Something the officials have to think about all the time.

You soon learn as a referee that players (and fans) are much more likely to consider your decision at least credible if you are really in a good position to see what happened. They don’t necessarily agree if the decision doesn’t go their way, but at least they find it easier to accept. Much more difficult if you are badly placed or too far from the action, or if (and when) your assistant referee is left behind play.

Getting it right

For the referee to get it right he needs two particular qualities – fitness to get to the best possible position coupled with an understanding of the game. Not just of the game of football in general but that particular game as well – such as the tactics the teams are using, the strengths and skills of particular players, and the weather conditions.

What you really need?

Even so, you can’t always get it right. Sometimes players miskick or change their minds or you simply misread their intention. Sometimes it isn’t physically possible to get the view you need. And there is a limit to human vision anyway. What you really need are the legs of a gazelle, the visual acuity of an eagle inside chameleon-like eyes that move independently and see a full 180 degrees. Oh, and a second pair in the back of your head for the players’ tricks behind you. Admittedly you would look rather odd, especially in your referee’s uniform . . .

Easier in theory for the assistant referee – he just has to try to stay in line with the second last defender when the ball is in play and watch for offside and any other infringement in his area of the field!

Already this season we’ve had quite a few examples of the importance of good positioning.. Did you see where Uriah Rennie was when he blew for Shearer’s second cautionable offence that led to his first ever red card? Within about two yards – nearer to the incident than anyone other than the culprit and victim. And with a better view than the 20-odd cameras.

And what about the players

Of course ‘being in the right place’ isn’t just about where the officials are. Good positioning is important for players too for different reasons.

One aspect the officials have to keep a constant eye on is where players are at dead ball situations From when I started refereeing I have continued to be intrigued by the ways players make sure they get the place of things wrong. In a local game I was watching recently, one of the goalkeepers consistently and carefully placed the ball for a goal kick just outside the 6-yard area. His kick carried a good 50 yards but he stole a foot each time until the referee spotted it. It couldn’t matter a scrap one way or the other, so why did he do it?

More obvious and understandable are the yards players steal or attempt to steal at a throw-in or at a free kick. Yet, although the Law is clear ‘from the place . . . . ‘ not 5 yards beyond it, the referee who insists on bringing them back is always going to be considered pernickety

Those contentious ten yards

The worst aspect of this cheating – that’s what it is - is the failure to retreat 10 yards for a free kick. Particularly when it is close to the penalty area, a defender only five yards from the ball can make a real difference to the outcome. Unfortunately referees have to accept some blame for not insisting as they should. A pity the referee who penalised Staunton for just that probably got it wrong, even though he seemed to be very well placed to see what really happened. The exception to prove the rule!.

The answer to the 10 yard problem may be the ‘caution and retreat a further 10 yards’ sanction tried out successfully as an experiment in Jersey last season and extended this season - if it eventually becomes Law. Referees have been asking for that particular reform for quite long enough.

Brian Palmer

© B. Palmer1999

Back To Contents