Goal-line technology moves a step nearer
Some of you may realise that this column is in fact one week late. I should have produced one for last week’s publication.
However this time last week when I would have normally put pen to paper (or rather typed on my keyboard), I found myself holed up in a hotel near Rutland Water with the rest of my refereeing colleagues.
The purpose of the meeting was our normal bi-weekly get-together, although this time we discussed in depth the previous weekend’s decisions made in the games at Liverpool and Fulham.
I don’t propose to air all what was said as I think all what can be said has been. Needless to say we, the referees, are becoming increasingly aware of the pressures placed on us by certain teams and individuals and being aware, we can begin to combat this element of the modern game.
Goal-line technology was once again highlighted and we are told that it is the aim of the Premier League to introduce this technology in the form of a tennis ‘hawkeye’ system for the beginning of next season after trials at Readings training ground.
I cannot understand why all the fuss and time is being devoted to such a devise. You only have to stand with the locals at Long Buckby on any match day and they can see everything quite clearly and they offer this advise to the match officials!
The season started with me overseeing the match between West Ham and Man City.
I like to think that I do my homework on the teams that I am going to ref and be aware of players and tactics to be used. However, when the team sheets came in before the game I took one look at the Man City sheet and wondered who on earth many of the players were.
Neither I nor my colleagues had heard about the majority let alone understood their playing patterns etc.There was one new player who I had a vague idea on and that was Giovanni, an attacking midfielder making his debut for City.
I had selected him for my ‘fantasy football team’ and was very happy when he duly scored City’s second goal, but then my delight turned to despair when he ran to the City fans and embraced them off the pitch.
This act meant a mandatory caution and I showed him the yellow card as he walked past me. “Thank-you,” he said…thank you!
He just cost me four points in my attempt to win the gym fantasy league.
This week I am refereeing at Bolton v Everton and hopefully any player that I might have in my team will behave himself!
