6 Officials

[sam86]

Having watched the CSK / Fulham game, I can confirm that having 6 officials is an absolutely stupid idea. They have done nothing all game, and having them their just on the off chance something might happen on the goal line, or within 5 yards from the goal line, in every game, is just a complete waste of time.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Completely agree, they clearly don't know what to do. In theory, it's a daft idea and in practice it's even worse because it's a blatant show of ignorance. Simply having more officials doesn't improve the standard. If they were to have assistants on both sides in each half, perhaps that's a better use of having 6 officials rather than 4. But I actually think the 3 on the pitch plus the 4th in the dugout is enough, they should be using the money they're wasting on the additional officials on developing the technology for instant replays. Not that the technology is revolutionary anyway!

 

[Easy 10]

They're there if they are needed. They can't make the decisions, but they are in contact with the ref as another pair of eyes with another angle to view incidents from. They'll be able to pick up on stuff like shirt-pulling, which is often done out of the referee's view, and perhaps offer an opinion on how much contact there was on a challege in the box.

Course you have linesmen as well, but they're not as close to the penalty area incidents as these new officials. Give it a chance, it MIGHT be alright. And who knows - if players know there's an extra pair of eyes watching them in the area, they might be slightly less inclined to try and cheat.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

I don't think you can judge it by one game. I'm not saying it's a great idea but it's needs a bit more of an experiment before it's written off. I reckon it could put players off diving more than anyhing else which can only be a good thing.

 

[The Wizard]

I Think we should bring goal line technology in and only that, the 2 extra officials is a total farce of an idea in my opinion, and using video replays would ruin the game as there is so many different incidents in a football match.
Just bring in goal line technology.


Ninja elephant, how would instant replays improve the game, because surely then you'd have a stop start game with players constantly appealing decisions.

 

[murraymints4brighton]

I am opposed to any other form of official or aid to the ref and linesman/fourth official. Incidents in football are one of the most talked about things in the sport. What would you talk about in the pub after the game if incidents such as "Did the ball cross the line?" will never exist again?

 

[Easy 10]

I am opposed to any other form of official or aid to the ref and linesman/fourth official. Incidents in football are one of the most talked about things in the sport. What would you talk about in the pub after the game if incidents such as "Did the ball cross the line?" will never exist again?

You'll still have those incidents and decisions to chew over.
The extra officials are only there to assist the ref in getting the crucial decisions right. No its not flawless, nothing ever will be (and I absolutely agree on there being NO video replays for decisions during the game). As long as it ultimately remains the refs decision, I don't see the harm in him having an extra pair of eyes to refer to.

Lets see if it works.

 

[sam86]

The "additional" assistant / 5th or 6th official apparently just gave the corner that Everton scored from. We have no idea if the referee would have given a corner or not.

Doesn't mean I'll take my earlier comments back though.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

If 6 officials are used then having 4 linos would be a better idea , albeit they will still f*** up crucial decisions.

 

[The Wizard]

If 6 officials are used then having 4 linos would be a better idea , albeit they will still f*** up crucial decisions.

Would be entertaining If one gives offside but the other doesn't agree, perhaps we could have a brawl between the two to see which decision stands?

 

[Buffalo Seagull]

If 6 officials are used then having 4 linos would be a better idea , albeit they will still f*** up crucial decisions.

I must admit, I always thought having 4 linos would be a good idea - 2 of them could go up and back with the last defender, so they'd always be in the best position to judge offside.

Having said that, I was watching the Galatasaray game and one of the extra officials was in a perfect position to wave away a penalty claim, which I'm pretty sure the referee would have awarded.

Milan Baros raced into the box, heading towards the dead ball line. The defender, who was on his shoulder slid in and just got the ball first, but brought Baros down in the process. It all happened right in front of the extra official, who had a front-on view of the tackle and signalled play on. The referee was about 20-30 yards away and would have seen it from behind. It's unlikely he would have seen the defender's contact on the ball and could well have given it.

 

[auschr]

I am opposed to any other form of official or aid to the ref and linesman/fourth official. Incidents in football are one of the most talked about things in the sport. What would you talk about in the pub after the game if incidents such as "Did the ball cross the line?" will never exist again?

we should get rid of some refs then, that should improve it.

 

[Gwylan]

Aren't the FA always going on about the shortage of refs?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/mar/08/football-referees

Surely increasing the number of officials will exacerbate this problem?

 

[Acker79]

I think linesmen should be encouraged to make more decisions. As it is they seem to say who gets the ball when it goes out and if it's offside. Beyond that there tends to be a reluctance to get involved. They should be encouraged to wave their flag if they think there's an infringement, and the Ref can then decide if he feels he had a better view point or if he wants to default to his assistant.

I also think, after the game all the official should sit down together and watch the game, they should assess their own performances, and have the power to rescind their own cards, or dish out more.

I believe this video watch would cut down a lot of infringements that players commit because they think if the worst that happens is nothing (such as dives etc), because they get retroactive cards. It will also cut down the number of challenges to bookings, etc. Firstly several wrong bookings will be rescinded, and secondly clubs will think twice before challenging cards if they know the ref and his assistance have rewatched it and thought about it with proper evidence.

It would also allow referees to improve on their own flaws, they'll catch where they keep making mistakes, where their positioning could be better etc. and would help them develop.

 

[The Spanish]

should have done it (or increased the numbers of officials that can call decisions, i.e. one ref in each half) years ago. having one middle aged bloke puff around and two linesman who are distinctly second fiddle to the bossman is straight out of FA cup finals at the crystal palace and tape instead of crossbars.

It needs to be worked, and how games are reffed will take a long time to change. I love the fact you can decide after one game if this is conclusively a good idea or not.

Far better to address this than wetting your knickers about a hawkeye to check if a ball has crossed a goal line, disputed in roughly 1 in 100 matches.

 

[withdeanwombat]

There should be a ref in each half,and two lino's on each side of the field as well as the four at the end (one each side of the goal). Oooo and one perched on each crossbar in case the four supplementary assistant officials are too busy dodging missiles from irate supporters for giving dubious support decisions.Also,a trio of off pich officials should be in touch with the two main on - pitch referees and a video machine to verify or rectify decisions .And the fourth official ,of course.

THEN , and only THEN , can we be sure that football is heading in the right direction,because for all the years it's been played it has obviously been total CRAP.

 

[Acker79]

Far better to address this than wetting your knickers about a hawkeye to check if a ball has crossed a goal line, disputed in roughly 1 in 100 matches.

As I understand it, hawkeye, the line judge, is a laser across a thin strip of the tennis pitch, which beeps if the ball breaks the beam. It is only along a thin strip of the court because much beyond the serve line is supposed to be visible to the judge. The Beam is on for the serve, and then switched off (otherwise it would beep during the rally when broken by legitamte balls, and the players' feet).

This applied to football would have missed Crystal Palace's goal earlier this season (no complaints from me), but would be beeping throughout corners as goalkeepers, defenders, and attakcers all jockey for position on the line. Free kicks and penalties will be taken with an ear piercing screech as the goalkeepr's heels break the beam, etc.


The modern version of hawkeye with computer generated images require the use of several cameras and expensive computer technology, and require a stop in the game for the referee (the only man who has the authority) can check it.

 

[The Spanish]

There should be a ref in each half,and two lino's on each side of the field as well as the four at the end (one each side of the goal). Oooo and one perched on each crossbar in case the four supplementary assistant officials are too busy dodging missiles from irate supporters for giving dubious support decisions.Also,a trio of off pich officials should be in touch with the two main on - pitch referees and a video machine to verify or rectify decisions .And the fourth official ,of course.

THEN , and only THEN , can we be sure that football is heading in the right direction,because for all the years it's been played it has obviously been total CRAP.

you have a point mate. But just think what a laugh it would be if there were no officials too.

Things do not necessarily have to be just broken or fixed.

 

[Easy 10]

Did you see how INHIBITED all the players were during corner kicks in that Everton game ? There was none of the usual jostling, pushing, shoving and tugging that routinely goes on. And what happened ? Everton scored twice, directly from corners.

Anything that helps cut out the cheating and all those "little fouls" that are never picked up on has got to be a good thing. I bet the famous Eduardo pen wouldn't have been awarded if he'd have been right under the nose of the AAR (additional assistant ref). In fact, he might not even have attempted such a pathetic dive.

So far, I think I'm all FOR it.

 

[Simster]

I'm not really sure how anyone can come to any sort of conclusion based on watching just ONE game, anyway.

I suspect it'll improve the game, but I still think one of the major problems (incorrect offside calls) remains. At the highest level, the referee needs to be able to wave play on in all border line cases, and the opposing team able to appeal to TV at the discretion of the referee.