The B*****d in Black: Should We Do More To Protect Referees?

                      The announcement of Howard Webb as the referee of this weekend's Manchester derby caused many groups of City fans to take to social media and call fix, at times abusing the policeman from the North East. This all comes after a statement last week from former referee Mark Halsey, who has said that without further support for the officials, we will soon see a referee becoming so under pressure they may consider taking their own life. Whilst this claim may appear dramatic on the surface, there is much in the way of evidence to support it. This post will look at recent examples of top class referees being put under intense pressure, before examining the potential fixes to this problem.

                        In terms of examples, I can recall three in recent years of referees receiving threats against his person, or even his life. The one I will start with is Tom Henning Ovrebo, whose name will be all too familiar with Chelsea fans. In the 2009 UEFA Champions League semi final, the Norwegian had a shocking evening, refusing to grant Chelsea two stonewall penalties, and potentially even a third, and debatably dismissing Eric Abidal. However, the final two penalty claims, which came after Andres Iniesta's dramatic late equaliser, sent many of the Chelsea players into a rage, surrounding the referee in complaint. The Norwegian left the field to a chorus of boos. Had that been the end of the story, it would have been acceptable, as the crowd has every right to voice their displeasure. What they do not have the right to do is send the referee threatening messages, both through the post and over social networking sites. This is what happened to Ovrebo, with threats against his life common in the following fortnight.

                          Example number two is the referee of the EURO 2004 quarter final between Portugal and England: Urs Meier. The Swiss official generally had a good game, however his performance will be best remembered for a shocking error which cost England their place in the competition. At 2-2, and deep into stoppage time, a Beckham corner was met powerfully by Sol Campbell, thumping the ball into the net. Unbelievably, the referee had blown his whistle for a foul, despite Campbell failing to come into contact with anyone until after he had headed the ball. This effectively denied England a place in the semi-finals, and ultimately eliminated them, as penalties resulted in the inevitable elimination. Meier, like Ovrebo, suffered an influx of death threats, leading to him being given personal security for some time afterwards.

                            The final example is the one referred to by Mark Halsey last week. Mark Clattenburg was relieved of his refereeing duties mid-way through last season, after it emerged that accusations had been made that the official had racially abused Chelsea's John Obi Mikel. In fact, these accusations had been completely fabricated by the Chelsea players, and passed onto Mikel as if fact. This led, understandably, to a very angry Nigerian. However, less acceptable was his reaction. After the game had concluded the midfielder, by all accounts, barged into the referee's dressing room and threatened to break his legs. It has to be said that these rumours were not started by Mikel himself, so it is slightly different to other examples. However, it does indicate just how high passions run on the football field.

                             So what can be done to help referees? Having experienced abuse from the sidelines as a referee first-hand, I can certainly vouch for the argument that the Respect campaign has done next to nothing for the game. People can still lip read what Wayne Rooney says to referees, players continue to get in the faces of referees when a decision goes against them, and I am certain that there are many incidents that go completely unpunished. Any referee that feels threatened is unacceptable, and must be stamped out. What crowds don't understand when they abuse referees is that without one, the game could not begin. It is therefore pointless abusing them, and even more pointless complaining about decisions that have already been made. We will not change our minds!

                              Having said that, recieving abuse from fans during the game is something that a referee has to accept as being part and parcel of the game. When passions run high, sometimes fans will use offensive language towards officials that have made poor decisions. That is not to excuse racist or any other type of discriminatory abuse, as that is certainly the exception to the rule. However, general abuse from the fans is to be expected, and referees have put themselves in the frame for that. The area that football needs to stamp out of the game is the abuse of referees by footballers on the pitch, and the subsequent abuse that referees recieve after the game.

                              In terms of the off-field abuse, which has often resulted in death threats being sent to referees, there is little more the world of football can do other than to appeal to the common sense of the football fans involved. The police must be trusted to act swiftly and harshly against offenders, and football as a sport must punish any person found guilty with lifetime bans. I think the best way to combat the ever declining treatment of officials on the pitch is to go right back to the very grass roots of the game and make more sending-off worthy offences. Attempting the top-down approach, like the Respect, has been proven to be ineffective, so perhaps it is best to concentrate on the next generation of football players. By giving harsher sanctions for dissent and abuse from a very early age, to both the players and the crowd, referees can wrestle back the control from the sidelines, and gain the sort of status that rugby officials enjoy. Whilst not available at the grass roots, video and audio technology could also be used to retrospectively ban players who have been caught abusing referees on camera or microphone. However, one way in which referees can help themselves is by explaining their decisions, and admitting when they have made mistakes. I am a big supporter of referee press conferences, as it gives the officials the chance to explain their actions, and give the situation from their perspective. This would help to clear up much of the debate of the did they/didn't they see it.

                                Nevertheless, even without these press conferences, abuse of any referee is unacceptable. And it does not bode well for the future of the game. Speaking from experience, the abuse that I recieved from parents at youth level as a referee at 14 well and truly put me off from continuing it as a career. If more make the same decision, we could find ourselves with a distinct shortage of top quality referees, which will only anger fans more, as more mistakes will be made. Referees are put under exceptional pressure, and they do an excellent job 99% of the time. And 99% of fans respect that. But we still need to act to prevent that 1% of fans in the 1% of cases ruining football in the present, and the future.

                          

IPL 2013 Team of the Year

In the second, and final part of my IPL series, I will be setting out who would make my perfect IPL Fantasy XI based on their performances in this season. For my first post, click here.

 

                As I discussed in my earlier post, there have been many memorable performances and moments in this season’s IPL. Many batsmen have thrilled us with their power and ability to hit maximums out of nothing, and many bowlers have excited us by uprooting middle stumps galore. My team of the year is made entirely of people I think deserve accolades, but I did come to wishing that there were 15 or so men in a cricket team! I will order this in terms of batting line-up, and who would occupy each position:

 

Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore): The obvious pick for opener, the West Indian’s performances leave me in no doubt. Whilst it is a shame the RCB failed to make the playoffs, and thus deprived us of at least another game of Gayle magic, his massive hitting has been a joy to watch. With his contract soon to end, I envisage a titanic scrap for his signature next year.

Michael Hussey (Chennai Super Kings): The Orange Cap holder also practically picks himself for opener. I put him at number two simply because I feel that had RCB made the playoffs, then Gayle would be the man with orange on his head, and not Hussey. Nevertheless, the experienced Aussie has been fantastic for the Super Kings this season, and consistent in all bar the final.

Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore): The perfect partner for Chris Gayle, and chipping in with plenty of runs on the way, Kohli makes my XI. This one was very much between Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but with Kohli forming valuable partnerships and having fewer high profile failures, I felt he was the better choice for number three, illustrating the strength of the RCB’s batting.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings): My wicket keeper, and captain, Dhoni has been exceptional once again this IPL. A born leader and a talisman when batting, Dhoni has the ability to piece together seemingly broken innings. The final is a key example of this, taking the CSK from 39-6 to 125-9 almost single-handedly.

Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals): A breakthrough season for the fiery Aussie, who ended as the Pepsi Atom MVP, an award which gave points based on wickets, sixes, catches and dot balls. The best all-rounder in the competition this season, Watson has turned many innings with both bat and ball. His knock against the Kings XI best illustrates my point, leaving David Hussey to state the the ‘Watson factor’ was a game-changer.

Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians): Another superb season for the big West Indian, once against smashing balls to all four corners of the cricket ground, and picking up valuable wickets  for his side. His performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad shows this, where he single-handedly turned the run chase on its head, allowing the Mumbai Indians to claw their way into the playoffs. He has also produced one of the catches of the season, one handed on the boundary against the Kings XI.

Darren Bravo (Chennai Super Kings): The Purple Cap holder must also make my list. His record breaking season of 30 wickets shows Dwayne Bravo’s potential, a potential he had failed to fully realise until that point. One of the best death over bowlers in the competition, and the leader of CSK’s attack.

Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders): The ‘mystery spin’ bowler, having competed with Harbhajan Singh, is in too. Whilst Narine may not have been as effective as he was last year, where his unplayable deliveries handed the KKR the IPL title, he still managed to be the highest wicket-taking spin bowler, making his place in my XI assured.

Dale Steyn (Sunrisers Hyderabad): The Sunrisers were never favoured to reach the playoffs, and one of the key reasons they did lies in Dale Steyn. The South African fast bowler plays with his heart on his sleeve, and tends to take important wickets at opportune moments, a very impressive attribute for a bowler.

Mitchell Johnson (Mumbai Indians): A toss up here between Johnson and Malinga, but Johnson gets my vote for being the more consistent of the two. Particularly at the start of the season, Johnson was on fire, taking wickets almost a will, and producing some fantastic figures. Whilst others began to take over towards the latter stage, Johnson still pitched in with two valuable wickets in the final.

James Faulkner (Rajasthan Royals): A bit of an unknown quantity before this season, Faulkner found his wings in this season’s IPL. Involved in a game of leapfrog with Dwayne Bravo for the Purple Cap for the majority of the season, Faulkner illustrated his talents with two five-for’s against the same team, the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

 

                This team certainly looks daunting on paper, and I am certain that no other Twenty 20 side worldwide would want to face them. All have produced outstanding performances, and all have maintained their high standards throughout the season. Next year may produce new names, better performances, bigger hits and higher scores. But it will take some doing to better some the achievements of the men on this list.

PFA Team of the Year 2013

             My Player of the Year blog turned out longer than I thought, so I thought I would do a separate one on the PFA Team of the Year. Again, another highly contentious subject, with fans from most clubs complaining about someone having been omitted. I believe that the vast majority of the team selected is correct, or at least justified, based on the performance of many throughout the season. This certainly would have been one of the toughest squads to call, as there has been little to choose between many players this season, and many teams, and indeed individuals, have surprised us with their performances over the past nine months.

 

                I have only one significant complaint regarding the team. In terms of both attack and midfield, it is difficult to argue with the selections, as all have been exceptional. In fact, there are a few more names that would not have looked out of place: Marouane Fellaini, Santi Cazorla, Michu etc. It is in defence where the PFA appear to have neglected to note the statistics, and instead opted for the very tempting approach of ‘pro-champions’. If you look at statistics, Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Manchester United, and have kept more clean sheets. I am not saying they have done it deliberately, nor am I saying this out of bitter City loyalty, having experienced it for City myself last year. I am merely stating that it is easy to understand why, especially with Manchester United so far ahead in the title race, players, that in another team would have been omitted, have been included. I seem to remember at the start of the season that United were being heavily criticised for their poor defending, epitomised by the chaotic 4-3 victory over Reading in December.

 

                Nevertheless, I will run down each of the selected players, stating why I think they deserve (or do not) their place, culminating in me putting forward my own Team of the Year (maybe with a few substitutes...)

 

David De Gea (Manchester United) – Unfortunately, we start with one of the members of the team that I believe should not be there. It is often not particularly difficult to be a goalkeeper in a championship-winning side, but despite this, De Gea has still made several high profile errors this season. Whilst he is much improved from last season, and his shot-stopping ability is unquestionable, his collection from crosses remains poor.

Leighton Baines (Everton) – A close run thing with both Patrice Evra and Ashley Cole, either of which would have deserved a place, but I find it difficult to argue with Baines. A consistent performer and often the driving force behind many of Everton’s forward bursts this season.

Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham) – Another certain inclusion for me. The big Belgian has had a highly impressive first season in the Premier League, even going on a recent scoring streak.

Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) – Whilst Rio has had a good season, especially when you consider his age, this is a prime example of what I was discussing above. If he played for a mid-table team, his performances this season would be generally forgotten. As he plays for the champions, his performances are instantly upgraded.

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) – City’s only inclusion into this team, and a thoroughly deserving one. A rock at the back, Zabaleta’s consistency this season has been superb. Whilst, at times, his defensive colleagues have gone missing, he has been the one to ensure that City’s defensive record remains the best in this season’s Premier League.

Gareth Bale (Tottenham) – As you can probably tell from the previous blog, a truly deserving winner of the Player of the Year, and therefore an obvious selection for this team. Having scored two or three simply stunning goals (vs West Ham in 90^th min springs to mind), and been incredibly consistent all season, Bale has been the catalyst for Spurs’s push towards the Champions League.

Juan Mata (Chelsea) – Another simple inclusion. The diminutive Spaniard has had arguably his best season this term, currently leading the creator’s charts. The headline of the ‘Holy Trinity’ currently operating at Chelsea, his trickery and vision has been a joy to watch this campaign.

Michael Carrick (Manchester United) – Although, personally, a surprising nomination for the Player of the Year, it cannot be denied that Carrick has had an exceptional season for United and deserves his place in this team. Most fans would have conceded pre-season that central midfield is the area United lacked. Carrick has most capably filled that void with his performances this year.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – Another of the successful signings this season. With a reputed £30+ million price-tag, the stakes were always going to be set high for the former Lille man. In his first season (if we ignore the kicking of a Welsh ball-boy) Hazard has become a catalyst for much of what Chelsea has created going forward, forming a great partnership with Mata and Oscar.

Robin van Persie (Manchester United) – Top goalscorer for the last two seasons, it is hardly difficult to see why van Persie has been selected. His ability to deal with the move from North London to the North West has put many Premier League underperformers to shame (especially the likes of Fernando Torres). His 25 goals this year have arguably won United the title single-handedly. I disagree, but I can’t deny it helps.

Luis Suarez (Liverpool) – The enigmatic striker has certainly had his most successful goalscoring season since moving to Merseyside. Whilst his unprofessional conduct all too often detracts from his talent, the positive performances still deserve some form of recognition.

 

My Team of the Year

       Jussi Jaaskelainen (WHU) 

Leighton Baines(EVE)      Ashley Williams(SWA)        Jan Vertonghen(TOT)       Pablo Zabaleta(MNC)

 

Gareth Bale(TOT)              Juan Mata(CHE)                   Michael Carrick(MNU)        Eden Hazard(CHE)

                                           Robin van Persie(MNU)              Luis Suarez(LIV)

Substitutes:

David De Gea(MU)    Matija Nastasic(MC)    Patrice Evra(MU)    Marouane Fellaini(EV)    Santi Cazorla(AR)    Michu(SW)    Christian Benteke(AV)