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Category: From the middle

Are shoulder charges still allowed?

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 11 February 2016 Posted in From the middle No Comments

Football fans often complain that ‘players can’t use the old fashioned shoulder charge these days’. I’m sure that Manchester United supporters were saying something similar when Wayne Rooney heaved Glen Johnson off the ball as they ran towards the Stoke …

Are shoulder charges still allowed? Read more »

Tiniest margins count in football

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 4 February 2016 Posted in From the middle No Comments

One talking point last week was a question of millimetres. This was the disputed touch line decision by the assistant referee at the Manchester City v Everton League Cup semi-final, second leg. Everton manager, Roberto Martinez, claimed the ball was …

Tiniest margins count in football Read more »

Getting the laws in a twist

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 28 January 2016 Posted in From the middle No Comments

There are often discussions why rugby players accept the referees’ decisions, whilst footballers constantly argue over them, sometimes belligerently. My theory is simple – The rules of rugby are so complicated that the players admit that they don’t understand them, …

Getting the laws in a twist Read more »

Judgement is often a question of angles

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 21 January 2016 Posted in From the middle No Comments

It is a few years since we’ve had a Berks & Bucks FA referee on the Premier League, so we were pleased when Graham Scott was promoted at the beginning of this season. However, Graham came in for considerable criticism …

Judgement is often a question of angles Read more »

Heading the ball in football banned

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 14 January 2016 Posted in From the middle No Comments

Heading has long been an important part of football but now there is a medical view that repeated heading of the ball may lead to neuro-degeneration. When former West Bromwich and England centre forward Jeff Astle died of Alzheimers his …

Heading the ball in football banned Read more »

Playing the ball does not always constitute a fair tackle

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 7 January 2016 Posted in From the middle No Comments

Some years ago, I wrote an article for the Football Referee Magazine in which I explained how I judged if a tackle for the ball was fair. If the tackler played the ball and the opponent then went over his …

Playing the ball does not always constitute a fair tackle Read more »

A Little Sign of Goodwill

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 23 December 2015 Posted in From the middle No Comments

A lot of hot air was generated after the Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion Premier clash recently but I spotted one little goodwill gesture. A great fuss was made about Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp’s failure to shake the hand of …

A Little Sign of Goodwill Read more »

Abuse Them and You’ll Lose Them

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 17 December 2015 Posted in From the middle No Comments

A new survey has shown that two thirds of referees say they are regularly abused. Over 2000 referees took part in survey conducted by the sporting University of Loughborough. 32% of the participants were Level 7 referees who are junior …

Abuse Them and You’ll Lose Them Read more »

Deliberate Handball is Not Always Simple

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 11 December 2015 Posted in From the middle No Comments Tagged with Deliberate Handball, Handball

Swansea City felt they were robbed when they lost their game against Liverpool by a penalty for handball. Gary Monk, their manager, said Swansea’s Neil Taylor had his back the ball, so how could it be deliberate as demanded by …

Deliberate Handball is Not Always Simple Read more »

What do Goal Line Assistant Referees do?

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 3 December 2015 Posted in From the middle No Comments

A refereeing colleague said to me recently, ‘what are these extra officials who stand on the goal line supposed to do? He had been watching Champions League matches and was referring to the two Additional Assistant Referees as they are …

What do Goal Line Assistant Referees do? Read more »

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