Even I must concede that it is unusual for a referee to receive the
'Man of the Match' award. I was therefore pleased to see that the football writer of
The Guardian newspaper bestowed this accolade on Uriah Rennie for his handling of
the Manchester United v Sunderland Premiership game.
So what was it that earned Uriah this unexpected tribute? Not I fancy his
cautioning David Beckham for his failure to withdraw ten yards at a free kick,
despite Uriah's loud and persistent calls to move away. Nor, I feel, for his sending
off of Roy Keane, as even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted, eventually, that the
referee had no other option.
What attracted attention to Uriah's performance was
his earlier efforts to prevent Keane getting involved in an altercation after being
fouled by fellow Irishman, Jason McAteer, who was playing for Sunderland.
In one way Uriah's action was something which, as FA referee instructors, my
colleagues and I will advocate when training new referees. We advise that it is
always better to prevent trouble arising if you can. In fact, we suggest
that they always review any disciplinary problems they have encountered on the field, any
cautions, any sending offs. They should ask themselves 'did I contribute to that
in any way? Could I have prevented it by acting differently or earlier.
Certainly Uriah Rennie prevented Keane and McAteer coming to blows but he
did it in a way that we warn new referees against.
For anyone who hasn't seen
the incident, let me just tell you what happened. Roy Keane got up from a tackle
by Jason McAteer, looking ready to inflict his own retribution on his opponent.
Referee Rennie stepped in between them and physically bundled Keane away.
Our advice is firstly, never lay your hands on a
player - this can lead to all sorts of problems. Secondly, never get yourself between players when a fracas is
imminent. One obvious danger is that you might find yourself on the wrong end
of a swinging fist. The other difficulty is, that whilst you are in the middle of
things, other confrontations might be happening behind your back. In this match
other players sought to calm things down but it is not always the case.
It is amazing how incensed players can become over something that has nothing to
do with them. I have had players sprint almost the length of the pitch, to get
involved after an incident in which they had no part. As a referee you often need
eyes in the back of your head.
Not that I am criticising Uriah Rennie. I think his actions were absolutely correct in the circumstances, indeed I have taken similar actions myself which
have involved manhandling players.
The secret, I think, is getting in quick. It's
too late once the first blow has been struck. I remember watching a young
referee a couple of years ago, where two players were squaring up to one
another. A push led to a punch and within seconds there was a free for all with
several players fighting one another. Just like those bar room brawls you used to
see in the movies. The young referee watched carefully with his notebook in
hand noting down the numbers of everyone who threw a punch. All later
received suspensions from playing.
Again no criticism but I just wondered at the
time, if a more mature referee might have jumped in on the original protagonists
before anything started. At the very least he could have blown his whistle long
and loudly in their ears, a technique I have found successful.
Uriah Rennie with his years of experience didn't play it by the book, but by his
actions he prevented what could have been a far worse incident and I think he
well deserved his unusual accolade.
Dick Sawdon Smith