Can consistency really exist?

In last week’s column, my colleague Brian Palmer made a number of interesting comments on the subject of consistency and suggested reasons why it is an impossible dream. I have a number of other thoughts to add.

Not the problem I anticipated

I refereed at Basingstoke the other week and had, what I thought, was a reasonable game. A number of cautions and a home player sent off for a challenge which denied a clear goal- scoring opportunity with a few minutes left. Even so, I was unready for the post-match discussion in my dressing room.

Two officials of the home club, who I know very well, were upset with my performance. On discussing their feelings, it was not, as I imagined, the sending-off of their player that was the problem, it was the fact that I had not sent off one of the opposition for what they felt was a second cautionable offence.

A false comparison

They argued that the opposition number nine, having already been cautioned, fell to the ground without being fouled and required treatment. For this he should have been, in their opinion, cautioned a second time. Why? I asked, after all he had not complained of having been fouled, merely requesting treatment for an injury. Nor was he time-wasting. Then I realised the basis of their argument.

The previous match, Steve Richardson, yes, Rico of the South Bank, had been sent off for two cautionable offences. I was accused of being inconsistent. There lay the problem.

I said politely to the two club officials that if they wanted to mark me down on the basis of my performance, then so be it. However, their judgement should be based on my performance, not in comparison to that which they received the previous week from a different referee.

Consistent with myself

I would like to think that I would always be consistent with myself from match to match, but how can I possibly be consistent with another referee on a different day? Brian made the point that some of the Laws of football are absolute but others require interpretation, and interpretations are always an individual thing. When so much of football law is “in the opinion of the referee”, there is always going to be inconsistency.

Circumstances do alter cases

Even within oneself, there are situations when a decision will be different. An advantage situation may arise from a foul, when in another match a similar offence may result in a stoppage in play.

I am pleased I am an individual and not the robotic clone the Football Association would wish we all were. I am never happier than when I am on the field of play watching players' express themselves with their individual skills. Why should we, as referees, be any different as long as we uphold the laws of the game and do our most important duty, make football the enjoyable, passionate game it was designed to be?

John Moore

© J Moore 1999

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