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Author: Dick Sawdon Smith

Why Should Control of Players be Left to Referees?

  It’s widely known I think, that referees in the Premier League and Football League have been told to clamp down on some of the over aggressiveness of players. This is nothing to do with the changes to the laws …

Why Should Control of Players be Left to Referees? Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 22 September 2016 Posted in From the middle Tagged with Aggressive Behaviour, Match Control

When Handball Warrants a Caution

Listening to one commentator on television at Euro 2016, I was intrigued by his comment after the referee blew for handball. ‘Referees’, he said, ‘no longer have to give a yellow card for every handball’. He was referring of course …

When Handball Warrants a Caution Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 15 September 2016 Posted in From the middle Tagged with Caution, Handball

Advantage need not always be played

Referees love to play advantage and if it comes off, perhaps a goal scored, they couldn’t be more pleased. It does however have its dangers as some recent incidents have shown. In the England v Germany friendly match the ITV …

Advantage need not always be played Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 7 April 2016 Posted in From the middle

Going soft on DOGSO

  The International FA Board, the games’ law makers, sanctioned many experiments at this year’s meeting, but in my opinion they have been bullied into agreeing to one for a change to the law regarding denying a goal scoring opportunity. …

Going soft on DOGSO Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 31 March 2016 Posted in From the middle

Liz Verrall – B&B FA CEO returns one year on

  Our guest speaker for March was Liz Verrall, CEO of Berks & Bucks FA, who made a return visit following her attendance at our meeting a year ago. She said she wanted to review some of the promises made …

Liz Verrall – B&B FA CEO returns one year on Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 24 March 2016 Posted in Guest speakers

Video Refs won’t solve all controversies

As well as approving the newly written Laws of the Game and all its changes, the International FA Board at its meeting in Cardiff earlier his month, also agreed to experiment with video replays for referees after flatly refusing to …

Video Refs won’t solve all controversies Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 24 March 2016 Posted in From the middle

The Fourth Official is not a Manager’s verbal punchbag

  There can be few football fans in this country who have not seen the photo or video of Louis van Gaal, the Manchester United manager, literally throwing himself down at the feet of Mike Dean, who was acting as …

The Fourth Official is not a Manager’s verbal punchbag Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 17 March 2016 Posted in From the middle

Messi and Suarez’s joint penalty

Several people have asked about the ‘joint’ penalty kick by the FC Barcelona duo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. I didn’t see it but it appears that Messi is the designated penalty taker for the team, but he didn’t want …

Messi and Suarez’s joint penalty Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 10 March 2016 Posted in From the middle

All change for the Laws of the Game this summer

This Saturday, 5th March, the International FA Board, the body responsible for the laws of football, holds is annual general meeting in Cardiff. The first item on the agenda is ‘Revision of the Laws of the Game’. Its members will …

All change for the Laws of the Game this summer Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 3 March 2016 Posted in From the middle

Full-time Refs for Championship next season

  Except for rare occurrences when they have a Premier League referee in charge, referees at Reading matches are not full time officials. They all have ‘day’ jobs which are not usually connected with football. This can be quite stressful. …

Full-time Refs for Championship next season Read more »

By Dick Sawdon Smith Posted on 25 February 2016 Posted in From the middle

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