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 …
It’s our monthly meeting this Thursday 15 March, 7.45pm as usual at the Madejski Stadium. This month we have a real treat in store with Ray Olivier, Training & Development Manager for PGMOL as our guest speaker. Anyone who has …
One particular foul that has stirred controversy again this season is what I call the ‘flying tackle’. It is often referred to as a two footed tackle but it can be committed with only one foot leading the way. What …
Tackling with feet off the ground risks a sending off Read more »
For our March meeting we were looking forward to hearing from Ray Olivier, former Football League referee who has appeared at the Madejski Stadium in that position in the past but is now Training and Development Manager for the PGMO, …
Guest speaker Mar 2012: Ken Clark – “how do we define handball?” Read more »
This coming Saturday 3rd March, the International Football Association Board will be meeting in Surrey to discuss possible changes to the Laws of the Game. For those who are not aware of it, the IFAB is the body which makes …
Change proposed to denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity Read more »
Paul Hardie, our guest speaker for February, qualified as a referee in the RAF. He attained his Class 1 (in old money) in whilst serving in Cyprus, where he refereed on the Cyprus National League for three years. Returning to …
Guest speaker Feb 2012: Paul Hardie – “managing advantage” Read more »
