How should we deal with referees that make consistently bad decisions?

Question

How should we deal with referees that make consistently bad decisions?

Answer 1

sack them! but it would help if they had that futbol with the technology in it to help with offside & goals. stuff like that...so it would help if they had technoglogy. but i would say sack them! dont hire them, give them a test on futbol rules & stuff.

Answer 2

I think referees have a really difficult job and the game of football has become so much faster. There are increasing cases of referees making very bad decisions (and assistant referees also) and it is worrying when these decisions will affect the outcome of the league and competitions. I think the only way to resolve the issue is to introduce the video referee as in rugby and cricket - it is simply a few moments wait to clarify the situation and come up with the correct decision. Also, referees who make consistently bad decisions gain a bad reputation and lose respect from managers, players and fans so there is a lot of pressure on them to perform well. We should support referees more and find ways of helping them rather than being so quick to persecute!

Answer 3

If I made bad decisions in my job as often as some of the refs we see then I'd have no home, wife or car because I'd be out of a job and on the streets. Plus the hospital in which I work would have no patients either!!



Given how costly to clubs, fans and players some of the shocking decisions can be - i.e. the goal awarded to Reading, there should be strong repercussions... i.e. a fine or suspension. It seems that it's an "us and them" scenario though, with the FA constantly backing/supporting the refs and not coming out with common sense (take, for example, an incorrect dismissal/booking - even if the ref is wrong the FA won't rescind on appeal if the ref says he saw the incident. WHY?!?!?!?! It's so frustrating!).



The obvious thing to do would be to have a panel of officials with monitors and that would tighten things up so much, plus players would most likely play a bit more honestly/cleanly if they knew that there was little chance of getting away with a cynical challenge. Yup, I'm very much in favour of goal line technology etc.



Remember that the set up of a referee and his linesmen is a concept as old as the game itself. Times have changed, technology is much greater and there is so much more money involved not just for clubs but for the fans - a lot of supporters put their team first in their lives and scrimp and scrape so they can get season tickets or get to a game or two a season and it's not fair on them to have their day ruined by an incompetent referee.



There is a cliche that "it's swings and roundabouts," that you probably get an even keel of bad decisions that work in your favour or against you but I don't believe that's true, some teams will get more luck than others and I don't believe luck should have any dominant place in the sport. The game has rules to keep discipline and make the game fair > having dodgie decisions week in/week out does not achieve this.



I'm also sick of hearing "well, referees are only human you know!" Given that that is classed as an excuse just supports the argument that a machine should do the job for them. And why is it that when I'm watching a game in a pub, 95% of the punters in there will correctly spot an offside from their table even after excessive amounts of alcohol?? Because anyone can do it, except -evidently- the referee or linesman who can't see from his angle. All he needs to assist is someone with an overhead camera or a side view to radio over his headset to point out the offside; it wouldn't add that much time over the course of the game, even if there were 20 offsides for either side - you're looking at perhaps an extra four minutes added on to the game, great value for money!



PS Effenberg, you were an effin amazing player ;-)

Answer 4

Hi



Just like in any other profession, if not already, all referees should be addressed by a senior person/official and de-brief the decisions they have made on their games (good or bad) on a weekly or monthly basis. They should be praised where they have refereed well such as high profile matches where the players can be a bit of a handful and also highlight and address any exceptional levels of bad decision/refereeing. In the case of the latter, a plan could be set with realistic goals to ensure that the error levels drop within a specific time period and if this doesn't happen then the referee would be issued with a formal warning upon the next meeting. If matters still didn't improve then the referee would be made redundant. I really don't see why this management style which is used in so many occupations can't be applied to Sport.

Answer 5

Send them back to referee training school. FIFA should place random referee observers in the stands at each match (like mystery shoppers) that makes regular reports to the association on the performance of each referee. If one is found to be dificient, the association should send a notice to him that he will be required to attent a FIFA sponsored referee's training school until he can demonstrate FIFA required proficiency.



That being said, we must also remember that the referee makes whatever decision he feels is best. As the spectators, we can speculate all we want to about what we think would be the proper decision. However, we are not on the field, and we do not see everything the referee does. Each referee is different and the game is controlled differently by each one. The above solution is a way to maintain consistency among the referees, but that inconsistency is part of what makes the game interesting. Questions about what will be a foul and what will pass is part of the suspense of watching a football match. Also, when something serious goes down, isn't it fun to wonder if the card will come out of the ref's pocket?

Answer 6

Today there is far too much money in the game for for any match to rely solely on the whim of a Ref, a definite method of resolution is the way forward here.

Screens placed around the ground could replay the action caught on camera, the Ref awarding any wrong doing with what the rules depict and in sight of both teams supporters.

This should happen if only for health and safety of the crowd, let alone the fairness to some of the poorer clubs when bad decisions are called.

Answer 7

grade them through video evidence! video evidence i believe is only helpful in an after result way, that does NOT affect the outcome of the final decision, but will affect a referees standing in a points league, ruled by a governing body of ex officials, ex footballers, etc

this way the more important matches are given to the referees who are the most consistent in their decisions.

for example if a penalty was given for a blatant dive in the box, the penalty will stand as normal, but the special governing body of experts would look at the evidence within a period of time after the match and would rule on if the referee got the decision right or wrong, if he got it wrong he would fall down the rankings. If the referee continued to make poor decisions, he would not be put in charge of a semi final/final just because he was an experienced referee like it seems to be just now!! hope that gives you some food for thought steffan, cheers from a Glasgow Rangers fan

Answer 8

I think the best solution would be to alter the rules of the game such that the decisions would become consistently good.



Perhaps if the players (and fans) showed a little respect for the office of referee, that would be a start.

Answer 9

What a good question, but the answer is one that everyone involved in football has been trying to find for nearly a decade now.



Personally I think the problem goes deeper than mere bad referees...I think it is something that has been brought on by the huge amount of money and greed that pervades and infests the modern game...and something that is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.



Sorry I can't give a better opinion than that, but smarter men than me have tried and are still no closer to a solution.

Answer 10

Referee's do not have the benefit of endless replays like the pundits who sit on the sofa the following morning criticising them do. However, as we saw yesterday from the likes of Rob Styles and the week previously from Riley, referees who get it wrong have the ability to ruin important games.



What I'm saying is with regards to the Premiership;



I don't believe they should be relegated for one week only, this is not what happens with players, is it? Why not just have a league table akin to the Premier League with the chance for promotion and relegation from divisions, based on assessors marking. Having said this, I believe there should be an option for top referees who are doing well in lower divisions to be fast tracked up to the top flight.

Answer 11

Refs like all officials should be judged over so many games and see if there is a pattern if there is then you address eg the position they are in when the mistakes were made analyse it with them and work through some ideas of course drop them to a lower league until they have both satisfied a match ref and gained there confidence back before going back up hehe sorry I'm not in the shoot them brigade like most people (managers mainly agree) it usually works out even over the season

Answer 12

Rate each bad decision before a panel, and bring in bans in line with player bans, a player gets a 3 game ban for a bad tackle or a 10 game ban for a dangerous tackle, same for the ref, 3 game ban for a poor decision, 10 game ban for a serious mistake!!! THATS FAIR!!!



Neil The Hat: You are a idiot, women's football isn't as bad as you think, go to a game and see, I saw Aberdeen v Dundee Utd men two weeks ago, it was sh*t, the next day Aberdeen v Glasgow City (ladies) played, great game, so Neil the Prat, get real!!!! The women don't want the failure ref's from the men's game!!!! Another example: Tottenham Hotspur's mens team are struggling, Tottenham Hotspur ladies team was promoted last season, so who's better??

Answer 13

Video technology for the 4th official, a ref who makes a bad decision should be given a yellow card and made to watch video reply until he understands the error of his ways, if it happens again then he should be given a red card and banned for 3 matches. Retraining is a must, these guys have a very hard job, retraining is essential in order to keep them constantly up to date with what 'new' tricks SOME players are using.

Answer 14

I think video technology is what the game needs. Especially for those very hard decisions that referees have to make

Answer 15

Referees do not deliberate make mistakes. Sacking them is not the answer as all refs make mistakes and we could end up with no top flight refs. they make fewer mistakes than players. i would suggest that they are allowed to explain their decisions in post-match interviews. A lot of decisions are open to interpretation. take Ronaldo's penalty decision last Saturday. Stan Collymore thinks he was cheating and diving whereas Ian Wright thinks it was a foul

Answer 16

deal referees consistently bad decisions

Answer 17

Every job should have a probationary period, and annual reviews. The tapes of games and hotly contested decisions should be viewed and discussed at this review, along with the other behavioural requirements of the position. There should be merit-based raises, or lack of raises to encourage professional growth. Continuing education should also be required to support growth. This can all be written right into the referee's contract.



I suggest you create a simple, yet flexible form with the goals the league wants achieved so the referees can check back with it to continue their professional growth throughout the year.

Answer 18

Public stoning......... should do it.



I think that they should be involved with the interview process after the games including the post match conference, they are a massive influence on the outcome of the game so should have to be held accountable for their mistakes, they don't even have to speak to anyone, they would get a lot more respect if they came out and said their reasoning or apologised - after all they are also human (I think) and everyone makes mistakes it's how you deal with them. They all want to be involved on the pitch with these world class players so they ahve to take the rough with the smooth.

Answer 19

Considering the vast amounts of money involved in today's game, all referees should have the benefit of electronic assistance to help with their decisions.

It works in other sports - it would work in soccer.

It's ludicrous that, under certain conditions, one dubious decision by a referee, can affect a club to the tune of many millions of pounds.

Answer 20

Consistent bad performers should be stripped of their license and retrained. And after 3 months trial in the lower leagues should they be allowed back into tthe top divisions.



As for video technology .... I am against it .... the odd referee mistake like the handball missed orr the offside goal ..... are what makes football the most talked about subject in hiomes, streets and pubs across the world.

Answer 21

Demoting them is unfair on the lower league sides that would end up suffering eg Rochdale, Bury, my team Crewe and further down the line teams like Witton Albion and Gainsborough.



Take away their licences and consider an application made. If accepted make them relearn all the laws in a clasroom based environment.



Or if they were called Jeff Winter make them listen to ABBA for a few months.

Answer 22

We have got to punish them for being consistently bad and reward them if they are consistently good. Therefore the best performing refs will be taking charge of the top matches.

Answer 23

Hire efficient German Referees Stefan!

Answer 24

I think that we should let the game be played as it is, i dont think that its the referee's fault there is the lines men aswell who sometimes have a better view and were only humans so let the game be played as it has always been played.

Answer 25

If they're making consistently bad decisions they should be investigated. Especially if it's in favour or against the same teams over and over. They should possibly be fired. We don't need bad refs. The less the better.

Answer 26

i have to ask myself, is it really the referee's fault? my answer would be no- not altogether. the fault should lay with the law-makers, and the football authorities. in these high tech days , football is left dragging it's heels. the professional game in this country really needs to get real and catch up. video technology is there- why doesn't the game make use of it?

the referee has a difficult enough job- let's make it easier for them. frustrating as it is, the ref isn't to blame altogether.

Answer 27

limited video technology and 2 referees one for each half of the pitch as well as umpires at each end of the pitch at the goals also 2 more linesmen have 2 for each side and 1 gets a half of the pitch each it will give more correct decisions on offsides and off the ball incidences

Answer 28

They should be given the tapes to watch and ask them of their own judgements again. If they accept their mistakes, they can be given some suspension. If they do not accept their mistakes, the authorities can also take their own firm decisions by suspending them for some time.

Answer 29

They should have a point deduction system... If they accumulate a number of points, then they will be out of the industry. At least with the point system, still can give them some chance to improve on their composure, I think sometimes when they made a mistake, mostly is because they are feeling the heat and couldn't composed themselves.

Answer 30

I think we should turn them into celebrities and then hound them with paparazzi until they die alone in a hotel room because they've taken too many drugs. I don't mean an over dose, but like, by getting loads of pills wedged in their throats or something.



Alternatively we could just consign them to refereeing women's football, so that the standard of refereeing matches the standard of football.

Answer 31

By the way players are dealt with by unsportsman behaviour & when they are acting outside of the rules. Match bans, fines & indicating them of their bad decisions on video photage. Where the beleif is to improve rather than punish.

Answer 32

Take them off the register until retraining has occurred and then make them do sunday morning league to practise and served some sort of probation period before they are allowed to return to league matches

Answer 33

Unless you are member of the referees governing board, there's not a lot you can do except swear at them and throw the occasionally fake pound coin.

Answer 34

they are human. we make mistakes all the time (i should know i'm a millwall fan!) ref's are not robots, if you want perfect play& decisions for the allotted time start by stopping the cheats that roll round and round after a mere touch, get water put on pain and then run fine or the others conning refs for penalties.

Answer 35

Make them referee in minor leagues until they improve.

Answer 36

send them here to watch a match in Scotland especially when the celtic is playing then they will see bad refereeing in action as they consistently get all the decisions that is going including their compulsory penalty thanks to nakamura the diver.

Answer 37

Make them a full time ref for Chelsea - that way Chelsea may have a chance of wining something!

Answer 38

The F.A should drop them to a lower league. e.g premership to league 1, 2 or maybe if they were that bad non league football.

Answer 39

Its not the referees fault. The solution is simple, BRING IN VIDEO EVEIDENCE AND EVERYONES LIFE IS MADE EASIER!

Answer 40

we should give the referees red cards and make them suspended for 3 matches

Answer 41

if the bad decisions are alway effecting one team either negatively or positively then they should be hung , drawn and quartered at the gallowgate for matches in glasgow or places similar elsewhere! that way we can put old buildings back to their original uses

Answer 42

what can you do ?



It's human error



But if it is constant then they should be told to referee lower league games and not big games like finals or semi-finals

Answer 43

at what point do u stop saying mistakes and start saying cooruption



lets face it some of the decisions are so in you face obvious, u have to ask it



i think people on tv are too scare to point the finger but its crossed many peoples minds....



surely some of the ref have other interests in mind when they do this....

Answer 44

Put them in a lower league permanently or give the boot, (excuse the pun)

Answer 45

if they get a fee deduct a large amount with the loss of money in there pocket my make them use there heads, those who do not get paid should go or do more training ...not a happy job been a ref but we do need them.

Answer 46

After checking on video replays, the FA should give them a yellow card for two mistakes, and a red card (three match ban) for three + mistakes in a game.



4 red cards and they should be transferred to the Rumanian second division!

Answer 47

Simple answer, GET RID OF THEM!!

They are ruining the world of football and they are encouraging players to do dirty tackles.

Answer 48

Give them video replay technology, its down to human error, so eliminate that and uve got a fair game. simple.

Answer 49

Ban them from the game

Answer 50

give them a massive pay rise and a multy million pound bonus every year / no sorry scratch that i thought you meant the other Bankers

Answer 51

Do not use them, simple as that, or limit them (if there are not enough referees) to lower league games or use them as linesmen (sorry, referees assistants).

Answer 52

The same with anything substandard. Refuse to pay good money for bad.

Answer 53

publicly flog them! unless the decision goes for the gers then we should give them freedom of the city!

Answer 54

help them with video technology and if that doesn't work give them the boot or to be frank sack them so that they won't tarnish the image of football

Answer 55

how about giving the players that cheat/dive a 3 match ban and fine, that will help them alot and clean up the game because we all get conned !

Answer 56

i know it so anoying when they tell u that u done somthing wrong when u aint

but u cant realy do any thing but dont realy get angry with them or be mean or they will pick on u so just agree and be good and be his friend so he wont want to getangry at u





xxxxxxxxxx

genny

Answer 57

put them on the sunday morning pub team games for retraining

Answer 58

if they make mistakes regularly re train them and make them sit exams again - if it carries on then sack them. i think video evidence for disputed goals and red cards is inevitable. it works in rugby and tennis.

it would also stop all the diving!

Answer 59

if their decisions are blatantly and consistently bad, they they should either be demoted to a lower divisions or, if they are still bad, as said above, give them the boot.

Answer 60

castration.





or if they're really bad make them watch 10 minutes of eastenders.

Answer 61

i recon every human being makes mistakes often...

so it would be a good idea to more trainnin..

or simply if they still make those mistakes they should be penalized or may be suspended....

usin technology to help them would also be a good idea..

Answer 62

kill their pets and burn their houses.





edit- im joking. same as everyone else in life, if you do your job badly you are demoted or sacked. technology should be available to them, why is football still in the dark ages when we have so much more at our disposal.

Answer 63

Take away their licence, ask them to re-apply and unless they are prepared to start from the bottom to regain the trust of the ruling bodies, then they can look elsewhere.

Answer 64

Get Roberto Carlos to kick em' in the spuds!!!

Answer 65

first of all if the desicion is for ur team,then support the ref....if its against ur team,then assault the ref in bad words

Answer 66

i think they should be given more training and made to pass another test or they have their licence revoked or dropped to lower leagues.

Answer 67

quite simply ..use video evidence ..with today's technology it should be quick and easy ..Plus I would expect soccer violence to almost disappear

Answer 68

If they do it continuously & a lot they should get fired, as simple as that.

Answer 69

play review like in american football

Answer 70

Send them to Sir Alex Ferguson, he'll sort them out i'm sure!

Answer 71

Death Penalty

Answer 72

send em bacl to germany

Answer 73

Why did you never play for Celtic ?

Answer 74

take your phone out and walk towards the ref at the end of the game. ask him if its his phone. if he asks why your asking tell him "oh i thought it was yours it said 10 missed calls"

Answer 75

send them to Old Trafford.

Answer 76

have them re assesed or dropped to another level of football

Answer 77

do the same thing that we do with players, managers or anyone else that consistantly make bad decisions.



GET RID OF THEM!!!

Answer 78

bring in the magic beem for offsides and goal-lines

Answer 79

Check them to the FANS. That will sort them out!

Answer 80

demote them down the leagues

Answer 81

put them in a lower league. it happened to clattenburg when he messed up the merseyside derby last year. he might have been fined as well.

Answer 82

beheading springs to mind

Answer 83

Change their batteries

Answer 84

Smack them and send them to bed early...



whatever.its only sport.

Answer 85

FIRST OF ALL HALLO

I REMEBER YOU USED TO PLAY FOR GERMANY INIT

5 GOALS GO ON



WELL I THINK REFS THAT DO THAT SHOULD BE SACKED BECAUSE IF THEY DONT KNOW ANYTHING THEN WHATS THE POINT

I MEAN TERRYS RED CARD WAS A COMPLETE BAD DECISION FOR THE REF



OK YELLOW CARD FOR TERRY BUT RED.NOOOOO

Answer 86

red card them

Answer 87

Video technology, and any who refuse to use it get booted to the conference level.

Answer 88

send them back for more training and get a video ref in if the ref does not improve then give him the sack

Answer 89

Video ref like in rugby would sort it

Answer 90

Give them the boot or help them out with video technology,

by the way you where a class player in your day,

Answer 91

give them the boot. ...... it could be the literal boot if u want 2 because sometimes i feel like kicking them.

Answer 92

Simple:



Sack them

Answer 93

Give them the sack!

Answer 94

tar and feathering

Answer 95

consistantly?



Pretty obvious, drop them/suspend them, if they are no better when they return, sack them

Answer 96

slit their throats

Answer 97

we should tar and feather 'em

Answer 98

Make sure Man Utd are investigated when they do

Answer 99

give them the cane

Answer 100

JUST LET THEM LOOK AT REPLAY........

Answer 101

get a shotgun and...

Answer 102

shoot them!