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The pressure on coaches and managers can be high.
At this time of year, in what is commonly known as the “business end” – with clubs fighting for promotion and, conversely, against relegation – it can be even more intense.
That is understandable.
What is not acceptable is that some use match officials as “scapegoats” to justify their players’ inability or inefficiency to score goals and achieve that all-important result.
One of the most outspoken critics of referees is the manager of Cardiff City in the English Premier League.
In a post-match interview on Sky television last week, Neil Warnock openly lambasted referees and, in particular, Mike Riley, the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.
Warnock said Riley, who is a former Premier League referee, was “producing officials that act like ‘robots’ and who do not understand the modern game”.
This was in the wake of his side’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
In fairness to Warnock, the winning goal did appear to be offside as Chelsea’s César Azpilicueta put the ball in the net.
He called for “an overhaul of the current system for training officials”, citing the need to lean on the experience of past Premier League referees such as Paul Durkin, Graham Poll, Mark Clattenburg and Mark Halsey.
Warnock also made, what I would term, inflammatory remarks about the whole refereeing fraternity in the Premier League and this could lead, in my opinion, only to at least verbal and perhaps physical attacks on these unfortunate “men in black”, although we don’t always use black as a uniform any more – sadly.
It will be interesting to see if the Football Association takes any form of disciplinary action against Warnock.
But, one thing’s for sure, he definitely should not be allowed to openly criticise match officials who do not have a right of reply.
That’s a definite no-no, Warnock.
New law changes continued
Law 7 (the duration of the match)
Clarification on the difference between “cooling” and “drinks” breaks.
Law 8 (the start and restart of play)
. The team that wins the toss may choose to take the kick-off.
. Dropped ball – ball dropped for goalkeeper (if play stopped in penalty area) or for one player of team that last touched the ball at the location of the last touch; all other players (of both teams) must be at least 4m away.
Law 9 (the ball in and out of play)
Dropped ball if the ball touches the referee (or other match official) and goes into the goal, possession changes or an attacking move starts.
Law 10 (determining the outcome of a match)
Goalkeeper cannot score by throwing the ball into the opponents’ goal.
Law 12 (fouls and misconduct)
. Handball text rewritten for greater clarity/consistency with clear guidelines for when “non-deliberate” handball should (and should not) be penalised.
. Confirmation that an “illegal” handball offence by a goalkeeper in their own penalty area is not sanctioned with a YC/RC [yellow or red card].
. If, after a throw-in or deliberate pass from a team-mate, the goalkeeper unsuccessfully kicks or tries to kick the ball to release it into play, the goalkeeper can then handle the ball.
. Referee can delay issuing a YC/RC until the next stoppage if the non-offending team takes a quick free kick and creates a goal-scoring opportunity.
. The YC for an “illegal” goal celebration remains even if the goal is disallowed.
. List of the warning/YC/RC offences for team officials.
. All verbal offences are punished with an IDFC [indirect free kick].
. Kicking an object is punished in the same way as throwing an object.
Happy whistling!
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. If you have any questions for the Hanging judge, please send them to sports@citypress.co.za
