Last week’s football headline was the suspension and fine of John Terry, Chelsea and former England captain, who had been accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand whilst playing against Queens Park Rangers. Terry had been acquitted of a racist charge …
My next door neighbour is an avid television football fan but he confessed to me during the Olympics, that he ‘couldn’t bring himself’ to watch women’s football. That was a great pity for there was a number good women’s matches …
Some of the clubs competing in the Reading Football League are taking part in a national experiment with substitutions. At the last general meeting of the International FA Board, who are guardians of the Laws, the FA obtained agreement for …
There’s an old saying that the good referee is the one that you don’t notice but as I’ve said in this column before, that depends on the players. That’s not an excuse for a lower performance but a matter of …
The close season this year, (that’s if you have noticed one, what with Euro 2012 and then the Olympic football), has been a momentous one. This has taken place mostly off the pitch, with the biggest decisions being made at …
As if it wasn’t enough for referees in the Premier League to have their decisions subject to comments by assessors, match delegates, club markings and ex-footballers as pundits, they now have leading ex-referees giving their views in today’s multi media …
Tough decision divides ex-referees on Arsenal game Read more →
Apart from George Galloway’s victory at their by-election, there was another extraordinary incident at Bradford last week. I’m talking about the brawl at the end of the Bradford City v Crawley Town Football League 2 match. Some readers may have …
Why a referee showed players red cards in his dressing room Read more →
A few weeks ago when this column still appeared in the getreading edition of the Post, I received a telephone call one Friday evening. ‘I’ve just read your article,’ the caller said, ‘about how assistant referees don’t make decisions but …
A year or two back I refereed an English Schools FA girls’ cup tie where three of the girls in one team, which came from Slough, wore tracksuit bottoms. Not any old track suit bottoms but obviously specially made to …
The curious case of the Hijab and the laws of football Read more →
Back in 1965 I was editor of the Reading Referee, the magazine of the Reading Referees Association, as I am again now. My co-editor, Peter Jefferies who sadly died much too young, and I had a disagreement in print over …
