Referees have known for decades that players, coaches, managers will do whatever an official will allow them to do. That message seems to have been lost in the evolution of Major League Soccer, for in game after game, players dissent loudly and vigorously; bad fouls, especially the second-caution kind, go unpunished; free kicks are delayed until defenders are back in position. With all this going on, the game loses some of its spectacle, and no one seems intent on changing things.
But not too many days ago, a star player who will soon operate with David Beckham, was asked at the national referee training session, why he gets after referees so much, why he acts out on the field to the consternation of real fans of the sport. Why does a good player spoil his game by behaving badly?
His answer was no surprise to me, but I daresay his words may have raised some eyebrows in the audience of national referees.
To paraphrase his reply to the question is straightforward. He will keep performing the way he does, challenging referees, occasionally running amok, he says, until referees have the guts to use their yellow and red cards as they are supposed to. Players in the league, he added, push referees as far as they can—as far as they are allowed to—and there is only one way to stop it: Do what the laws require you to!
Assessors, coach/mentors, league officials, National office, pay attention. Landon Donovan has given you all the information you need to sort out the refereeing. What are you waiting for? Joe's permission?
Why should this be any surprise to any referee with any experience?
Players will always challenge the referee to see just how far they can go. Show them where the line is, let them know that they cross it at their peril, and everything is fine again. They will do exactly what you let them do.
Don't get me wrong. You can be a Nice Guy and still keep things under control. But, you cannot be a Patsy.
Posted by: Jim | March 05, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Superb stuff. I hope you don't mind that we've linked our blog to yours. Best regards!!
Posted by: John | March 06, 2007 at 03:26 PM
hey i'am hannah and i'm a ref i love to do it but it is so inconvent for me because i coach and i play too and its soo hard to find the time i i'm only allowed to ref u-10 -u-16 but anyway one time i had two people going up for the ball at the same time and was going to head the ball and they headed each other instead and they both had blood rushing out of their head i almost threw up but they both had to go to the hosptial i hate calling games off but they were aready playing down so i had to and all the parents were ticked off at me!!!i hate that but you always have to get used to it!!
Posted by: hannah blaker | March 16, 2007 at 06:29 PM
Thanks, Hannah....question for you is this:
after the twin head gusher that almost made you hurl, did you abandon the match or terminate the match? And, why?
Thanks,
AP456701234
Posted by: anonymousperson456701234 | March 19, 2007 at 01:35 PM
hey i had to terminate the game because they already had not that many players well write back got to go buh bye
Posted by: hannah blaker | March 26, 2007 at 02:35 PM
Perhaps Landon was repaid in kind last weekend when he was fouled going to goal just before the 18 and the defender continued the foul contact into the box. The referee only awarded a DFK outside the box.
Posted by: Paul Takakjian | March 29, 2007 at 01:14 PM
hey guys if you have any other interesting storys about soccer or if you just want to chat you can contact me at [email protected] please contact me i get soo baord please somone talk to me please!!!!
Posted by: hannah blaker | March 30, 2007 at 07:58 PM