Back in 1966 when I edited the Reading Referee, newsletter of the Reading Referees' Association, we held a competition to find another name for a linesman. We felt that the name belittled a very important job. From the entries, we chose the suggestion that all three officials should be called referees, and the man in the middle the 'senior' referee.
Exactly thirty years later in 1996, the International FA Board who write the laws of football, officially changed the name of linesmen to 'assistant referees'. They did this because they said that 'the word linesman does not accurately reflect the tasks of the linesmen who are in actual fact, assistants to the referee'. I felt this improvement in status would lead to greater use of the assistants and improve the control of the game.
However, I have to say that since that time, instead the position of assistant referees being boosted, it seems to have been slowly eroded. Referees appear to have taken on more and more powers for themselves.
I was staggered a couple of years or so ago to discover that referees on the Football League instructed their assistant referees that they mustn't flag for more than three offences that they might see on the field of play. And then to wait to make sure that the referee couldn't see it for himself. This summer a Premiership assistant referee told me that some top referees have secret signals which they have to look for, before they raise their flag to indicate which way at a throw in.
What has brought about this reluctance to fully use these extra pairs of eyes that are there to help to control the game and spot offences? It is the fear that players will seize on nay difference that might be shown between an assistant referee's indication and the referee's decision.
I have written previously in refereeing publications about this under-utilisation of assistant referee's experience and capabilities. Now it seems that I am not alone in my disquiet about this state of affairs. In this year's changes to the laws of the game increased responsibilities have been formally introduced for assistant referees.
Previously the law said that assistant referees (amongst other duties) are to indicate when misconduct or any other incident has occurred out of view of the referee.
Added to that this year is 'to indicate when offences have been committed when the assistant is closer to
the action than the referee (to include in particular circumstances, offences committed in the penalty area). In other words not just when the referee couldn't see them himself. Although the wording says
'nearer than the referee', the specific distance is not the main criterion. The most important consideration is that the assistant referee has a better view of the incident. Sometimes you can see better from further away.
Another specific duty now outlined was previously left to the discretion of each referee. The assistant referee will now at penalty kicks indicate whether the goalkeeper has moved before the kick is taken, and if the ball has crossed the line. This means that the referee will concentrate on the kick being taken and watching for encroachment by other players. The International F.A Board have expressed their concern of the failure of referees to take action in these situations in recent years.
Two points I ought to make about these additional duties for assistant referees. Firstly, assistant referees only indicate what they have seen. It is still subject to the referee's decision. Secondly, this only refers to neutral assistant referees. Assistants provided by clubs in local football will find little change to what referees ask them to do.
Dick Sawdon Smith