A couple of weeks ago I was at Reading FC’s training ground for an academy game, when I bumped into David Downs, Reading FC historian, Reading Post columnist and Welfare Officer for the Academy. David raised an incident that had …

When did you last see a contested drop-ball? Read more »

In 1933, a local referee, Charles Kearse, proposed at a meeting of the Reading Referees Association that they make an award at the end of each season for the club linesman who received the highest recommendations from members refereeing on …

Is this the worst job in football? Read more »

When I was on holiday in France last month I caught a snatch of a video of a football match on television. The ball was about to go into an empty goal when the club physio, who was standing alongside …

Referee can’t undo physio’s saving interference Read more »

The biggest talking point in the Arsenal v Sunderland match earlier this month was not Arsenal’s three goals but the non-goal of Sunderland. If you remember it, Bacary Sagna of Arsenal was pulling and holding Jazy Altidore of Sunderland as …

Playing the advantage not always the best option Read more »

What a great summer of football on television with the Confederation Cup in Brazil and then the European Women’s Cup. What! You didn’t watch it. If like my neighbour, you ‘can’t get into watching women’s football’; the Sweden v Germany …

UEFA women referees set a great example Read more »

Back in July one of the countries leading dailies had the headline, ‘Offside rule changes could cause chaos for new season.’ It reported that the Premier League could be thrown into chaos as a FIFA amendment to the offside rule …

Will new offside interpretations cause chaos? Read more »

Regular readers of this column may recall that last season I finished with a moan about BBC’s Match of the Day and how I felt it failed its audience. Sad to say that I start this season with a classic …

Should unnaturally positioned hands be penalised? Read more »