I watched this last night and it was very interesting. I actually felt sorry for the fella. Not being able, until now to talk to the press about what happens on the pitch whilst the players are allowed to talk to all and slag him off. Great documentary, that made me realise even more that they are human and have feelings. He was right to give up the whistle after it started to affect his home / family life. Having been a ref in my early years it's hard when you have to keep your cool whilst all around you are losing theirs, although my experiences are nothing compared to my new mate Mr Poll.
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So do footballers Tongy but they don't get pilloried as much as some refs by fans and media.
The best referees are never noticed in a game - but with Poll he always wanted to be the star of the show.
Before I sound like a martyr it is a minority of players and team officials who do disrespect officials and 90% of the time I do have friendly banter with the players and officiating is thoroughly pleasant. Have Sky+ed the aforementioned documentary. Should make for good viewing especially for me as a referee!
not really what i see at parks football to be honest. What i mainly see are blokes who either aren't good enough to play, or too old now, but still want to be involved in football.
Maybe right maybe wrong but with out them there would be no sort of a game.
After all I cannot see why you dislike them, all they're doing is applying the laws of the game.
I wonder if I've ever refereed you?!?!?
Just thinking in what other sport would you get a player saying they dislike an official. Cricket, rugby, tennis, snooker etc??? So why football I wonder....
Spot on, I may question a decision with a ref to give him something to think about for the next one.
But we all know if there not there and you have to use one of the 2 teams personel to ref its just not as good!
Agreed Spankie. I passed my Refs badge at 14 but gave up at the age of 17 because of the abuse and not really being able to do anything about it. Poll was concerened in what he said. " I have steward and a police escort if needed, but lower non professional or local park football refs don't have this and that is what the problem is. Players and officials see it happening in the Prem / CCC and think it's ok to do it on a sunday"
For those who know me, I like to talk to refs throughout the game and have banter, but sadly most sundays the refs are not interested in you just sticking to the letter of the law and even when you ask to speak with them they book me for dissent. CFW will vouch for that as he has reffed me before, and the ref at The Valley.
My point was that Poll is only human and in my opinion is a genuine fella who just tries to up hold the law. It's because of the cock up in Hamburg that the spotlight was on him even more, and lets face it he's probably done more high profile games than most.
A referee who can explain a decision without threatening to book you for dissent would be a start.
In Rugby and Ketman the decisions are hardly ever questioned and some of those are shocking. Is it the money? Is it the passion of the game?
If a referee can talk to players and is consistent with his decisions then fair enough. But too many of them aren't. Too many of them take an arrogant stance. Even if Refs put their hands up at the end of a game and admit to making a mistake (rescinding or not putting through a yellow/red card for example, or even just saying to players, "I may have been wrong to give a penalty/free kick etc.) then it would make it easier to respect them a bit more. But again, they take the arrogant stance that they can do no wrong.
Maybe I wouldn't tar them all with the same brush, if there was at least one referee I've had this season who would at least try to come across as human.
I don't mean thugs in the literal sense (so please don't shoot me down) but I couldn't think of a better word.
Totally agree with the question why in football the officials are afforded so little respect. I give the players respect and hope they reciprocate.
Don't see how you can start that statement with "In fairness". I've had many games refereed decently. It is no coincidence that the games where the ref "does well" are the games where the players behave themselves. Yes there are bad ones, but players make mistakes on the pitch all the time - perhaps the ref is just as human? I agree that there are some jumped up ones, but all of them?
I think we'll all agree it goes too far when your family and home life is affected. As far as I'm concerned football end 5pm on a Saturday and my private life is kept well separate.
PS Hillsy's up - I was the ref at The Valley!
It's all about the way you ask though.
Spankie - you can tell Cunning is one of those players that will run alongside us telling us where we are going wrong for 90 minutes whilst having an absolute stinker himself.
I've yet to meet a player that has 100% agreed with a decision I have made. Does make me laugh EVERYONE is a better referee than the ref itself despite most players not having a grasp of the Laws of the game......
I have decided to do a Graham Poll and have not re registered - i really can't be assed with it anymore - I can't progress any higher than Lower reaches of non league footie as I am too old so not gonna put myself through the crap as it got to a point sometimes last season where I wanted to chin a player.
I agree again Spankie. Was it you who refed at The Valley? We enjoyed good banter didn't we? The week before The Valley clash I got sent off for a Pro foul. I tripped in the box and fell onto the centre forward who also fell and missed an open goal. Had to be a straight red as it was a goal scoring opportunity. Normally you get 35 days for a red, but because I had conducted myself well and not got lairy with the ref, his report actually priased my behaviour and i only got 7 days. Cheers Ref.
I've managed for i think 11 years now, and i have always preached to treat the ref with respect. Maybe i'm lucky that i've had decent bunches of players over that time, but a lot of it stems from the example the managers try and install on how they want their team to be.
We have a couple that will argue decisions, and i think that is healthy to have a couple that keep the ref on his toes and not make an 'easy decision' if one side is aggressive and the other is not. But if its all 11 players constantly on at the ref, i find it quite embarrassing to watch.
I've always had a belief that if you treat the referee well, with respect and make him feel a part of it, the chances are he is less likely to go against you or screw you over.
I'm not disputing that Referees don't make mistakes. Players though will admit their mistakes, referees don't. You can share a joke with an opposition player during the game, but you can never share a joke with the Referee.
I disagree with that Cunning. I have had many a laugh with refs on a sunday morning. In actual fact, most sundays before, during and after. That's the sort of guy I am I like to get to know the ref and try not to make it a them and us situation.
Absolutely. I'll always remember watching England captain Martin Johnson, 6 foot something, getting a good talking to from a 5 foot something referee, with Johnson answering 'yes Sir' to all of the referee's instructions... IMO, that's the way it should be in all sport.
agree with your comments dude
I actually try to make a joke of player's comments if they're said semi-seriously like if a player says to me "There's two sides out here ref" I'll retort with tongue firmly in cheek "If I had a pound for every time that had been said to me I'd be a millionaire". If a player swears bline he was onside when clearly off I'll say back "Funny that, no one's ever offside fella" or if a player calls me useless I'll say "Yeah I was last week also". I don't take the comments seriously enough as I've heard them a thousand times before and realise they have little or no credit!
Ledge - Playing 5 a side, I frequently go out my way (as a keeper) to give our ref a bit of protection during games, pulling players away from him who are trying to intimidate him. Playing last season, more than once I went out to pull players away from Referee's. I don't air my personal views to referees before, during or after games. So your comments are a bit out of order.
And maybe if Refs talked to players during the game, Players would have a grasp of the rules.
Completely agree Afka. Hence, why as mentioned above, I try to give refs a bit of protection while their doing their job. As someone quoted Graham Poll, they don't get policing and stewarding at park level.
I completely agree Spankie that football is an extension of life, not part of it. I have family who referee, and I wouldn't want them to be affected by it.
If you're refereeing Sunday league though, what gain do you get from putting through stupid Red cards to the FA. I know people who have stopped playing because of the sometimes over zealous nature of referees. Is that fair? Is that any worse than referee's quitting because of the actions of players?
I seriously think its sad though that Refs are subjected to people screaming in their face, spitting etc. Maybe one day you'll referee one of my games, then maybe you will see I'm nothing of that sort. Maybe you will start to change my perception of referees.