The game is too emotional, and the experience within the stadium too important, for it to be reined in by a system that does not cater for eitherOne of the most striking aspects of the rolling-out of video assistant referees in English football over the last week is the almost daily reminder of the powerfully collegiate nature of referees. Gathered in significant numbers the refereeing community will come on like a particularly strident all-male lobbying group, flaring their neck muscles, explaining their judgments in that strangely tetchy technical language, asserting their right to be respected and supported with an air of lingering threat, like Fathers For Justice in shorts. This is their time now. And they’re going to fiddle with...
How can the governing body expect behaviour to improve if it will not publish the fair-play table and allow us to see which clubs are punished in it for their treatment of officials?The news came via a press release from Burnley’s media department. “Burnley FC Tops FA Respect Table,” was the headline, announcing the award of a £20,000 prize for having the best record in the top division last season when it came to fair play and understanding, under the guidance of Sean Dyche, that influencing or deceiving the referee should not be thought of as just another skill or tactic.Nobody should be surprised when Dyche’s ethos is that his players give everything, tackle hard and never shirk a challenge,...
The Everton player, as well as Sergio Agüero, were involved in challenges that led to sending-offs, possibly through making them seem worse than they were, but still the FA’s new panel cannot make its first judgmentWhat a disappointment. The Premier League season is only two matches old and already it looks as if the Football Association’s initiative on diving and simulation is struggling to keep pace. Related: Calvert-Lewin and Agüero face no action under new FA simulation rules Continue reading...
The system’s success in North America this season will go a long way to deciding VAR’s place in the gameFC Dallas thought they had clawed a goal back. Maxi Urruti reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box, and found the back of the net to give the Texans a lifeline against the Philadelphia Union. On any other weekend previously this season, the goal probably would have stood. FC Dallas may well have mounted a late comeback on the back of it. This weekend, however, Major League Soccer debuted its new VAR system. Urruti’s goal was its first case study.Indeed, replays showed that Cristian Colman made contact with Philadelphia goalkeeper John McCarthy before Urruti took his shot. The decision,...
Mark Clattenburg, Martin Atkinson, Michael Oliver and Bobby Madley all make our shortlist. Now post your suggestions belowWelcome to theguardian.com review of the 2016-17 Premier League season. Now that the campaign has ended we would like you to help us choose your favourite goal, the best referee and the best manager, and other winners in a total of 10 categories. We have nominated some contenders but this is just to get the discussion going: we would like your suggestions so that we can compile the best into final polls that you can vote on. The polls will be published at midday on Wednesday 24 May, so please tell us what you think. Thanks Related: Premier League 2016-17 season review: our...