For the Integrity of Soccer

What did I just say? And are you listening?

    Not a day or two ago I commented on the clash between Clint Dempsey (Fulham) and Phil Jones (Manchester United), that caused Jones to be taken to the hospital for further examination of his facial injury.  The importance of the referee providing an environment that protects players from injury is paramount.  But it appears that not everyone was paying attention, because just yesterday we had two incidents of the same sort in a single game: Liverpool vs Newcastle United.  Pay attention, Lee Probert . . . !

Careless, Reckless, Excessive: Should You Care?

    I've been astounded quite a few times to hear instructors or assessors tell referees exactly what disciplinary action should be taken against a player who commits a bad foul.  Astounded, because they seem to have it down to a formula, a mathematical expression, if you like.  Careless?  A free kick.  Reckless?  A caution.  Delivered with excessive force?  Send him off.

    Mathematically, here we go: C=FK; R=Yellow; EF=Red.  Easy, isn't it?  Simply convert the complexity of physical contact between players in a soccer match into simple letters, symbols and words.  Any referee can understand it, right?

    The problem is that the method is wrong, because it is over-simplified.  An example from last week in the Premiership, and involving one of our best American players, will show you just how defective it is.

Four Interesting Decisions (from Ed).

The red card or sending off is a decision that is very important for referees to get right, but is often fraught with controversy. This was amply illustrated by four incidents involving red card decisions this past weekend in the English Premier League.