We welcome back local referee Paul Richards to the team who shares his views on the officiating in the Premier League this past weekend.
We are coming to the end of a long hard season.
As the season draws to a close, we are no clearer on when or where fans are going to get some clarification on how a referee makes his decisions.
The 2014/15 Premier League season has to rank as one of the worst in history regarding decisions and almighty cock-ups and total lack of understanding of the rules of the game.
Where do we go from here?
I would like to think that a summer without football will help the Football Association come to an understanding with the Referees Association and its members on a simpler way of enforcing the rules of the game and lessen the confusing way we as fans, and in particular us as referees, see the game.
Let me explain. I am not saying that we do not understand the rules, more that we have no idea how to properly enforce them.
As I have said in previous articles, referees will see things differently. For example, the challenge by Vincent Kompany against Manchester United is one of those challenges that I have seen given and not given.
Why have you seen them given? It is simply because the officials all see and think differently. Pause for a minute and that phrase will make sense. What I cannot understand is pundits being critical of a decision but they do not understand that a referee will have a different angle and perspective and certainly not the advantage of video replays.
The live commentary of the Kompany challenge I mention suggested that he won the ball. The replay showed that he did not and he actually caught the player. That says everything about what referees are facing but they do not help themselves at times. On this occasion the right call was made and Kompany received a yellow card. Yet the commentator did not go back and suggest his initial comment was incorrect and the referee actually did a good job.
I am pleading with Football Association to use the summer break to liaise with the Referees Association and come up with a plan to eradicate the so often grey issues in the game. It can only do some good.
This is the only way we can all get along but rest assured, there will still be that person sitting nearby either in the ground or in the pub that will see it differently whether anything is done or not.
If I am honest, as much as would love this all sorted out I know it is unlikely to be done so. Fans will still have their opinions, pundits will have theirs and referees will have theirs too. It is unfortunate but we will never see the end of refereeing controversies. It is what it is.
One thing I do know is that I will still be here to try and unravel the weird and the wonderful decisions that referees make. I would like to hear from you too.
Ask The Ref
What have you made of refereeing this season? What would you like changed? Let us know by leaving a message below this article, on our Facebook page or Twitter. In my last article of the season I will answer and address them all.
