Webb talks about big decisions and bias accusations

Former World Cup final referee Howard Webb believes match officials need to be given a platform to explain their controversial decisions, but he has told ESPN FC that his suggestions were dismissed by the organisation in charge of referees in English football. Webb, who took charge of both the World Cup final and the Champions League final in 2010, took up a role with the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) following his retirement from the game in August 2014, yet his desire to create a more public face for referees has been rejected. Now working as an analyst with BT Sport, Webb has given an exclusive insight into accusations of bias during his career, Jose Mourinho's "campaign" against Chelsea criticism and the future of officiating.

- Should referees be given a chance to explain their decisions in a more public forum?

- I firmly believe there is a place for a voice to provide some clarity on big issues in the game. The challenge is finding a way to present the case in a setting that does not just lead to a referee appearing on TV and being criticised for mistakes they may have made. There is a need to humanise referees, to show what it is like to make big decisions in the face of huge pressure.

- Should a referee talk to the media after a game and explain their thoughts on the big decisions?

- Appearing on TV after each game may not be the best way to do it. Match officials will make mistakes, but explaining why they might have been made can help to diffuse the situation. It would also be nice to show that referees do care if they make a mistake.

- Why would standing before a camera not be the best way to present a human side to refereeing, which you suggest is needed?

- Pretty much everyone involved makes errors in every match, but the credibility of an official would be damaged if they apologised one week and then made another error the next. Also, would TV companies want to speak to referees after they have had an excellent game? Probably not. The perceived mistakes and controversial incidents would be focused on and that may not present a balanced argument.

- Would current Premier League referees like to have chance to explain the decisions they have made?

- I think they would. I was working with referee Paul Durkin many years ago when he went on TV and explained why he had missed a clear penalty in a match between Manchester United and Newcastle. Gary Neville served up a terrible back pass and Paul was well out of position as a result. The referee was not in position to give the penalty and when he explained that after the game on TV, the reaction was so positive. To do that now, you would need to get clearance from PGMOL and that is why we don't see referees commenting on decisions.

- Should referees have a more prominent spokesperson to offer opinions on their behalf?

- That could be a way around this. In my year with PGMOL, I was working with the media privately and trying to explain why decisions were being made, to offer some perspective to pundits and analysts. I was not there to change opinions, just to chat through a few ideas on why a decision was made. Often our discussions did lead to a more balanced argument being presented.

- Why did the public not know you were doing this work with the media last season?

- I don't know why it was kept so secretive. I was at the BBC studios in Salford most Saturday afternoons talking to pundits before they presented Match of the Day (a Premier League highlights show) that evening. We had a chat for 15 minutes on the key talking points of the day and hopefully that helped to offer some insight into why a decision had been made. Conveying a message from a referee through members of the media may be an idea for the future.

- How did you feel when you realised you had made a mistake that changed the outcome of a big game?

- Very low. A referee tends to develop a sense for understanding reactions of players and you realise quickly if you have got something wrong. When this happens, it is vital that you don't cave in, or allow it to affect your judgement on the next big call. Also, the idea of balancing it out by giving the unfortunate team a decision in their favour cannot be considered. That merely means you are making two mistakes and compounding the situation.

- How did you deal with criticism from fans and the perception that you were biased against their team?

- It was the biggest annoyance for me as a referee. Everyone loves a conspiracy theory but the idea that any decision is made with a sinister undertone could not be further from the truth. Human nature means errors are made and will always be made - that is part of the game. The notion that bias against certain teams is in play is quite ridiculous.

- So how would you reflect on Jose Mourinho's suggestion last season that there was a "campaign" against Chelsea from referees?

- I can't believe he thought that was true. Do you think Martin Atkinson - who was singled out for criticism by Mourinho last season - turns up for a game thinking: 'I am just here to piss Chelsea off today?' Do you think any official wants a few days of abuse and negative headlines if they have a bad game? Of course not, it was a silly suggestion.

Source: ESPN

Changes in AFC refereeing

A series of proposals were approved by the recently appointed Asian Football Confederation Referees Committee. Having underlined how Asian referees continue to shine on the global stage, Committee Chairman Zhang Jilong (China) welcomed Deputy Chairman Hany Ballan Safar (Qatar) as well as members Abdulrahman Al Delawar (Bahrain), Cheung Yim Yau (Hong Kong), Goutam Kar (India), Toru Kamikawa (Japan), Kim Joo Sung (Korea Republic), Saad Al Fadhi (Kuwait), Ali Al Traifi (Saudi Arabia), Ali Hamed Al Badwawi (United Arab Emirates), Farkhad Abdullaev (Uzbekistan) and advisor Gen. Farouk Bouzo (Syria) to AFC House in the Malaysian capital.

The Committee went on to recommend that the current age limit (45 on January 1) for Referees and Assistant Referees, Futsal Referees (both Men and Women) and the AFC Referring Panel for Beach Soccer be repealed. The age limit (60 on January 1) for Referee Instructors/Assessors, Futsal Referee Instructors and Beach Soccer Referee Instructors was also repealed.

New recruiting systems for AFC Assistant Referees (Men and Women), Futsal Referees (Women) and Beach Soccer Referees were also approved in principal, as was the discontinuation of a fitness test for officials who arrive three – or fewer – days before the start of centralised tournaments. The Committee also approved the proposal to alter the method for testing the fitness levels of AFC Referees (Men & Women) by changing from a ‘High Intensity Test’ to a ‘Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1’. From December 2015, AFC Futsal Referee (Men & Women) will also see their ‘1000 Metre Running Test’ changed to the Modified Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test Level 2.

The recommendations will be presented to the AFC’s Executive Committee at its next meeting on November 27 in New Delhi, India.

Source: AFC

CAF Champions League – Semi-finals (Second Leg)

3-4 October 2015

TP Mazembe – El Merreikh
Referee: Eric Otogo Castane (GAB, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Songuifolo Yeo (CIV)
Assistant Referee 2: Theophile Vinga (GAB)

USM Alger – El Hilal
Referee: Victor Gomes (RSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Zakhele Siwela (RSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Thembisile Windvoel (RSA)

CAF Confederation Cup – Semi-finals (Second Leg)

3-4 October 2015

Zamalek SC – Etoile du Sahel
Referee: Bakary Gassama (GAM, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jean C. Birumushahu (BDI)
Assistant Referee 2: Yahaya Mahamadou (NIG)

El Ahly – Orlando Pirates
Referee: Mehdi Abid-Charef (ALG)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdelhak Etchiali (ALG)
Assistant Referee 2: Mokrane Gourari (ALG)

Ennjimi removed from the FIFA List

Referee Said Ennjimi (42) has just returned from his 4-month suspension due to the “Marseille shirts scandal” and the French Referees Committee punished him again. At the end of the year, he will be replaced on the FIFA referees list by Frank Schneider (36), who only refereed 21 matches in Ligue 1. Stephan Luzi (41) and Cyril Saint Cricq (38) will be replaced by Eric Danizan and Frederic Haquette on the FIFA assistant referees list. On the FIFA women referees list, Sabine Bonnin (43) will be replaced by Elodie Coppola (32), who is switching from the FIFA women ARs list, where her spot will be taken by Aurelie Labadot.

Although the deadline for national associations to nominate international referees for the upcoming year is 18 October 2015, Belgium also announced changes on their FIFA list for assistant referees: Frank Bleyen, Dirk Gilon, Danny Huens and Kristof Meers will be replaced by Jo De Weirdt, Frederic Godelaine, Kevin Monteny and Nicolas Ponsar. On the beach soccer referees list, Gunter Boelen has retired and will be replaced by Gary Christien. There are no changes on the Belgium’s referees (men and women) lists.

Source: FFF / KBVB

Former World Cup referee Poll calls for goal-line technology instead of additional assistants

Michel Platini prefers the idea of extra officials behind the goal rather than utilising goal-line technology and the additional assistant referee (Danny Makkelie) at the Emirates showed that they can be effective. The official awarded Olympiacos their second goal when Ospina spilled the ball from a corner and replays confirmed that the ball had crossed the line.

The Dutch officials also made a very good decision not to give Theo Walcott offside — he was just on when he ran through the Greek defence to score Arsenal’s first goal. Personally, I think goal-line technology should be introduced in Europe as it has been a huge success in the Premier League. Also, the cost of flying extra officials around Europe is ridiculous.

The additional assistant referee at Arsenal has done well, but the one in the Chelsea game has made a mistake – there is no question about that. The referee couldn't see that incident, but the additional assistant (Alejandro Hernandez) must do so. The player’s arm has come forward, it’s a definite penalty. This is why we need cameras at European games, despite Platini not being an advocate of them. If I was refereeing that game, you question why the ball has come off the defender at a funny angle; then look at the assistant; he says he’s not sure, so you go to the video replay. It’s not about holding the game up to check – this is not rugby. It’s easily done.

Michel Platini’s refusal to adopt the proven goal-line technology used in the Premier League almost cost City as Martin Demichelis’ effort was cleared from well over the line. The extra official (Fredy Fautrel) did not award it, but luckily Nicolas Otamendi thrashed the ball into goal. It’s unfathomable why UEFA chief Platini still refuses to use technology for these incidents. French referee Clement Turpin struggled to detect fouls and dives but the way players go down it isn’t surprising. Firstly, he awarded the Borussia Monchengladbach a penalty when Otamendi went to ground to block Raffael, but missed the ball and Raffael dragged his legs into the Argentinian defender’s outstretched leg. Later in the same half, Fernandinho slid in with a poor challenge and tripped Lars Stindl, but this time Turpin waved aside the legitimate penalty appeal and cautioned Stindl for simulation.

Source: Graham Poll / Daily Mail

Brazilian referee pulled out a gun instead of a red card

A Brazilian referee is facing disciplinary action after he reacted to a dispute with players by pulling a gun. Gabriel Murta was kicked and slapped by players from lower-league Amantes de Bola, while the manager invaded the pitch demanding a red card, it is claimed. Murta, said to be a policeman by day, reacted by racing to the changing rooms and returning with a firearm. Shocking footage captured by a spectator showed one of his assistants restraining Murta as he held the gun in his hand on the field of play.

The incident happened at the weekend during a regional league match in Brumadinho near Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s sixth largest city and the capital of the state of Minais Gerais. Amateur side Brumadinho was playing against Amantes da Bola - which literally translates as ‘Lovers Of The Ball.’ Referees’ association boss Giuliano Bozzano said the official felt threatened and went to look for the weapon to defend himself. He was due to undergo a psychological assessment later today and could face suspension or a permanent ban.

Footage taken on a mobile phone showed the player thought to have assaulted the referee running off the pitch as he sees the official storming towards him with the weapon in his hand. He was stopped in his tracks by his linesmen and one of the goalies who persuaded him to return to the dressing rooms and leave the gun in his locker. Mr Bozzano said: "The Minais Gerais Football Federation has already summonsed the referee and a psychologist to a meeting and I’m going to talk with him today. "On the basis of that conversation and his account of events and the results of the psychological assessment I’ll decide what if any measures to take. What’s happened is obviously not a common occurrence and I don’t want to rush into anything. At the moment it happened he’s opted for getting his gun because in his view it was a question of controlling a situation".

Source: Yahoo Sports