24 Apr 2019 21:04:32
Ed 01/ 02 if your around.
What do you make of the officiating in the premier league this season?
Fair to say that some of the decisions and performances have been shocking?

It would be interesting if you could provide some insight into what the officials have to do post game?

Some people have asked that they come out after a game and explain there decisions, do you think this would help?

Do you think that having extra officials behind the goal line like in Europe would help too?

VAR is coming in next season and I'm sure it will eliminate some errors but do you think it will help enough?

Sorry there's a ton of questions there but it would be useful to know what type of training they do, what happens pre and post game?

Not taking anything away from them as it's a hard job with the speed of play sometimes can.

{Ed002's Note - (1) From what I have been seen and told it has been inconsistent and there have been plenty of errors. (2) Immediately post game they have nothing to do but then they must file their match report. It deals with goals, bookings, substitutions etc.. (3) No, not at all. If they have made a mistake, have not seen it again and don’t realise it, then they cannot be expected to explain the decision. (4) No, their remit is very limited. (5) It can only be used for certain decisions but should cause some improvement at the expense of a disjointed game. (6) You need to ask Benny about the training.}

1.) 24 Apr 2019
24 Apr 2019 21:48:05
Thank you Ed02 for sharing and taking your time out to answer.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome but Benny would be a good chap to ask.}

2.) 24 Apr 2019
24 Apr 2019 22:31:15
So on training, you have to remember these are the best of the best. They know the laws, positional stuff and procedures. So there’s not much else to work on other than refreshers and fitness. Especially with fixtures in full flow. I know sometimes they do twice a week down St. George’s Park.
Pre match is pretty normal, If it’s a long drive they would normally stay at the same hotel the night before the game, have dinner etc, the normal person stuff. In the morning of the game the assistants normally do an offside warm up, watching clips on the laptop, normally of teams they’re officiating on. This allows them to study the runs of certain players, so if they have a “tell” it aides them during the game. Pre match is pretty straightforward. Arriving around 90minutes before a game. Go out, do a pitch walk, this is normally where a ref give his pre match speech to his assistants. Then just the formalities, team sheets, meeting officials from the clubs etc.
Post match, as Ed said, the paper work, dinner, and then a long drive home where you call me and hear me bitch and moan about my game for 20 minutes.
Hope that helps 🤷🏼‍♂️.

3.) 25 Apr 2019
24 Apr 2019 23:36:16
Benny, the best of the best make far too many errors, I know the game is getting faster each season, but certain teams seem to get away with far too much .