From The Middle archives

 

 

Season 2009/10

04 Sept 2009 We need more respect than Chelsea showed
11 Sept 2009 Who gets the blame for diving players?
16 Sept 2009 Coaches get allowed more to stand and shout
23 Sept 2009 Extra eyes to judge goalmouth incidents
02 Oct 2009 The true timing of Owen’s goal
09 Oct 2009 Referees have to be prepared for the unlikely
16 Oct 2009 Offside drives referees to distraction
23 Oct 2009 Are Premier referees fit for purpose?
30 Oct 2009 The big red beach ball was outside interference
06 Nov 2009 Ferguson’s tantrums can’t deny the truth
13 Nov 2009 A player who’s off the pitch can still be on it
20 Nov 2009 Will a touchline ban stop Ferguson’s outbursts?
27 Nov 2009 Is it enough for referees to catch divers out?
04 Dec 2009 Playing the ball isn’t all that matters
11 Dec 2009 Extra room needed in the dugouts
18 Dec 2009 Unintentional, even unavoidable, but still a foul
09 Jan 2010 Simon Church’s off-the-pitch lessons
15 Jan 2010 When goal celebrations become an offence
22 Jan 2010 Goal of the month shows up coaches’ tactics
29 Jan 2010 Has cheating increased in this country?
05 Feb 2010 Penalties are not always as blatant as they seem
12 Feb 2010 Diagonal system keeps referees in touch
17 Feb 2010 What’s the referee’s duty at quick free kicks?
24 Feb 2010 When handball becomes a sending-off offence
05 Mar 2010 Can ex-professional players make it as a referee?
12 Mar 2010 Should tackling be outlawed?
19 Mar 2010 When do a referee’s powers begin and end?
26 Mar 2010 The referee will never see it all
02 Apr 2010 Referees can be fair, firm and friendly
09 Apr 2010 The throw-in must have feet on the ground
16 Apr 2010 Why some spectators are banned from the goal line
23 Apr 2010 Would you like to be scrutinized this closely?
30 Apr 2010 The lack of goal line technology is down to fans
07 May 2010 Slight law change for World Cup

Season 2008/9

28 Aug 2008 Italy’s Ruud awakening for offside at Euro 2008
04 Sept 2008 A tale of two handballs
11 Sept 2008 The Respect campaign goes to the top
18 Sept 2008 Do we see heroics on the football field?
25 Sept 2008 Are there different laws for pre-season games?
02 Oct 2008 Football is subject to human mistakes
09 Oct 2008 Are referees fit enough?
16 Oct 2008 Why shirt-pulling needs a caution
23 Oct 2008 Don’t knock referees who stick to the Law
30 Oct 2008 Will the Respect programme work?
06 Nov 2008 Should referees ignore some fouls?
13 Nov 2008 Football laws could have split in two
20 Nov 2008 Refereeing is about angles
27 Nov 2008 Can players stand where they like at corners?
04 Dec 2008 Jumping for the ball can result in a sending-off
11 Dec 2008 When hand ball means a yellow card
18 Dec 2008 It’s all down to the players
31 Dec 2008 Why Sam Allardyce uses a psychiatrist
07 Jan 2009 No controversy about Adebyor’s sending-off
12 Jan 2009 Managers decide to stop referee criticism
19 Jan 2009 What we want to hear from managers
26 Jan 2009 Was Rooney/Gigg’s corner legal?
02 Feb 2009 Why referees sometimes change their minds
09 Feb 2009 Should assistant referees change sides?
16 Feb 2009 Retaliate – and risk seeing red
23 Feb 2009 Referees can give a second chance
02 Mar 2009 Referees can talk a good game
09 Mar 2009 A knees-up is fine for goalkeepers
16 Mar 2009 Football welcomes women referees
23 Mar 2009 The last man doesn’t matter
30 Mar 2009 Correct free kicks should not give rise to anger
06 Apr 2009 No to sin bin in football
14 Apr 2009 Referees not-so-secret-weapon is presence
20 Apr 2009 Sometimes it’s one foul too many
27 Apr 2009 Judgement on Noel Hunts advertising crash
05 May 2009 Seventy five years of awards for running the line
11 May 2009 Chelsea show little respect

Season 2007/8

06 Sept 2007 Kitson tackle illustrated
13 Sept 2007 Poll says ‘Don’t leave it to referee alone’
20 Sept 2007 What not to wear for celebrating
27 Sept 2007 No tears for José
04 Oct 2007 Reading’s Liverpool goals were not offside
11 Oct 2007 Brian Barwick’s crusade should start at the top
18 Oct 2007 Where have all the referees gone?
25 Oct 2007 If you lose, blame the referee
01 Nov 2007 International refereeing has come to town
08 Nov 2007 The end of metal cup-hooks
15 Nov 2007 Why do players think they can abuse referees?
22 Nov 2007 Sanchez Monday morning call falls down on intent
29 Nov 2007 Will assessors turn referees into clones?
06 Dec 2007 The final whistle must wait
13 Dec 2007 Are the Laws clear on Gunnardson’s penalty?
20 Dec 2007 Referees manage with secret communications
10 Jan 2008 Why was encroachment at Tottenham not spotted?
17 Jan 2008 No warning needed about the flying tackle
24 Jan 2008 Must we have hatred on the terraces?
31 Jan 2008 First phase, second phase, active offside
07 Feb 2008 FUTSAL – the growing indoor football
14 Feb 2008 Diving can be fabrication or exaggeration
21 Feb 2008 Dealing with confrontation
28 Feb 2008 We all need to look at abuse of referees
06 March 2008 Bad language fuels aggressive behaviour
13 March 2008 Don’t blame referees’ man-management for bad tackles
20 March 2008 What’s considered a fair charge?
27 March 2008 Gaining an advantage when offside
03 April 2008 Gerrard never knew what hit him
10 April 2008 Do we need to have ‘dissent’ defined?
17 April 2008 Goal line technology abandoned
24 April 2008 Penalty kick trickery needs clearer definition
01 May 2008 Did Storey know more than the referee?
08 May 2008 Referees’ course now includes real games
15 May 2008 Referees can look ahead with hope

Season 2006/7

07 Sept 2006 Diving clampdown that didn’t happen
14 Sept 2006 Attempt is not the same as intent
21 Sept 2006 Last minute specials upset World Cup preparation
28 Sept 2006 Memories of Compton before Theo Walcott
05 Oct 2006 The tale of Hahnemann’s shirt
12 Oct 2006 Graham Poll’s error was a slip of the pen
19 Oct 2006 One-piece suits are out, but wedding rings are in
26 Oct 2006 Goalkeeping is allowed to be dangerous
02 Nov 2006 When push comes to shove, it’s more than hands
09 Nov 2006 The throw-in survives one more change
16 Nov 2006 Pre-judging or being prepared?
23 Nov 2006 No favours for women referees
30 Nov 2006 Why can’t referees talk to players?
07 Dec 2006 Coaches reap what they have sown
14 Dec 2006 Only a penalty can extend time
21 Dec 2006 Handball is more than ‘hand to ball’
04 Jan 2007 Faster but fewer balls in the Premiership
11 Jan 2007 Are top referees born and not made?
18 Jan 2007 Is offside a mess on the parks?
25 Jan 2007 Is a football pitch outside the law?
01 Feb 2007 How to keep coaches apart
08 Feb 2007 Impeding should be penalised as obstruction
15 Feb 2007 Can captains help referees?
22 Feb 2007 Keep controversy off the big screen
01 March 2007 Referees shouldn’t abandon the Laws for ‘common sense’
08 March 2007 Keeping an eye on Law changes
15 March 2007 Age Discrimination Act helps older referees
22 March 2007 Dealing with faked injuries
29 March 2007 There’s only one timekeeper
05 April 2007 Parents – don’t cross the line
12 April 2007 Is ‘involuntary’ the same as ‘deliberate?
19 April 2007 Referees can’t connive to save player’s dismissal
26 April 2007 Who said referees haven’t got a heart?
03 May 2007 Offences must be seen to be given

Season 2005/6

08 Sept 2005 Life and the offside law were so much easier in Watson’s day
15 Sept 2005 Players must now stand clear at throw-ins
22 Sept 2005 Bad press for bladed boots
29 Sept 2005 Penalty kick law can confuse
06 October 2005 When should the goalkeeper go?
13 October 2005 My referees’ dressing-room dream comes true
20 October 2005 A new definition of ‘being in an offside position’
27 October 2005 The mystery after Pires’ blunder
03 November 2005 A more logical suggestion for the feet at a throw-in
10 November 2005 Less writing means more fines from cautions
17 November 2005 Another ten-yard experiment
24 November 2005 Dissent – it’s the way that you do it
01 December 2005 Sponsorship for referees is closely controlled
08 December 2005 The challenge is recognising foul from fair
15 December 2005 Making best use of assistant referees
22 December 2005 Who watches referees?
12 January 2006 The last man doesn’t exist
19 January 2006 Time running out for crossbar cup-hooks
26 January 2006 Managers fail in their lessons
02 February 2006 No more barefoot in the park
09 February 2006 It’s still offside although the flag may appear late
16 February 2006 Simulating injury has wider implications
23 February 2006 Should tackles be subject to duty of care?
02 March 2006 How would you describe a fair charge?
09 March 2006 Abuse referees and you will lose them
16 March 2006 Illogical free kicks against substitutes
23 March 2006 Technology gives referees eyes in the back of their head
30 March 2006 Referees don’t play the compensation game
06 April 2006 Blue card for the sin-bin
13 April 2006 Fair play and winning can go together
20 April 2006 Still room for more women referees
27 April 2006 Is it ‘in the spirit’ to stop the game?
04 May 2006 Law book that changed the world of football

Season 2004/5

01 Sept 2004 The goal that never was – never
08 Sept 2004 Confusion over friendly substitutes
15 Sept 2004 It pays not to get shirty
22 Sept 2004 A better explanation for a change of mind
29 Sept 2004 Blades or studs – just make sure they’re safe
06 Oct 2004 Chiles should learn the Laws – not the rules
13 Oct 2004 Penalty is goal-scoring opportunity say coaches
20 Oct 2004 Today’s corner tactics lost on yesterday’s p
27 Oct 2004 Goalkeeper sees red over illegal handball
03 Nov 2004 The referee is always the fall guy
10 Nov 2004 Being dropped into trouble
17 Nov 2004 Let referees decide when to stop play
24 Nov 2004 Is offside too hard for television commentators?
01 Dec 2004 Choice of goals is no toss-up
08 Dec 2004 Attempts to foul can also be penalised
15 Dec 2004 Should we adopt silence from the touchlines?
22 Dec 2004 Quick free-kicking Henry does it again
31 Dec 2004 Calling to deceive is cheating
05 Jan 2005 Offside research is not on the ball
13 Jan 2005 Will referees get electronic line judges?
20 Jan 2005 You’ve given us nothing ref
27 Jan 2005 No place for Bling in football
03 Feb 2005 Can Players’ Union stop the diving?
10 Feb 2005 Not in front of the children
17 Feb 2005 Does a referee need tunnel vision?
24 Feb 2005 A game of two complete halves and an interval
03 Mar 2005 Intricate rules for penalty deciders
10 Mar 2005 Stopwatch allows for time lost
17 Mar 2005 A cure for the abuse of managers
24 Mar 2005 Fans rage too much against referees’ decisions
31 Mar 2005 Will vetting turn some referees away?
07 Apr 2005 Blocking is impeding – whatever players think
14 Apr 2005 Players need referee’s permission to return
21 Apr 2005 The Laws have been changing for 120 years
28 Apr 2005 The referee should be ‘The Man in Black’
05 May 2005 Shins need protecting – even for Summer Sixes

Season 2003/4

03 Sept 2003 Friendlies don’t always turn out that way
10 Sept 2003 Unwelcome task for fourth officials
17 Sept 2003 Refs get tough at penalties
24 Sept 2003 Referees’ Big Brother Assessors
01 Oct 2003 Substitute quiz at Madejski gallery
08 Oct 2003 Nothing professional about denying a goal
15 Oct 2003 Don’t believe everything you hear on TV
22 Oct 2003 Things have changed since Reading’s first game
29 Oct 2003 How much should a referee tell?
05 Nov 2003 A change to decisions at the toss of a coin
12 Nov 2003 Would no sendings-off improve spectators’ enjoyment?
19 Nov 2003 Assistant referees are part of a team
26 Nov 2003 Bad language is a curse on our game
03 Dec 2003 10-yard rule is right way to reduce dissent
10 Dec 2003 Referees are clamping down on injury time
17 Dec 2003 What happens when matters come to a head?
24 Dec 2003 When can a referee change his mind?
31 Dec 2003 Referee’s authority covers substitutes on the line
07 Jan 2004 Research pays off for top referees
14 Jan 2004 When innocuous and clumsy can become cautionable
21 Jan 2004 Bright future for women referees
28 Jan 2004 Name-calling can make things clearer
04 Feb 2004 If there’s no gain, there’s no offside
11 Feb 2004 Restarts should not wait for the offenders
18 Feb 2004 How referees cope with abuse
25 Feb 2004 Only penalties can hold up final whistle
03 Mar 2004 Have we become immune to cheating?
10 Mar 2004 Who watches the penalty-taker?
17 Mar 2004 McCoist’s given me a new belief in TV pundits
24 Mar 2004 Players’ extra equipment must be safe
31 Mar 2004 The bare facts of violent conduct
07 Apr 2004 Young players should enjoy football
14 Apr 2004 How referees make it to the top
21 Apr 2004 Nearness to play means better decisions
28 Apr 2004 Common sense can’t change the law
05 May 2004 Will the artificial grass be greener?

Season 2002/3

04 Sept 2002 World Cup recollections
11 Sept 2002 Hands-on refereeing can sometimes work
18 Sept 2002 The International Board gets shirty
25 Sept 2002 Is this the correct treatment for the injured?
02 Oct 2002 Don’t believe all you hear on television
09 Oct 2002 Lessons from a sporting television summer
16 Oct 2002 You can’t throw it away with a throw-in
23 Oct 2002 Pro-footballers to mind their language
30 Oct 2002 Goalposts must be up to the mark
06 Nov 2002 Adam Crozier has been good for referees
13 Nov 2002 Electronic ref is not here yet
20 Nov 2002 A different ball game since Jeff Astle played
27 Nov 2002 Incentive scheme will help bring back refs
04 Dec 2002 Should the lad Harper have gone for hand
11 Dec 2002 A caution is a punishment not a booking
18 Dec 2002 Conspiracy theories are attempts to shift the blame
02 Jan 2003 Referees have human rights too
09 Jan 2003 Removing the annoyance of encroachment
16 Jan 2003 Handball is not always what it seems
23 Jan 2003 Safety on the field is referee’s main responsibility
30 Jan 2003 70 years of awards for worst job in local football
05 Feb 2003 Referees can’t worry about cost of decisions
12 Feb 2003 Impeding an opponent can be legitimate
19 Feb 2003 A foul needs to be serious for sending off
26 Feb 2003 Referees can’t retract decisions for wasted advantage
05 Mar 2003 Referees and clubs have different agendas
12 Mar 2003 Cautions can sometimes wait
19 Mar 2003 Spitting is not the right image for football
26 Mar 2003 What kind of football do spectators want?
02 Apr 2003 A little psychology helps the referee to stay calm
09 Apr 2003 A close eye must be kept on substitutions
16 Apr 2003 Quick free kicks are within the spirit of the laws
23 Apr 2003 When fourth officials take the middle
30 Apr 2003 Seventy five years of referee training

Season 2001/2

05 Sept 2001 Refereeing revolution starts now
12 Sept 2001 Should a referee whistle?
19 Sept 2001 Little change to the laws for once
26 Sept 2001 Down in the dug-out something stirred
03 Oct 2001 It’s not the yellow card that slows play down
10 Oct 2001 Women’s football will need more women referees
17 Oct 2001 Timekeeping is the referee’s job
24 Oct 2001 Late flag shows assistant is on the ball
31 Oct 2001 s it time to give blades the boot?
07 Nov 2001 Refs have stopped getting shirty with scorers
14 Nov 2001 Keepers may deserve the benefit of the doubt
21 Nov 2001 Barthez does it again
28 Nov 2001 Why diving has increased
05 Dec 2001 Ten-yard forward march stops at penalty area
12 Dec 2001 No demotion for top referees
19 Dec 2001 Safety first for referees
02 Jan 2002 Managers should support referees over diving
09 Jan 2002 It’s easy to referee on television
16 Jan 2002 Parents should give young refs a break
23 Jan 2002 The name changes but the Law remains the same
30 Jan 2002 Are professional referees to blame?
06 Feb 2002 Referees must be spot-on at penalties
13 Feb 2002 Countdown to six seconds
20 Feb 2002 How red and yellow cards started
27 Feb 2002 Throw in should be free from distraction
06 Mar 2002 Stick to laws of the game, not laws of the court
13 Mar 2002 Lining is not an easy option
20 Mar 2002 Footballs galore
27 Mar 2002 Seven is the magic number
04 Apr 2002 Is it offensive if football imitates life?
12 Apr 2002 What would we like to see at the World Cup?
17 Apr 2002 Abuse is the big turn-off
24 Apr 2002 Jobs for redundant pros – as referees

Season 2000/1

31 Aug 2000 A Cautionary Tale from Euro 2000
06 Sept 2000 Six Seconds Countdown
13 Sept 2000 Refs come from All Walks of Life
20 Sept 2000 Retaliation is no excuse
27 Sept 2000 Making kicks more even
04 Oct 2000 Beware dangerous equipment
11 Oct 2000 Handball at the Olympics
18 Oct 2000 Beware of parents
25 Oct 2000 Let’s make the most of assistant refs
01 Nov 2000 Should age matter?
08 Nov 2000 More duties for the Fourth Official
15 Nov 2000 Putting up with barracking
22 Nov 2000 Wired for sound
29 Nov 2000 Attempting is as bad as succeeding
06 Dec 2000 Fiery players need protection as well
13 Dec 2000 A little sportsmanship gone wrong
20 Dec 2000 Better a late flag and get it right
03 Jan 2001 PMT – Pre-match tension
10 Jan 2001 The referee is always right
17 Jan 2001 Time the FA used its Loaf
24 Jan 2001 Diving is Cheating – Whatever name you call it
31 Jan 2001 The Ten-yard Experiment
07 Feb 2001 Always Play to the Whistle
14 Feb 2001 Do We Need to Tolerate Offensive Language?
21 Feb 2001 Who said it’s a man’s game?
28 Feb 2001 Phases of play help offside decisions
07 Mar 2001 Tackles must be clean
14 Mar 2001 Football shirts are for wearing not pulling
21 Mar 2001 Nets make goal judgment easier
28 Mar 2001 Goalkeepers’ handling can be an offence
04 Apr 2001 How should we view football’s video nasties?
11 Apr 2001 Sanchez still has his moment of fame with Reading
18 Apr 2001 Get out of the way Ref!
25 Apr 2001 Recognition for Fair Play
02 May 2001 Why do we do it?

Season 1999/2000

08 Sep 1999 Some things never change
15 Sep 1999 Fans pay the price again
22 Sep 1999 Communication’s the name of the game
29 Sep 1999 Referees aren’t all that bad
06 Oct 1999 Still a man’s game
13 Oct 1999 The language of football
20 Oct 1999 A day out in Manchester
27 Oct 1999 Being in the right place
03 Nov 1999 Are refs or players ruining our game?
10 Nov 1999 Why did the referee do that?
17 Nov 1999 Fit to referee
24 Nov 1999 Super League in by back door
01 Dec 1999 A quick change for the better
08 Dec 1999 Honesty on the local parks
15 Dec 1999 Refereeing’s a funny old game
22 Dec 1999 Communication – the lost art?
30 Dec 1999 Football past and future

Season 1998/9

21 Oct 1998 Penalty, ref!
28 Oct 1998 Football unites to condemn Di Canio
04 Nov 1998 It’s a whole new ball game
11 Nov 1998 Let’s enjoy our soccer
18 Nov 1998 Unsporting behaviour
25 Nov 1998 The new disease
02 Dec 1998 A game of cards
09 Dec 1998 Full-time refs not the answer
16 Dec 1998 Offside? No way
23 Dec 1998 But what is the Football Association about?
30 Dec 1998 Direct or indirect, ref?
06 Jan 1999 The worst job in refereeing?
13 Jan 1999 But does the punishment fit the crime?
20 Jan 1999 Bad language is the curse of our game
27 Jan 1999 ‘Referees lack consistency’
03 Feb 1999 Can consistency really exist?
10 Feb 1999 You don’t have to be mad
17 Feb 1999 Replay or not replay? That is the question
24 Feb 1999 Women in black
03 Mar 1999 Only the fourth official
10 Mar 1999 Not a level playing field
17 Mar 1999 As good as scoring a goal!
24 Mar 1999 Getting a result
31 Mar 1999 But do you KNOW the law?
07 Apr 1999 Have you ever seen the laws?
14 Apr 1999 What is the FA up to now?
21 Apr 1999 What is a referee?