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What's happening with international referees?

Roar Guru
24th November, 2008
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Roar Guru
24th November, 2008
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I was disappointed to read last week that Lyndon Bray announced his retirement from refereeeing. He is, in my opinion, the number one referee in the world. Like all of us, he can have an off day. But his on days were always many more.

He had this wonderful understanding of the game and how to let it flow without letting it get out of control. The last five years I have really enjoyed watching him referee.

This brings up a problem I have noticed: good refs seem to get better as they get older and retire before their performances slump. Like players, the issue, no doubt, is the constant training and flying around the world.

We really need a blueprint for International refereeing that is in the form of an advanced rules or suggestions book that retiring referees can add to. This would assist young referees coming into the game and over time would become something of a bible around the world.

At the moment it seems that referees are gradually stepped up in the pecking order until they can try out at a minor international game. Once they make it as an international ref, they rarely slip off the list, as opposed to players and coaches.

I believe that referees should come under a more structured review process that involves not only their peers, but also coaches and players.

It seems ridiculous that in these professional times, referees can put in an absolute shocker and, although there may be a tough internal review. they can still get selected. If we had a tribunal made up of ex refs, ex-coaches and ex-players with powers to suspend a referee, or even in extreme cases demote him, then referees will be treated the same as all professional sports people.

The end result would be a professional body where the best aspects of the game are protected from autocratic or just plain poor whistle blowers.

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