By GRAHAM FRANKLAND
December 14 2005

It's the second week of my new new feature "ASK THE REF". Before I begin to answer this week's questions, I would just like to re-confirm the following points: 1. Yes, I am a wanker but it doesn't make me a bad person does it? I bet you do it as well.
2. My parents were married before I was born.
3. My local optician in the "Clevey" can vouch that I do visit on a regular basis.
4. My labrador was given to me by kind courtesy of the "RNIB".

I would also like to point out the rules of this feature.

A. I am always right... whatever anybody thinks.
B. Any technical questions regarding the Laws of the Game designed to 'catch me out' will be treated with total disdain.
C. No answer given by me should be construed as a personal attack on the person asking the question. If this situation occurs, it will have done purely for literary enhancement and my own personal pleasure.
D. In the event of any doubt please refer to Rule A.

Here's this week's questions.

Question one from T-Cider

Do us a favour Ref. I heard a wee rumour that YOU have refereed the football match with the HIGHEST ever attendance in the world (in India).... is this true?

The Ref Says...

Unfortunately you have got the wrong Ref there TC. However it was refereed by another Boro fanatic and ex-local radio personality Dave Roberts (He used to commentate on Boro games with Ally and Bernie some years ago). Dave moved out to Singapore a few years ago to work for the TV station ESPN which is the Asian equivalent of Sky. Having been a referee on our Conference North he continued his refereeing career over there on their National League which is called the S-League.

His performances resulted in his appointment to the game in India between two teams who when they meet attract an attendance of 120,000. Due to previous disciplinary problems in this fixture, they were looking to appoint a non-national to the game and Dave was lucky enough to be chosen and even luckier to live to tell the tale.

For the record, the highest attendance I achieved was 32,000 at Manchester City’s Maine Road for the opening game of their infamous season in the old Division Two against local rivals Blackpool.

Question two from Big Shot

Graham, with the speed of the game increasing year-on-year, and many refs understandably struggling to keep up with the pace at crucial moments, do you think there is any need to increase the number of officials governing the match? This could possibly be done by introducing a second on-field official, as in basketball, or a couple of additional assistant referees.

The Ref Says...

Hi Big Shot. There was an experiment by Fifa some years ago on this very subject that was abandoned very quickly because it became apparent that it was proving extremely difficult for the 2 referees to co-ordinate their actions on the pitch.

The experiment involved a referee and an assistant (Lino) in each half of the field, but technically it just did not work. Imagine as a fan deciding which referee you need to abuse! Fifa decided that it would be far better improving the general fitness of referees and introduced stringent testing measures which all referees needed to attain.

In general I am sure that you would agree that although officials may have faults the one thing that you cant slag them for is their fitness. In fact one of the things that I think is wrong with referee progression these days is that it is much more about fitness than actual refereeing ability, which I believe should be more about detection of offences and man-management.

Question three from Steve Walton

During the closing stages of most tightly fought matches, the manager of the team thats leading invariably makes one or two substitutions, supposedly to 'kill some time'. Do these substitutions actually use up any of the remaining time on the ref's watch or does he stop the watch or perhaps add additional time to account for these delays?

The Ref Says...

Thanks for that Steve.There is a general rule of thumb that a referee is instructed to use to calculate the additional time played at the end of each half. Thirty seconds is added for each goal, yellow/red card, and substitution that occurs in the game as well as any time that needs to be added for injuries.

I for one never stopped my watch during a game but simply “totted up” in my head the amount of time that needed to be added but other referees will stop their watch at each of the above stoppages. When I watch a game now at the Riverside I can't get out of this habit and am usually pretty accurate in calculating what is likely to be added. Try it. It works.

Question four from Bazza2al

How do defenders get away with what can only be described as blatant obstruction while "shepherding" the ball out of play? If any attacker so much as makes contact with the defender in trying to get the ball, they are invariably the one penalised.

The Ref Says...

I know exactly what you mean Baz and it can be very infuriating. All I can say on this subject is that in order for the defender to get away with this action in a legal manner, then the ball must always be within playing distance otherwise he is committing an offence. The one that really gets my goat (especially when its against the Boro) is if the defender puts his arms wide apart for no other reason than to block off the attacker. This should always be penalised but rarely is…………….aaaaaaarrgh!!!

Question five from Retro Barker

What's your honest opinion of Steve Bennett at Liverpool? That's two terrible decisions in a month that's he's given against us. Do you know him personally? Do you think that the decisions were correct?

The Ref Says...

I see they have left the best (or should that be worst?) till last this week Retro. How long have I got on this one?

Firstly let me say that the goal given at West Ham was clearly wrong, and in my opinion the sending off of Chris Riggott was also wrong but the second Liverpool goal, with the offside law as it stands at the moment was probably fair enough.

Until goal line technology is introduced we are always going to get the sort of decisions that went against us at West Ham but blaming the referee on this occasion is unfair because it was his assistant who gave the goal and duly apologised for his error a couple of days later.

As a referee you rely entirely on the judgement of your assistant in these type of situations when you are in no position to judge yourself. Sadly when viewing the incident on TV it was obvious to me that the assistant was also in no position to give the goal either because Schwarzer’s body was shielding the ball from his view. So why he gave it, only he can say but it certainly cost us on the day.

Moving on to the Liverpool incidents, with Chris, I believe the first yellow card was warranted because he went to ground and challenged for the ball with his left leg, but then ”scissored” the Liverpool lad with his trailing right leg. The referee had every right to yellow him for this challenge which Mr Bennett would have decided was reckless and as such warranted what he gave.

The second challenge I believe was a different story altogether. This time Chris stayed on his feet and simply flicked out a leg towards the ball when realising that Gerrard had got to the ball first. Certainly the flick of the leg made contact but whereas the first challenge was reckless, I think the second challenge was not. I was simply careless.

For what its worth I think what influenced the referee to “dish out” the second yellow was a combination of two things.

1. Gerrards over reaction to the challenge, rolling around holding his leg as if shot and

2. The second challenge came very quickly after the first one which would have been still fresh in the mind of Mr Bennett. If only a free kick had been awarded for the second challenge, I don’t think anyone in the ground would have “batted” an eyelid.

Finally on to the second goal and whether it was offside or not. In my opinion this is the worst law in football because it is far too complex and subjective and I am sure that at times, even the assistants don’t really understand what they should give in certain situations.

In a drive to get more goals in football Fifa have played around constantly with this law but unfortunately it is putting far too much pressure on assistants when it comes to judging a player's involvement.

My understanding at the moment is that to be flagged offside, then the ball has to be played directly towards you. On Saturday the initial pass from Carragher was aimed down the wing towards another Liverpool player and not towards Morientes. Unfortunately French Franck then diverted the ball towards Morientes but now (and this is where the law becames complete bollocks) this is deemed to be another phase of play because of player intervention. Therefore, although he was stood in an offside position on the initial ball through, he was not flagged offside on the second phase. As clear as mud eh??

Even when I describe it, it sounds utter bollocks but that’s the law I’m afraid. To blame Mr Bennett for this is also a little unfair because I can tell you with absolute certainty that a referee rarely, if ever gives an offside decision. It is once again down to the lino.

To conclude this question Retro, I do know Steve Bennett personally. I once did a week's training and education course with him with the FA. His position as a Fifa Referee on the international list confirms his status as one of the better referees on the list. Sadly, I don’t think many Boro fans would agree with that statement.

Hope these answers have been helpful to give an insight into why decisions are made, whether rightly or wrongly. Until next week…………enjoy your football.

Graham

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Graham's answers will be published every week on this page. If you have a question for the ref, perhaps about a recent dubious refereeing decision, something that happened during his own football career or about football or reffing in general, then please write in straight away.

FILL THIS FORM OUT WITH YOUR QUESTION, or just email us here.

 

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And here's last week's questions, just in case you missed them.

Question one from ErimusRed

Graham, how are ya Mate? Welcome to the site Marra!

What is the official FA stance on players who dive to gain advantage? Do you initially warn them, give them three chances or produce a yellow immediately?

It appears to me that it's descretionary as there seems to be no consistent standard to rid this blight from the game.

The Ref Says...

Thanks for that kind welcome Erimus. I wanted to call my racehorse that but the bastards wouldn't let me have the name.

Great question to start my new feature. The actual terminology they use in the laws in relation to this cancer within in the game is "simulation". If a referee considers a player has simulated an action designed to gain an advantage to his side then he shall be yellow carded, whether it was his first offence or not.

Sometimes it is very difficult to detect this type of offence but the basic guidance given was in relation to any contact or not. If as a referee you were certain that no contact had occurred then you were very likely to be issuing a card, but if there was any doubt whatsoever that there might have been contact, however slight, then you were more likely to allow play to continue but still let it be known to the player with a quiet word that you were 'on his case' and would be watching his future actions. Hope that clears it up for you.

Question two from ErimusRed

Graham, I want your opinion, as well as what your colleagues generally think, about the use of visual and electronic aids being introduced into the "modern" game, specifically compared to other proven technology already in use in other sports, i.e cricket, rugby, tennis.

Do you think it would diminish or enhance the refereeing team's control and respect on the park?

The Ref Says...

Technology in football. I think that whatever happens in the future to introduce it, then we have to be very careful that we don't alter the speed and fluidity of our English game because that is what makes it so popular all over the world.

Cricket, rugby and tennis have much more natural stoppages which can be used check out decisions. Most games, in this country at least, are fast flowing, end to end encounters - except when visiting the Bar Codes or Deckchairs of course - and what I wouldn't like to see is this being altered in any way.

That being said I am certain that the first steps towards introducing goal-line technology will occur in the not too distance future. Probably next season.

This advancement should be welcomed as matters of fact concerning ball over the line or not should not be left solely to human eyes who sometimes through no fault of their own cannot see whether the ball is over or not. Subjective matters such as was it a hand ball, foul or offside should still be left vto the officials. Open these decisions up for dispute and we would soon have three hour football matches on our hands. Nobody wants that, I am sure.

Question three from ErimusRed

Graham, now be honest here son!

Boro were done over big time by that atrocious line call refereeing decision at West Ham. No way was it a goal, even to a sleeping blindman.

Players and coaching staff and the crowd could see on the big screen at Upton Park that it wasn't over the line and that Skippy had pulled it back prior to the money line.

In your time, when a big screen was available at a stadium, did you sneak a look at said screen to help your decision making?

The Ref Says...

Your third question Erimus. You must be really bored or have a secret desire to referee!.

Whenever big screens are used at football stadiums then the clubs are instructed NOT to show any contencious replays immediately after the event. This is designed to prevent any unrest within the stadium if a decision was to be quickly proven to be incorrect.

Due to this no sneaky glances were possible beause there was nothing to look at. That doesn't mean to say you wouldn't check out your game on video afterwards to check out your errors/correct decisions, just for professional interest's sake.

The fourth and final question from ErimusRed

Graham. Jock-strap, skiddies, wife's kecks or bollock naked beneath the black shorts?

The Ref Says...

You have lulled me into a false sense of security with your questions so far then hit me with that one.

I don't own a jock-strap (you need to be a big lad for them don't ya?), our lasses kecks wouldn't fit me (have you seen the size of her arse?) and going commando would be most uncomfortable with the shit quality polyester shorts that we were supplied, so skiddies it is mate.

Thanks for taking a night off just to ask me all those questions and hope the answers were useful mate.

Question from Toby Higgins

In 2001 you refereed at Halifax Town in the second round of the FA Cup. Town played Stoke and the game finished 1-1, with Stoke winning the replay 3-0 and going on to host Everton in round three.

Halifax had a shout for a penalty in the dying minutes of the game at The Shay with the score at 1-1, and you turned it down.

Do you think there are referees out there who would have given the penalty, just to create an FA Cup shock and give the 'underdogs' the advantage?

The Ref Says...

Thanks Toby for that. The only thing I can say to answer your question is that all referee's, with the exception of Robert Hoyzer, don't give a shit who wins a game of football they are officiating at.

I know fans can get get very paranoid that a referee may be siding more with one team than another but seriously, the game - in this country at least - is as honest as the day is long. Referee's make mistakes but that's it.

Question from Big Shot

How is the handball rule interpreted? Does there have to be intention? And how should a ref deal with a shot being struck hard against an outstretched arm? How is this 'hand to ball'?

The Ref Says...

The handball law is one of the very few laws where an action by a player has got to be considered deliberate.

With this in mind I would say that 90% of instances in a game where the ball and hand/arm contact could be considered not deliberate and therefore would go unpenalised.

I certainly spent the majority of my career turning down appeals for handball because I considered that most of the time a deliberate offence had not taken place.

In your question you mention an outstretched arm and this is where it becomes more likely that the player will be punished, even if the ball is struck hard. An outstretched arm would be considered by most referee's as an attempt to deliberately block the ball and be punished accordingly.

Question from Smogsaway

How much do you het paid for being the 4th official?

The Ref Says...

In my day (3 years ago) it was about £200 + expenses for the fourth official at Premier League games, which was the same figure as you would get if you refeereed a Nationwide League game.

But given a choice, I always preferred refereeing to standing around the dugouts being abused by whining managers and players who would take out their frustrations on you, even though they were complaining about the referee or "your fucking mate" as they were generally referred to.

£200. It should have been at least double that for all the shit we had to take!

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Graham's answers will be published every week on this page. If you have a question for the ref, perhaps about a recent dubious refereeing decision, something that happened during his own football career or about football or reffing in general, then please write in straight away.