Bad Refereeing: A Worldwide Problem

[Burninator]

I was watching FSC last night and I caught a segment called MAXimum Soccer with Max Bretos. I guess he usually does a "play of the week" or something, but this week he debuted a new part of his segment, the inaugural SOCCER SHOCKER.

Apparently, last weekend in the French League, a referee handed out 3 reds, 8 yellows, and almost handed out another red until his assistant came and told him to put it away. He carded someone for tripping up an opponent in the box when it was actually the opponent's teammate that tripped him.

The only thing I could think of at that point was that Billy Crystal movie where he's a basketball referee, and one night he just starts ejecting everyone because of his personal problems.

I guess MLS isn't the only league with ref issues.

--Geoff :dontgetit

[DadOf8]

No, MLS isn't the only league with refs with problems, but MLS is the only league with refs that can't pass a sight test or an intelligence test.

[Scholesy]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I was watching FSC last night and I caught a segment called MAXimum Soccer with Max Bretos. I guess he usually does a "play of the week" or something, but this week he debuted a new part of his segment, the inaugural SOCCER SHOCKER.

Apparently, last weekend in the French League, a referee handed out 3 reds, 8 yellows, and almost handed out another red until his assistant came and told him to put it away. He carded someone for tripping up an opponent in the box when it was actually the opponent's teammate that tripped him.

The only thing I could think of at that point was that Billy Crystal movie where he's a basketball referee, and one night he just starts ejecting everyone because of his personal problems.

I guess MLS isn't the only league with ref issues.

--Geoff :dontgetit

The only difference is this:

1. He'll probably not ref a game for a while and will be re-trained
2. He'll actually get chastised
3. He is one of a few bad refs in that league - not the norm
4. It's all about consistency, our refs are consistently bad in MLS, in other countries they are mostly good, with some exceptions, I mean I think all refs make mistakes but not week in week out.

That's really it, at least his assistant knew enough was enough, ours just look at it and say 'Oh crap, do I really have to run all the way to the end line? I hate running that far!'

[bordelais7]

Not sure if this similarity was also mentioned, but in that same game (Sochaux-Nice), play was stopped for 10 or 15 minutes by the referee, and teams sent to their locker rooms because fans were throwing projectiles on the field.

Probably streamers.

And, yes, according to rumors on a Bordeaux message board, he's been suspended for re-training.

[Braveheart]

Time to introduce instant replay

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by Braveheart

Time to introduce instant replay

My thoughts exactly.

[Section 37]

Originally Posted by bordelais7

Not sure if this similarity was also mentioned, but in that same game (Sochaux-Nice), play was stopped for 10 or 15 minutes by the referee, and teams sent to their locker rooms because fans were throwing projectiles on the field.

Probably streamers.

And, yes, according to rumors on a Bordeaux message board, he's been suspended for re-training.

Hey, a bad paper cut could end your season. Not to mention getting hit on the head.

I don't even want to think about it.

[kc_13]

Originally Posted by DadOf8

refs that can't pass a sight test or an intelligence test.

This is actually a requirement to be a certified ref!