Author: Dick Sawdon Smith

One of the consequences of having my photograph included with this column for the last twelve …

What are the benefits of offside in football? Read more →

The last thing I want readers to think is that this column is leading a one-man anti …

Assistant referees are the to assist not insist Read more →

It is not often that I return in this column to something that I wrote about …

Just being offside is not distracting an opponent Read more →

Some years ago, after I had made a decision during a game, one of the players …

Whatever the replay shows the referee’s still wrong Read more →

The most repeated football television incident over the holiday was almost certainly that of Sir Alex …

How does Sir Alex get away with being completely wrong? Read more →

One player that Royals fans might have been surprised to have seen turning out for West …

Head high boots can endanger safety Read more →

Refereeing is all about making decisions. In an average match a referees make in the region …

Serious injury can be a difficult judgement Read more →

Tony Pullis is the outspoken, straight talking manager of Stoke City in the Premier League and …

Not fair that referees face psychological warfare Read more →

One of the more unpleasant practices that’s taken hold in recent years is that of players …

The shirt-pullers that get away with it Read more →