Wombat
Well-Known Member
There's all these bullshit excuses....oh, it's an emotional game. It's there for the players, blah blah. It ties down to this whole thing about how weak refereeing is promoted because getting involved makes the referees the centre of attention or some such.
Even at grassroots it's gotten worse - I came back for a season a few years back and I was amazed at how much worse the abuse had gotten on the coast.
I watched a mate play in his ice hockey grand final a year or so ago. About the 3rd highest grade I think so quite competitive. He got sinbinned for something that was clearly the wrong decision. Afterwards I commented on how he just went to the bin, no argument, nobody said a word. He said 'that's because they all know they'd be joining me!'
Made me realise that every single excuse this game has for putting up with abuse is bullshit. But it needs to be approached consistently. A true zero tolerance approach is, IMO, achievable. And thing is, I think that would make it LESS about the referee, not MORE. Sure, you'd see a few games abandoned for too many red cards at first, but players would learn, would stop crowding the referee, then people care less about the decisions and more what players are doing. And IMO that would be better for everybody - referees, players, spectators at all levels of the game.
Maybe then we can stop coaches arguing with the 4th official for god knows what reason too
Agree. I was a very mouthy player and always chirped at the refs....but always with a excuse me sir....but how can that be their thrown in when it came off them......always totally polite.
I still remember being booked for asking a question like that and the ref said I'm sick of listening to you....and gave me a card. Something I'm sure he couldn't actually actually do??....I shut up for the last 10 minutes.
I remember playing in a mid level game (Prem 3 or 4 kdsl) and my friend who is Italian almost getting into a fight with the ref. I dragged him away and bollocked him. I would have got sent off for that shit and he told me, half joking.....I'm a wog mate......we can get away with a lot more than you.
I must admit I've bitch slapped opponents and belted people in retaliation and still stayed on the park....with just a yellow card.......always pleading he has kicked me for 60 mins ref....I'm just protecting myself if you won't.
But I have never gobbed off at a ref like some of them do now.....because u new it was a straight red.
Simple to fix.......dive it's a yellow. Get in my face it's a yellow. disrespect me in an aggressive manner and it's a red.
