Soccer: Blowing the whistle on the refs

The challenge by Graham Demas, right, on Waitakere's Chris Jackson resulted in a yellow card. Picture / Geoff Dale

New Zealand Football Championship manager Glyn Taylor has jumped to the defence of match officials in the face of on-going attacks by disgruntled players and coaches, but even refereeing bosses have concerns at what is unfolding.

"Given the added intensity this season with clubs chasing the two spots available to play the Oceania play-offs and a US$1 million ($1.4 million) pay day at the World Club Championship, it is not surprising there is more pressure on the officials," said Taylor. "They are easy targets."

Maybe so, but far too often the officials have brought much of the criticism on themselves. Too many matches in the first seven, of 21, rounds have been brought almost to their knees by mediocre performances by referees and their assistants.

On that, Taylor and, apparently, the refereeing hierarchy agree.

"We have not yet achieved the level of consistency we and the clubs want," said Taylor. "But in some ways we are hamstrung. Unlike the NRL, we do not have a reserve competition where we can drop under-performing officials to.

"Too often the referees do not take the game situation into account. That leads to frustration for the players and coaches."

As if recognising this, Taylor has increased, from four to five, the number of yellow cards a player receives before copping a one-match ban.

But Taylor goes back on the defensive in backing his officials in the face of criticism.

"Clubs need to be mindful of the correct channels in raising issues," said Taylor. "Players should show restraint at all times."

Herein, again, lies the problem. Officials have right on their side no matter what. Players/clubs have no right of appeal and must simply move on. Clubs/coaches are expected to file a match report after each game and rate match officials.

But it seems that is where the exercise ends with no feedback from referees or their bosses to the clubs.

Last Sunday's key clash - a replay of last season's final between Waitakere United and Auckland City - was a stop-start affair ruined by the incessant whistling of referee Michael Hester who got trapped into that no-no of refereeing just one side as his yellow card count of 5-2 showed. It was an unacceptable display in such an encounter.

While neither coach, Steve Cain (United) and Allan Jones (City), would later say as much, there was no doubt of their feelings over what had gone before.

Former Fifa referee and now a member of the appointments panel John Cameron has, refreshingly, spoken publicly about the situation.

"We are concerned at the level of invectiveness aimed at the referees in the first seven rounds of the NZFC," said Cameron. "Do we know the answer? No. But we are looking into it."

Cameron agreed that with so many coaches, including Cain, Danny Halligan, Jones, Mick Waitt and Declan Edge having publicly spoken out, there might be an issue that needs addressing. He points out that unlike the days when he refereed to the highest level, the strict Fifa rules/interpretations have taken away the personality of the referee. There is no room now for the free spirit, the key man-management role gone.

Cameron has a real fear the situation will get worse as the pressure goes on at the end of the season with clubs chasing the vital qualifying spots. He said there will be a teleconference call among panel members in the next week or so. There is also the hope of a one-day workshop to get the elite panel members together during the Christmas break.

That might come too late for clubs now preparing to lose players who are close to copping bans. Yellow cards are being handed out an average of 3.5 times per game through the first seven rounds compared with the last season's overall 3.7.

"While the number is not a concern," said Taylor, the nature of offending and the reasons given for many of the cards could be.

The panel is a tight-knit group. Some, including veteran Neil Fox and newcomer Steve Fletcher, have surprised. Others, including Hester and at times Ian Walker, have been found out.

Referees and their assistants remain an integral part of the game but only if they can find the right median and stick with it.

GOLDEN BOOT

7: Keryn Jordan (Auckland City).

6: Richie Cardozo (Waitakere), Brent Fisher (Canterbury).

5: Commins Menapi (Manawatu), Blair Scoullar (Otago).

4: Francesco Caruso (Otago), Grant Young (Auckland).

3: David Johnston, Bryan Little, Graham Little (Wellington), Jonathan Smith (Auckland).