Andrew Smith

@TakingItToal 100% red card

Absolute joke of a decision Joke #efl #bwfc

@FBAwayDays Text book red card

Bolton’s John McAtee was given a straight red for this challenge at Plymouth today. Do you think it’s the right decision? 🤔

@refsupportuk I wouldn’t say they have stepped up, but it is a lot better than it was is a fairer summary, they can still do a lot more.

Don’t despair Matt. They have stepped up. * Worlds first Body cam pilot in football. * Points deductions for ref abuse. * Compulsory anger management courses. * Huge support off the pitch * changing regulations to react quicker on serious cases * Publishing verdicts and punishments across the country. * Fast tracking cases. And still more to come. There many organisations that have not stepped up. The FA are not one of them

@refsupportuk Tbh, it is an incorrect decision. I see why he got it wrong.

I hate this nonsense. Suppose you took every chance?

@refsupportuk @refsupportuk spot on!

This is actually a very interesting post. When I worked at the FA as a referee coach, I would analyse how many refs from my group gave cards when an assessor was there and compared that to when there wasn’t. Over the 7 years I proved you were 3 times more likely to get a yellow card when there was an assessor present. Now this is not the assessors fault although some do have their own idiosyncrasies so you had to manage the assessor sometimes. It was also clear that many refs “over ref” when an observer/ assessor is present and “under ref” when they were not. Why? You may say. Well club marks counted as part of promotion so clubs didn’t want cards (wether they were correct or not) if you did they would mark you low. Clubs need to take responsibility as well as refs for this. Also and this is important, the head of refereeing back then said he expected a range from 70-73 for most games. Interestingly, if you had that average mark as a ref at the end of the season, you would get demoted. This meant refs went looking for cards and were “busy” to get better marks. This legacy is still there. Clubs marks mean less at some levels but if clubs were less emotional about refs performance this trend would never be there. Some assessors also would never or seldom mark over the “expected standards” as they would get pulled up by the head of refereeing for marking too high. They never got pulled up for marking too low.🤔 Some observers/assessors just would not give high marks so refs would cry off their games when they saw who was assessing and some assessors where friends of the ref they were assessing and they never stated their conflict. There was also a ref who’s Dad was the assessors appointments officer and he got looked after. When he got to the next level where the father had no “connections” nor influence the ref was found wanting and was just not prepared and ready for that level. There is no silver bullet for this but recently the FA give more credence for game management and are certainly more aware of the problem. It must still be noted that clubs don’t appear to mark refs fairly so this trait will all ways be in place. There is a lot to this subject and it’s always been the way that some great refs are passed over for promotion by refs who are not as good as them but have connections.

@Powelly_9 Did you know at some levels there are referee scouts who go to games and literally referees don’t know they are there.

Referees who are being assessed/observed handling matches differently to how they normally would 👎🏻

@IanATP @wembleystadium It looks fantastic

Last night, a woman behind me came over pre kick off and said 'I've just captured a video of you and your son. Can I send it to you?' I gave her my email and I think it might just be my favourite video ever. @wembleystadium

@IpswichTownFans There is a process. That is not the way it is communicate to the FA. Show us the evidence?

John Busby emailed the FA THREE days after the game asking for the Davis incident to be reviewed, a twat of the highest order with a clear malicious reaction to the stick he got from the fans and McKenna. Should never be able ref us again. #ITFC

@gavinbr74 @TimesSport @samcunningham It is a serious issue that I have seen first hand.

@TimesSport @samcunningham PTSD- really?

Referee Peter Williams is still struggling with PTSD and depression three years on from an incident that showcases the dangers officials face at grassroots level Interview by @samcunningham #Echobox=1774198206" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">thetimes.com/sport/football…

@NathanRef96 Nathan are you a member of the referees association, if so they can welfare support. Let me know if you want a contact who can help. Take easy it.

@Samwinch2013 @theposhwomen @Boldmere_WFC Hope you lad gets sorted soon!

@theposhwomen Safe travels to all fans this afternoon for our top of the table clash with @Boldmere_WFC And best of luck to the players and coaching staff! The son and I, will be cheering you on from AnE 🏥

@thecrescent78 Having been an AR in these situations you cannot guess even if you are wrong. One look only. And it always a split second, if you can get there in time!

Still seeing people saying this shot was “definitely” over the line. For me it’s definitely not. Thoughts? #ycfc

@belstonefcfirst Great work to everyone and best wishes to the match official.

So game abandoned today owing to a medical emergency for one of the officials. Prayers that he makes a speedy recovery. Aside from the match itself just want to add how proud we are of our captain Mitch and Physio Allan who undoubtedly saved his life 🙏

@walkingego It is really, there is just not enough structured support out there. Most of the support at local level is by volunteers. Refereeing can be a very lonely at times, especially in the first couple of years. CPD some be mandatory every season. I actually agree with all of this!

From memory, when I did the refs course there wasn’t any real instruction on running the lines. Now it plays a massive part of the promotion ladder as you can line the level above you can officiate. As a coach we have access to CPD (online refresher course on certain elements) If officials had to complete some sort of CPD themselves each year, it would help them with law. Especially changing laws each year a quick online CPD course would help. Maybe a minimum requirement of online courses on specific subjects depending on level they are at.

I understand that there is a shortage of officials in the game and that means that there isn’t the required ability levels all the time to officiate the level with competence that we would all like. That being said application of basic law should be flawless. Yesterday was embarrassing. Linesman’s Explanation; the player was offside when the shot went in (player who scored) but it hit one of your players then went to him so I didn’t flag it. I think sometimes officials think that players and management don’t know the laws of the game. Fair play to the actual Referee who came in afterwards to ask for the footage to use it as a teaching point. (An admission the linesman got it wrong) It hasn’t affected the result in this game but that doesn’t mean we should just accept it. This wasn’t an ambiguous law. This wasn’t human error or missing something which can happen. This was a complete failing in law. These officials are paid a lot of money by clubs and some of the attitudes from them are completely unacceptable and unprofessional. The moment a player/manager questions them it results in a card. I understand it’s a difficult job, I’ve done it myself but surely more can be done to improve the working relationships, educate officials on the basics and get some sort of value for money for clubs paying over £150 per game for a service! Shortages shouldn’t mean we have to just accept poor officiating in any other workspace it would lead to disciplinary action, demotions, retraining. They are not volunteers and clearly the clubs rating of these officials after games isn’t taken seriously as we see the same faces week in week out. The acceptance of ‘we know they aren’t good enough but we don’t have enough of them so it is what it is’ shouldn’t wash. It’s down to the FA who also take a lot of money from clubs each season to put a plan into place and action effective change! I suspect there will be some comeback on me personally for this for questioning integrity but i felt the need to raise it nonetheless!

@BscpgceTom I am nice 👌 and local at Notts County v Boldmere, enjoy Cheltenham!

@Andyrefs1 you out tomorrow anywhere nice pal?

@SpursArmyTweets Video clear foul push two hands. Correct decision. In the PA. Second one is a push, to but need to know what happens next. A still picture doesn’t tell us anything. Show the second one as a video and will comment,

🚨 NEW: The Premier League have released REFCAM for the DISALLOWED Randal Kolo Muani goal in the North London Derby. 🎥👀 Referee, Peter Bankes: “It is a clear foul. End of.”

@thatseriphosi Well, if you are going to write something do your research first! RA are a members organisation who are not involved in referee appointments

Darren Drysdale was ‘spoken to’ by the Referees’ Association after Tuesday’s game. They weren’t happy with his performance, especially the penalty decision that they say he got wrong. #RAFC #SUFC

@JezClein @refsupportuk Oh I can hear it now, if the VAR had not failed we would have another point. By the way not aimee at you specifically more football in general, as your comments are actually fair and reasonable.

@Andyrefs1 @refsupportuk what would go against my team ? There is nothing that could affect anything If the AR sees something, he flags, end of

@JezClein @refsupportuk And you would be the first to complain if it went against your team!

@refsupportuk what's the worst that can happen if the AR can't temporarily communicate with the ref ? If he thinks there's a foul he can use his flag like 99% of AR's in this country have to do