues directives. The weekend of Wilsheres red, a clampdown on tough tackling was almost certainly the directive. Unfortunate, yes. Good refereeing, also.
The other big issue arising this weekend has been regarding the offside law. There is no doubt that in the case of the Old firm game and Kenny Miller and with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, that the officials concerned got it right. Andy Gray was in a typical "Super sunday last word" mood - to the point, but perhaps offering the common sensical view on football. He was right, how could Ronaldo come from 20 yards offside to score in a matter of seconds. This is the common sense view which most fans and referees (including myself) hold. However, this was until i heard the words of Dermot Gallagher this morning, who talked of the FIFA intitiative to allow the offside to give strikers a little more freedom and the fact that "being offside is not an offence". This must be forgotten but i appreciate if many more crucial games are settled by such controversial circumstances, it must be looked at.
On a personal front, I have been assessed twice in the space of three games. This is nervewracking and can lead to some needless mistakes. I can only await the report from assessors which have appeared genuinely happy with my performances.
Monday 11 October 2010
Gentlemen's game played by thugs.
Porton Sports V Stockton and Codford
Venue - Porton Camp.
This is one weekend where i wish Salisbury and District players were called up for international duty, giving us referees the week off to enjoy our intense endeavours of the last 5 weeks. Unfortunately due to the skill levels of all concerned, this was not the case. This is the first game of this season where refereeing has given me the full "working over". Twenty minutes into a football/kicking match, i was greeted by a cautionable challenge from a Stockton player, i believe it should be called doing a "Karl Henry". This was proceeded by a melee of player's, im afraid i cannot talk of the details of this incident due to disciplinary measures (yes seriously!). However, i had to reduce one team to 10 men. It is here that the reaction of the players suprised me. I'm sure you've seen regularly the usual anarchy which can occur with the simplest of red cards. However, the only comment i heard was "Hang on ref, let us reorganise", needless to say out of both suprise and common niceities, I allowed this to occur. The game proceeded with the same bubbling temperature, however I looked to use the "10 minute technique" of Graham Poll, this involves 10 minute periods of intense work, blowing up for every little offense. It seemed to work, reducing the tension in the game and calming the challenges. This led to an exciting 2-2 finish.
Job well done ? maybe.
Venue - Porton Camp.
This is one weekend where i wish Salisbury and District players were called up for international duty, giving us referees the week off to enjoy our intense endeavours of the last 5 weeks. Unfortunately due to the skill levels of all concerned, this was not the case. This is the first game of this season where refereeing has given me the full "working over". Twenty minutes into a football/kicking match, i was greeted by a cautionable challenge from a Stockton player, i believe it should be called doing a "Karl Henry". This was proceeded by a melee of player's, im afraid i cannot talk of the details of this incident due to disciplinary measures (yes seriously!). However, i had to reduce one team to 10 men. It is here that the reaction of the players suprised me. I'm sure you've seen regularly the usual anarchy which can occur with the simplest of red cards. However, the only comment i heard was "Hang on ref, let us reorganise", needless to say out of both suprise and common niceities, I allowed this to occur. The game proceeded with the same bubbling temperature, however I looked to use the "10 minute technique" of Graham Poll, this involves 10 minute periods of intense work, blowing up for every little offense. It seemed to work, reducing the tension in the game and calming the challenges. This led to an exciting 2-2 finish.
Job well done ? maybe.
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Promotion.
Due to the absence of Stuart Attwell and the presence of my university application, the weeks incidents will have to be left to Keith Hackett (The Guardian) and Graham Poll ( The Daily Mail ).
However, i now want to explain one of the biggest things that confuses the average football fan. How does that referee in the premier league get to where he is.
There are 9 levels to refereeing actively. 1 being the top, 9 being the bottom. Every referee starts off as a level 9 having passed the original test, they then effectively must referee 6 games competently to be moved to either level 8 (under 16) or level 7 (over 16). It is at this point that the rules differ county by county. To apply for a promotion to either level 6 or level 5 you must in most counties have completed 1 full season at rank Level 7. This isnt the absolute rule set down by wembley and is therefore open to interpretation. From this point , the candidates have to pass a test on the laws of the game (test on football, how hard can that be? ), complete 20 games and pass three assessments with a mark of over 70. This applies until a referee reaches level 4 - here they will do the "middle" in the supply leagues and run the line on the contributory league. A south western example would be - referee - wessex league line - Zammareto league.
Beyond this, promotion and competition, i am reliably assured, becomes tougher. Referees are assessed with much greater regularity and stringency and must be seen to do more than just the minimum. Many factors can help to make a referees face fit ; being young, fit or holding connections, can help a referee progress from supply to contributory to the conference to the "holy grail" of the football league. Any referee who reaches the football league is seen as the "cream of the crop". However, to reach the "select group", the national list referees must hold age on their side as well as the luck of the draw and the ability to handle the big occasion.
It took Howard Webb 14 years to go from the local leagues to premier league; this is quick but shows talent can be rewarded as soon as it gains the neccessary experience.
However, i now want to explain one of the biggest things that confuses the average football fan. How does that referee in the premier league get to where he is.
There are 9 levels to refereeing actively. 1 being the top, 9 being the bottom. Every referee starts off as a level 9 having passed the original test, they then effectively must referee 6 games competently to be moved to either level 8 (under 16) or level 7 (over 16). It is at this point that the rules differ county by county. To apply for a promotion to either level 6 or level 5 you must in most counties have completed 1 full season at rank Level 7. This isnt the absolute rule set down by wembley and is therefore open to interpretation. From this point , the candidates have to pass a test on the laws of the game (test on football, how hard can that be? ), complete 20 games and pass three assessments with a mark of over 70. This applies until a referee reaches level 4 - here they will do the "middle" in the supply leagues and run the line on the contributory league. A south western example would be - referee - wessex league line - Zammareto league.
Beyond this, promotion and competition, i am reliably assured, becomes tougher. Referees are assessed with much greater regularity and stringency and must be seen to do more than just the minimum. Many factors can help to make a referees face fit ; being young, fit or holding connections, can help a referee progress from supply to contributory to the conference to the "holy grail" of the football league. Any referee who reaches the football league is seen as the "cream of the crop". However, to reach the "select group", the national list referees must hold age on their side as well as the luck of the draw and the ability to handle the big occasion.
It took Howard Webb 14 years to go from the local leagues to premier league; this is quick but shows talent can be rewarded as soon as it gains the neccessary experience.
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