Quote Originally Posted by TheDJ View Post
O35C
Valo v Dudley (2-2 i think)
All of this is only my opinion but I couldn't help posting it. I am a former ref who has moved to play AA so i have some strong opinions on treatment of refs. I understand the heat of the game gets to all of us but i believe players can still treat refs fairly, particularly when they are clubby.
My issue is that during tonight's game this club referee again copped criticism from players on the field to the point of needing to issue a yellow for dissent to a Dudley player. It is embarrassing enough to get a yellow for dissent normally but to get one for speaking back to a clubby is just wrong in my opinion. NNSW is launching massive campaigns to try and get respect back into the game and it is entirely for things like this. Now you could call it an over-reaction on my part because I am so passionate about treating refs better but I believe players need to have a long look at themselves and question why it is they struggle to get refs out to games.
My second gripe comes from a player (claiming they use to ref) trying to encourage the clubby to not record the 2 yellows because there was one each way so they cancel out, again trying to strong arm a clubby to suit themselves

Now I am sorry that this was so negative on what was by other accounts a decent night to get out and play after weeks of being off the park but seeing a close friend of mine helping out the soccer community to be treated like that made me disappointed. Again this is not an attack on either team (I am not affiliated with either team) but i just feel so strongly that when we have clubbys helping out we should be thanking them for helping us play
Had it happen to me last year, was doing an o/35 game last year, gave out 2 cards for dissent, and tbh had I not been a clubbie who was a registered ref that year and sending someone off would've meant some questions I didn’t want to answer, I would’ve punted the keeper for trying to intimidate me

Now that being said I think all clubs should be required to have someone with reffing experience as a clubbie. I’ve helped out my club, but in my game today we had someone who clearly had no idea what they were doing. Things like allowing subs when the keeper had the ball in their hands when it didn’t go out, not allowing subs on free kicks, no cards, whistling every time the ball goes out, club AR’s actively coaching the home team players as they “reffed”, consistently pointing the wrong way for restarts. Honestly I know reffing is hard, but jeez, wasn’t a good look.