One of the more unpleasant practices that’s taken hold in recent years is that of players taking hold of their opponents, particularly in the penalty area, with shirt pulling, and wrapping round of arms. There was a noticeable situation on …
One of the most under-rated skills in football is that of the assistant referee, although it may seem to spectators as an easy task. One of the greatest exponents of running the line came to Reading last month to talk …
Many readers will have no doubt seen the front page headlines in last Friday’s getreading – ‘Player ‘Hit’ Ref in Face, Post-match punch-up in Sunday League’. The referee, Barry Angel, was reported to have suffered a clipped tooth and a cut lip …
Last summer the chairmen of Football League clubs, at their annual conference, announced that there was going to be blitz on cheating and gamesmanship. By the unanimous vote of the seventy two clubs, they agreed to tell their managers to …
Ever since that incredible Capital One Cup Game against Arsenal, I’ve been tackled by disgruntled Royals supporters complaining about the referee’s timekeeping. I’m sure no one will need reminding that Reading squandered a four goal league, with the Arsenal equaliser …
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg, for the first time. The thing I hadn’t realised about him is that he has what we would call a very pronounced ‘Geordie’ …
With Reading Football Club now in the Premier League, it also means that the Madejski Stadium will be host to the country’s top referees. One referee however, that Reading fans won’t see this time around is Peter Walton. He was …
It seems that Liverpool never get through a game these days without some incident that raises the query whether their Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez has been fouled or whether he was guilty of ‘diving’. Listening to the radio commentary on the …
Every year the International FA Board make some changes to the Laws of the Game, some of which are so small and receive such little publicity that even some referees seem to miss them. One such possible change this season …
Newcastle’s second goal against Reading in the Premier League clash at the Madejski Stadium has created a great deal of discussion, some of it rather fanciful, but showing just how tricky the question of handball can be for the referee. …
