04 Sep 2016 19:53:08
Question for Ed002! What are your thoughts on the recent allegations made by Mark Halsey in respect of refs being asked to turn a blind eye to contraversial incidents? Do you think there's anything in it and what would this be as bad as the issues with match fixing that happened in Serie A all those years back (although Halsey didn't imply that this was match fixing, obviously) .

{Ed002's Note - I think he is over-egging it. I am aware of two occasions in Champions League games where there was a pre-briefing to the referees from another "official". I suspect the Halsey situation has something behind it but not quite the issue it is being suggested that it is. But it will be looked at.

1.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 20:40:41
Cheers Ed. Storm in a teacup then Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Pelican in a cross-wind.}

2.) 04 Sep 2016
04 Sep 2016 22:24:41
Pelicans can't fly in crosswinds due to the drag on their bills lol, certainly wouldn't fly in a straight line 😂.

3.) 05 Sep 2016
05 Sep 2016 07:28:14
I am confused. I had the impression he was suggesting they were asked to say they hadn't seen something in order for it to receive the CORRECT post-match punishment? It is the opposite of match fixing -it is correctly punishing violent conduct irrespective of what the on referee interpreted at the time? Albeit a mischievous solution to an artificial problem.

The best was to avoid that would simply be to remove the rule that if a referee sees something it cannot be retrospectively punished. Instead have the "citing committee" function more like rugby. If there is violence / serious cheating it should be dealt with, whatever the referees "on-the-spot" interpretation was?

{Ed002's Note - The point is that the referees should be honest if they have seen something.}

4.) 05 Sep 2016
05 Sep 2016 08:59:12
Yes, I agree that referees lying cannot be good for the game!

But it is a very artificial situation whereby you can't take action after a match if the referee had a view/ interpretation of it in a match (which turns out to be incorrect/ sub optimal)? Better to make the rule sensible, rather than asking referees to lie or allowing violent conduct to escape unpunished?

In the case in point, few would doubt Aguero had committed a punishable act? Better a rule that allows punishment irrespective of the referees view / non view / on the spot interpretation?

5.) 05 Sep 2016
05 Sep 2016 11:13:55
My understanding that this is as Profg has said and is not about favouring one team or another. Football should definitely have a citation type rule. We have a lot to learn from Rugby in terms of player conduct.

6.) 05 Sep 2016
05 Sep 2016 22:57:16
If a ref saw what happened and thinks it's a foul, he must penalize the incident, controversial or not. If they are being told to ignore them then that is wrong and hurts the integrity of the game and those doing this, should be flushed out of the game entirely, period.

{Ed002's Note - That is not being suggested.}