The Footie Thread

[Lucifer MorningStar]

They can hear in the rugby stadium

Is it going to cause any issues, if anything it might help if people can hear their understanding of the incident

The Diaz offside against Spurs communication was very enlightening

Football isn’t rugby, rugby fans and players are far better behaved than football fans.

Hearing what the ref says will only exacerbate already poor behaviour from fans and players. Football is to tribal to let it happen referees need a modicum of protection and then not answering to fans is part of that imo.

 

[Swango1980]

It may not. I have nothing invested in the top flight of football. I might see a little highlights if I can be bothered. I hear and read and I hear a lot of complaints quite regularly. Yes a lot of it will be from fans with vested interests. So if you think it’s pointless I will bow to your expertise and why change it. I am happy to watch league 1,2 and non league. It’s often said you get what you pay for. But is the premier league getting £180k of professional refereeing standards

Probably. After all, everything is relative. I believe they are paid less than La Liga referees.

When a referee makes a bad decision in a defining moment, no doubt fans will only highlight that and will have you believe the referee is not worth more than minimum wage. However, if you analyse 100% of what they do on the pitch, along with everything they have done in training off the pitch, then many more fans might be extremely impressed with what they do (if they dare be objective enough to admit it). They have probably been tested to death in the rules of the game, and how to aply them when many decisions are subjective, and come out with flying colours. They are able to keep up for 90 minutes with elite athletes who are kicking the ball up and down the pitch, and are generally able to keep themselves in very good positions (after 5 minutes I'd be panting on the side of the pitch and refusing to run any longer). And they are generally pretty good at staying calm when you have players and managers screaming and swearing at them, trying to con them, and fans getting extremely abusive anytime the most obvious of decisions goes against them.

Ultimately, they will get decisions wrong from time to time. That will always generate discussion. I think the referees should explain these to their bosses (as they do), and be able to admit they may have got things wrong in the obvious bad calls. Admitting an error should be a strength, rather than arrogantly believing you get everything correct. However, I don't believe that they should have to explain themselves in the same way to fans and media. Because they'd be crucified. Very few people will applaud a referee for admitting they made a mistake if their team lost 3 points a result of it. I'm starting to think that having Howard Webb come out every now and then explaining a wrong call is actually a bad idea. It seems to only be used as a weapon for more people to scream incompetence. The last big call that I didn't like that impacted by team was the Amad one at the weekend. But even if referee came out to explain the decision, if he said he got it wrong that gives me no comfort. And if he says he got it right, I won't agree with him. So, I don't think it really helps having the referee trying to rationalise decisions, especially when there are a huge number of fans that get much more emotional and fruity with their language than I do.

Btw, I think there are many footballers that are not worth their £300,000-£500,000 a WEEK. So, having your referees earning £180,000 a YEAR seems like an absolute bargain bucket deal

 

[PaulMdj]

They can hear in the rugby stadium

Is it going to cause any issues, if anything it might help if people can hear their understanding of the incident

The Diaz offside against Spurs communication was very enlightening

So when play is stopped and the crowd can listen, what about when play continues, take for example the Amad no pen/pen on friday night, play continued with Utd Staff and fans going mad, how could they of heard anything? B’Mouth scored, do you then want the conversation from 30-40 secs before replayed to the crowd?

We already moan about how long VAR takes and now we are getting in to the realms of taking even longer.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Again, I’ve got ask why? What other sport do we hear full match commentary from Officials?

If an Umpire gives an LBW do we not just accept it? Why do we think us supporters know better than the man in the middle? They get 1 look and possibly fractions of a second to make a decision, VAR now helps, but we never see them getting any praise when they are correct, that is dismissed as “that’s their job”

It's been said already but you hear the process in cricket, rugby union and rugby league. Not all of the game but during any key decision. It helps in those sports because you can hear and understand the thoughts of why the decision was taken. It will never take away the partisan nature of things but there won't be doubt about why the decision was made.

What's wrong with giving information?

I happen to think it will increase the respect for refs. I also agree with you that they get the majority of decisions right.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

So when play is stopped and the crowd can listen, what about when play continues, take for example the Amad no pen/pen on friday night, play continued with Utd Staff and fans going mad, how could they of heard anything? B’Mouth scored, do you then want the conversation from 30-40 secs before replayed to the crowd?

We already moan about how long VAR takes and now we are getting in to the realms of taking even longer.

All you need to do is have an audio feed where people can chose to listen to the officials as they speak to each other

I can’t see why it would be a problem

 

[Neilds]

I would love a referee to be interviewed after a match, and when questioned about a wrong decision, just list every player and point out missed tackles, fouls, misplaced passes, shots that missed the goal, etc. It would soon show that referees make a lot less mistakes than each player. Maybe fans should aim their anger a bit closer to home.

 

[PaulMdj]

It's been said already but you hear the process in cricket, rugby union and rugby league. Not all of the game but during any key decision. It helps in those sports because you can hear and understand the thoughts of why the decision was taken. It will never take away the partisan nature of things but there won't be doubt about why the decision was made.

What's wrong with giving information?

I happen to think it will increase the respect for refs. I also agree with you that they get the majority of decisions right.

It’s part of those sports and has been for a while, using the Amad example again (purely because it was only a few days ago) it was reviewed by Detmot Gallagher on Sky Sports this morning (first off, I don’t like Gallagher) now he showed the Ref was only a few metres away with a clear view and told VAR he thought Amad went down too easily for the amount of contact, VAR reviewed and agreed with the Ref.

So insolation a clear explanation, but as far as some fans and pundits think, they completely disagree, so what difference would of it made hearing that conversation?

Maybe a neutral would accept it or a B’Mouth fan, but I don’t think anyone else would accept it.

 

[PaulMdj]

All you need to do is have an audio feed where people can chose to listen to the officials as they speak to each other

I can’t see why it would be a problem

I just don’t see the need at the time in the match, anything controversial is answered afterwards.

At the match it would be lost in the crowd at home I want to watch the game, I don’t need yet another voice coming from the TV.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I just don’t see the need at the time in the match, anything controversial is answered afterwards.

At the match it would be lost in the crowd at home I want to watch the game, I don’t need yet another voice coming from the TV.

Who is it answered by after? The officials never speak to anyone - ref watch is a waste of time


And you don’t have to listen to the ref , it’s an audio choice , just like when they have fans commentating etc

 

[PaulMdj]

Who is it answered by after? The officials never speak to anyone - ref watch is a waste of time


And you don’t have to listen to the ref , it’s an audio choice , just like when they have fans commentating etc

The PGMOL are always putting out press releases.

So sod those in the stadium, just do it for the Armchair viewers. Just how will it make a difference during the game then for those that matter?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

The PGMOL are always putting out press releases.

So sod those in the stadium, just do it for the Armchair viewers. Just how will it make a difference during the game then for those that matter?

Do “armchair viewers” not matter

Again people in the stadium can also listen it as well using ear piece radios in the same way they do it for cricket matches

Do people at the match listen to the commentators

There are so many ways it can be worked

 

[PaulMdj]

Do “armchair viewers” not matter

Again people in the stadium can also listen it as well using ear piece radios in the same way they do it for cricket matches

Do people at the match listen to the commentators

There are so many ways it can be worked

I’m out, you’re not being realistic.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I’m out, you’re not being realistic.

Why is it not realistic when it’s working very well in other sports

There is nothing stopping from people being able to hear any discussions between the VAR and on field ref or linesman’s etc

You haven’t provided any practical reason why it wouldn’t work

 

[IanM]

It's a perfect storm of cheating players, baying partisan crowds and a culture of disrespecting officials. (Be they competent or awful )


Unless that cycle ends, anything is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic!

1 and 3 are fixable if the desire to do so exists..

 

[Zig]

My fixes for football... before it alienates the general population!

1. VAR needs to be more like rugby/cricket etc. Clear language/only when needed... it works in other sports really well. It's the culture and poor implementation that's making it a nightmare. And that's all down to Howard Webb and PGMOL. How they weren't sacked after the Liverpool/Diaz fiasco I'll never know.
2. Insist the game is more important than the players' egos. So, rolling subs to save the timewasting when players go to the other touchline then slow-walk off, milking the adulation. And - unless it's between the penalty spot and the two posts - treat all injuries on the pitch as the game goes on. It's about the game, not those players who think the world revolves around them.
3. Mike the refs up. Let's hear what the conversation is, a la rugby. It'll also make the players treat the refs and others with a bit more respect - sponsors will quickly dump players who overstep the mark repeatedly.

And then we might enjoy watching the Premier League again. Nothing worse than seeing a team 'kill the game off' for the last 20 mins with a variety of questionable antics.
And the three points above are all easily achieveable, and would cost nothing!!!

 

[PaulMdj]

Key reasons for the lack of live audio include:

• FIFA/IFAB Regulations: The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which sets the laws of the game, has not approved live broadcasting of audio, fearing it could be "chaotic".
• Protection of Integrity: Officials argue that hearing their instant, often high-pressure, decision-making could damage their reputation and "credibility".
• Player Language and Privacy: The players' union is concerned that open microphones would broadcast intense, often expletive-laden conversations with players, say reports from theshort.com and reddit.com
• Concerns Over Game Speed: Managers and officials have argued that involving the referee in explaining decisions via mic would slow down the game's pace.
• Alternative Communication Methods: To maintain control in loud stadiums, referees sometimes use simplified communication like "check complete" to ensure accuracy rather than full, broadcast-ready dialogue.

 

[IanM]

Just reading the Regs. is hilarious.

Players swear a lot, so we don't mic up the Ref? Swearing at the ref isn't allowed, so enforce the law, send a few off and they'll learn, eventually....

Just shows the cultural acceptance of the current state.