‘Appalling’ standard of refereeing, says Spierling

The standard of refereeing in Central League football matches this season has been described as "absolutely appalling".
Greytown identity Alistair Spierling, a former referee and with more than 40 years involvement in the sport, was moved to make that comment after watching Wairarapa United lose 2-1 to Olympic at Hullena Park, Masterton on Sunday.
Up against an Olympic side who had gone through their Central League campaign undefeated and needing to beat Wairarapa United to keep their title hopes alive, the home side produced some of their best football of the season to lead 1-0 at the halftime break.
But any chance of a shock victory disappeared when they had two players sent from the field in the second half, firstly James Oxtoby and then Waisake Sabatu, leaving them playing the last 20 minutes with just the nine men.
Even then, however, they were unlucky not to draw with one of Olympic's two goals coming from a penalty awarded after the referee had ruled for hand ball, a decision which not only mystified the Wairarapa United players but Olympic players as well.
Spierling, whose son Aaron is part of the Wairarapa United squad, was one of many in the large crowd at a loss to explain why so many of the rulings made in the second half, in particular, went against the home side.
"Honestly, there was no sense to it," he said. " It wasn't as if they (Wairarapa United) were any worse or better than Olympic when it came to infringing, it was just most of the decisions seemed to go the one way. It's impossible to fathom that sort of thing."
Making it worse for Spierling was it was by no means the first time this season that Wairarapa United had suffered in that manner.
"I hate to say it but, frankly, the refereeing in Central League has been absolutely appalling," he said "They (Wairarapa United) can be physical but no more than any of the other sides yet they keep getting caned by the referees, and you have to wonder why.
"In fact, you have to wonder whether some people actually want us playing at that level, and if they don't then they should tell us and be done with it."
Spierling believes much of the blame for referees all too often being the centre of attention lies at the hands of administrators who had taken discretion out of the refereeing process.
He recalls when he refereed those with the whistle were encouraged to keep play moving when minor offences occurred and to have a "quiet word" to the offender while on the run.
Now it was a case of referees blowing up for every little indiscretion and continually halting play while they "talked down" to the guilty party.
"It's frustrating for players and spectators and it's no wonder everybody gets a bit uptight," he said.
"You have to treat adults like adults, simple as that."