I'm not normally one to post about events in the world of elite of football, but after the events of gargantuan clash between European giants Manchester United and Real Madrid last night, I just can't help myself.
I think we all know the event that I'm referring to, the moment Luis Nani of Manchester United was sent off by the match referee (Cuneyt Cakir) for a 'debatable' high footed collision with Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa. Even if you weren't watching the game, I'm sure the news stream on the social network of your choice was inundated with comments such as; 'the ref's ruined this game', 'the ref's had an absolute shocker', 'what a joke'. Writing this as a fan of Manchester United, I find it difficult to hold back my feelings of embarrassment when viewing some of the comments made regarding the decision.
I think we all know the event that I'm referring to, the moment Luis Nani of Manchester United was sent off by the match referee (Cuneyt Cakir) for a 'debatable' high footed collision with Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa. Even if you weren't watching the game, I'm sure the news stream on the social network of your choice was inundated with comments such as; 'the ref's ruined this game', 'the ref's had an absolute shocker', 'what a joke'. Writing this as a fan of Manchester United, I find it difficult to hold back my feelings of embarrassment when viewing some of the comments made regarding the decision.
At this point let me make some things very clear:
1. I do not believe Nani should have been shown a red card.
2. I follow Manchester United.
3. I am a qualified referee.
4. I think the referee made a mistake.
I am not writing this article to attempt to excuse Cakir of making mistake, and essentially that is all that he did. Was there any malice towards any party when making his decision? No. Did he believe he was making the correct decision at the time? Of course he did.
Rather than players, managers, fans, and the rest of the football world directing their disgust and hatred towards the match referee, perhaps they should stop and consider the bigger problem. The rate at which football has grown in recent years is undoubtable; financially, viewing numbers, television coverage etc. This being said, the importance of football has also arguably increased, especially as such vast financial implications rest on the outcome of so many elite level matches.
However, the methods which we use to officiate matches has actually changed very little. Of course match officials can now communicate more smoothly (headsets), have more technological aids (alerts for referees if linesman flag, electronic numbers boards for substitutes), and a larger team of support staff (fourth officials etc). But all of this aside, how many people are responsible for making the big pressure, key decisions during football matches? One. Just one individual. Referees need more help.
1. I do not believe Nani should have been shown a red card.
2. I follow Manchester United.
3. I am a qualified referee.
4. I think the referee made a mistake.
I am not writing this article to attempt to excuse Cakir of making mistake, and essentially that is all that he did. Was there any malice towards any party when making his decision? No. Did he believe he was making the correct decision at the time? Of course he did.
Rather than players, managers, fans, and the rest of the football world directing their disgust and hatred towards the match referee, perhaps they should stop and consider the bigger problem. The rate at which football has grown in recent years is undoubtable; financially, viewing numbers, television coverage etc. This being said, the importance of football has also arguably increased, especially as such vast financial implications rest on the outcome of so many elite level matches.
However, the methods which we use to officiate matches has actually changed very little. Of course match officials can now communicate more smoothly (headsets), have more technological aids (alerts for referees if linesman flag, electronic numbers boards for substitutes), and a larger team of support staff (fourth officials etc). But all of this aside, how many people are responsible for making the big pressure, key decisions during football matches? One. Just one individual. Referees need more help.
A number of rules within football are far from black and white, or yes and no, which means at some point, somebody's opinion comes into any decision making scenario. And as soon as we are viewing somebody's opinion, somebody is bound to disagree or be disappointed. Referees need more help.
In any sport, the person responsible for making the majority of decisions (referee, umpire, match official) should be the individual who is in the best possible position to make judgement on the events within the game. In many sports this is the case, for example; how many wrong decisions are made in American Football? Very, very few, as the referee has a team behind him with the opportunity to view footage of an incident which is unavailable to fans, coaching staff etc. Similar to tennis, which uses the hawkeye system to clarify whether balls are 'in' or 'out', the technology is extremely accurate, and provides the umpire an opportunity to review a decision; few mistakes are made. Whereas football, who is in the best possible position to make a judgement on an incident? The people who are sat in front of a television screen watching the match, who get to see replays, slow motion, various angles and heights. Does the referee have this opportunity? No, he gets one view, at live speed, from whichever angle they happen to be at. Referees need more help.
So next time a decision doesn't go your teams' way, rather than bombard an individual with a barrage of abuse and hatred, stop and consider who is really to blame, is it the referee who has made a genuine mistake? Or is it the fact they do not have the level of support (time, replays, technology, advice) that is required to accurately make the correct decision on a 100% basis?
Referees need more help.
It's time to think, Think Coaching.
In any sport, the person responsible for making the majority of decisions (referee, umpire, match official) should be the individual who is in the best possible position to make judgement on the events within the game. In many sports this is the case, for example; how many wrong decisions are made in American Football? Very, very few, as the referee has a team behind him with the opportunity to view footage of an incident which is unavailable to fans, coaching staff etc. Similar to tennis, which uses the hawkeye system to clarify whether balls are 'in' or 'out', the technology is extremely accurate, and provides the umpire an opportunity to review a decision; few mistakes are made. Whereas football, who is in the best possible position to make a judgement on an incident? The people who are sat in front of a television screen watching the match, who get to see replays, slow motion, various angles and heights. Does the referee have this opportunity? No, he gets one view, at live speed, from whichever angle they happen to be at. Referees need more help.
So next time a decision doesn't go your teams' way, rather than bombard an individual with a barrage of abuse and hatred, stop and consider who is really to blame, is it the referee who has made a genuine mistake? Or is it the fact they do not have the level of support (time, replays, technology, advice) that is required to accurately make the correct decision on a 100% basis?
Referees need more help.
It's time to think, Think Coaching.