Comments on: Can the FA teach young footballers “Respect” for Referees?

By: Wazza

Wazza — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:24:20 +0000

Respect has to be earnt … not just automatically granted.

By: Hugo Steckelmacher

Hugo Steckelmacher — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:24:59 +0000

Stephen – thanks for the heads-up, I wasn’t aware of these two reports. I read the Times on a regular basis and frequently check numerous other papers, and have found very little of interest on the scheme (they have reported it but have failed to throw their weight behind the initiative or analyze its merits and detractions). I’ll see if I can find the reports online. It’s not always terribly easy to keep fully abreast of press developments when you are not living in the country about which you write, but I try my best.

By: Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:23:07 +0000

You say: “The British media’s coverage, or lack thereof, of Brian Barwick’s â€œRespectâ€ programme, gives me great cause for complaint.”

At least two near-full-page reports on the FA’s schemes have been published in the Telegraph in recent weeks.

By: Hugo Steckelmacher

Hugo Steckelmacher — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:07:21 +0000

Steve has informed me that Collina currently works for Serie A as a referee designator – I’m not really too surprised that the league were keen to keep him in employment.

I do remember the Di Canio incident, and I distincly recall the ref. in question (Paul Alcock) taking two steps, looking up and then throwing himself to the ground. He was due a yellow for diving..

By: SpiralArchitect

SpiralArchitect — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:05:25 +0000

Anthony –

I suspect that Collina would never have wanted to come to the Premiership for the same reasons you stated just a bit earlier. Who the fuck wants that kind of grief at that age? He did well to retire at that age with his reputation intact. A very smart man.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:12:35 +0000

Congratulations Hugo, for me it takes something a bit different to scratch below the surface to other issues in the news and I enjoyed this one immensely.

As I recall, Frisk was also hit by a coin thrown from the Roma section of the Olimpico around that time when they were a goal down to Dynamo Kiev. Combine the abuse there, with Mourinho’s comments and the death threats and why would he want to continue?

Didn’t a similar thing happen with Urs Maier after Euro 2004?

Arsene Wenger never sees a damn thing (my mood isn’t helped as Arsenal just beat us 3-1) until it happens to one of his own team. Managers and players are all too quick to criticise but rarely levy praise in public, unless it’s sarcastic.

Paolo Di Canio, in 1998, who remembers that one?

There’s a catalogue of incidents down the years combined with a multitude of abuse from players (largely elite clubs), crowds and managers and I don’t see the attraction of being a referee to be honest with you. You have a split second to see something and then be scrutinised on national TV if you make a mistake by people who wouldn’t have the bottle and/or inclination to do the job themselves.

Definitely agree with Ministry of Football too, a friend of mine’s son plays for a local junior football team in Manchester/Bury. Another of our friends volunteered to be a ref and was subjected to abuse – at UNDER 9 level.

I always wondered why the FA never tried to recruit Pierluigi Collina to the Premiership, didn’t he have to retire from Serie A mandatorily at the age of 45 or something? I thought he was a fantastic referee, completely put the players in their places.

By: Hugo Steckelmacher

Hugo Steckelmacher — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 10:23:12 +0000

Manager – you are correct, I mixed up the Del Horno sending off with the Drogba one. My point remains the same.

It was always unlikely that Rijkaard and Frisk had spoken at half-time. It is well known that Rijkaard goes off for a blaze in order to calm himself down.

By: Manager

Manager — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 10:02:33 +0000

Ur Wrong about Frisk

He received Death threats for sending off Drogba and allegedly talking to Rikaard during Half Time.

By: FairFootball

FairFootball — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:45:03 +0000

Well … it would also help if the refs didn’t make so many wrong decisions.
In rugby they have video help. Need I be more explicit ?

By: Ministry of Football

Ministry of Football — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:39:46 +0000

Actually, I think the general level of abuse is completely out of control. At youth and local league levels, referees and players seem to be constantly under threat of violence. The level of aggression displayed particularly by players’ parents is incredible. Anything that might redress this issue should be welcomed. It’s all very well coaching kids in the finer points of the game, encouraging their creativity, self-expression etc. but if you have rabid psychopaths screeching on the sidelines it undoes all the work the coaches do. For the sake of football something has to change.