The umpire is always right, even when he is wrong. Blatantly wrong, unbelievably wrong, Koertzen-esque wrong.
Just wrong! Thousands of people in the stadium know the umpire is wrong, millions watching on TV know the umpire is wrong, so why is it that the umpire is always right?
There is an unwritten rule that no-one dares speak about.
The umpire is the most important person in sport. No one likes to admit it as we all want to be agog at the latest skills, energy and judgement of our finest sporting heroes but without our umpires, referees, adjudicators and judges we would be left with sporting anarchy.
Plus how we would fill our time if we couldn’t look back on with a slight smirk as we ponder the worst decisions ever made by an umpire? How boring would it be if they made the correct decision?
It’s time to search the best refereeing judgements of all time – “yes, that was a plumb lbw, well done Billy” or “Mr Maradona, you handled that ball. Free kick to England and a red card for cheating”.
Rugby union is certainly at the top of the umpire/referee respect table but that’s not good enough. It’s like being top of the most helpful estate agent league.
AFL is getting there but both are still a long way off from the respect that umpires deserve.
I want to see tougher sanctions – monetary fines to the clubs and offending players but also game time punishments whether that means additional points, runs, goals, tries, then so be it.
Increase umpire respect and you will increase the quality of the game.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I'm all for improving the respect for umps and refs to be found in the general community. But at the end of the day, they should all just shut the f@rk up and do their job properly. Their eye sight should be tested, and so should their IQ.
Gibbo
Guest
there is only one sport that would benefit from video referring that i can think off... the other night during a world title match the referee was distracted and completely missed some random non-competing athlete sneak into the ring and clock one of the compeditors in the head with a steel chair!! this event, not sighted by the referee, directly influenced the end result of the match! video refs for WWE now!
Ara
Guest
There have always been dreadful mistakes made by umpires in the past and there will be more in the future. Using the rugby league example the third referee has not sorted this issue out as the review referee also has made mistakes. Australia has won many a game based on umpire error in the past for example the last Indian series in Australia. I salute Ponting for taking this on the chin without blaming the umpires. What we should be looking at some of the selections for this series and the cricketing blunders that Ponting keeps on making! For example Shane Watson should not be taken on long tours as he breaks down so often. Brett Lee did not have enough match fitness and he was also selected. At the moment it seems that the selectors and the Captain are working together to make winning very difficult!
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
A good umpire or a referee is one you dont notice.
glocko87
Roar Rookie
In regards to how I would fill my time if the umpires made all the right decisions, I would enjoy a game where the correct decisions were made knowing that stupidity wouldn't affect the ultimate outcome. I'll respect the umpires when they umpire consistently.
jonno
Guest
First, devices are needed to remove the pressure off umpires. Pressure does not help produce good and accurate decisions. Thus the need to use technology where you can. Second, no-one wants to be an umpire. So the pool of talent is rather limited. What is needed is some sort of umpire talent identification scheme to make sure the right people get the job.
Gruffalo
Guest
Rubbish. Umpires now regard themselves as celebrities on a par with the players. These prima donnas chase players around calling them by their first names and speaking to them almost abusively. How often do you see a referee in a rugby union international standing between the packs lecturing 16 international players on how to pack a scrum? Incredible arrogance of these showponies on TV. There is an argument that referees have the ego to be on the big stage but not the talent to be there as a player. Rules need to be simplified. This will remove the referee/umpire from affecting the outcome of games. What we don;t need is referees who are "personalities" - like Hartley and Harrigan whose modus operandi was "look at me". Referees should be fined heavily, especially video referees, for game-altering mistakes. Better that referees make less decisions than multiple bad ones.