The Referee

With The FA changing the regulations around black collars on kits.  It has meant that the manufacturers of the kits have now brought out new kits with a black collar.  Actually in the two games that I have done this season so far.  Neither assistants had kits with black collars, so the expected rush of people switching over hasn’t happened.  So makes you wonder what would happen if there was a change on coloured kits, would people buy the other colours?

Anyway Official Sports who a few years ago had the contract to provide the kit for the Football league and Premier League have now brought out a black collared kit.  Official Sports to be fair modernised the black kit with the white flashes a few years ago and so in some ways have led this change to more creative kits.  Well as creative as a black shirt can be.

Unfortunately though I don’t think this picture does the new kit justice and I am sure that once the kit gets out there it will show the kit better.

Related Articles

• Top five worst Premier League kits 2010/11 (offthepost.info)
• Replica kit turnover angers fans (news.bbc.co.uk)

Things are starting to get better with my Back.   I went back to the Physio on Tuesday and they tried to break me I am sure.   The physio got me to do some stretches and bending to see what the flexibility is like.  I could bend forward as far as my knees (erm think that’s better than normal) and backwards however going to the side I just didn’t move much.   She asked if it was due to pain and I informed her it was just that my body wouldn’t go any further than that.

So I was asked to lie on ym side with my leg hanging of the bed.  They then set about inflicting pain as they manipulated the muscles to release the tension.  After 10 minutes of this I was told to repeat the stretches and I could now move normally.  However they weren’t happy, back on the bed, face down.  Crack, Crack, Crack, Crack they put pressure ont he middle of the back and various bones seemed to click and release.

Afterwards I felt a load better and able to move more freely.  However I was warned that this was short and they would stiffen again.  I was given more stretches and advised not to return to refereeing until after my next appointment which is next Tuesday. After waking up feeling bruised on Wednesday I am feeling pain-free today.   So I am planning a couple more days of no exercise othe than stretching, then Sunday to head out for a gentle run on the trails.   To see if there is any reaction.

I learnt a couple of things though from the physio.   I mentioned that I found cold helped ease the pain but heat didn’t.   She advised the ice is a pain-killer and if you’re putting this on the joint or muscle keep it still.   However if you’re using heat the best thing to do is keep it moving, as the warmth will relax the muscle but if your sat it will tighten again when it cools.  She advised to wrap a scarf around the heat source and then wrap that around your body and walk around.

To be honest the biggest lesson I have learnt though from this is not to put up with an ache and get it sorted sooner.  If I had gone a few weeks ago when the stiffness had started this may have been avoided.

I’ve long-held the view that as  Referee you should be allowed to “give a bit back” when a player or spectator gives you some grief.  It winds me up that someone can stand behind you give you all the abuse they want, but if i turn around and answer a simple question that’s frowned upon.   However I have also had the view that all cars should be equipped with one rocket James Bond style to take out that arse of a motorist.

However one thing I’ve never thought is that it would be a good idea to stab a player and go on the run as Francisco Edio Gregorio Chave has done in Brazil

“The fight broke out during a soccer match in the city of Barreira on Sunday afternoon when Jose Ramos da Silva, 28, protested a foul against his team. After a heated argument, the referee, identified as 26-year-old Francisco Edio Gregorio Chaves, pulled out a knife and stabbed da Silva in the chest, Momento24.com reported”

Related Articles

• Brazilian Soccer Referee on the Run After Allegedly Stabbing Player (foxnews.com)
• Brazilian Referee Stabs Player To Death After Free-Kick Row [Soccer] (deadspin.com)
• Referee on run after stabbing footballer during match (independent.co.uk)

One of the weekends talking points was the non goal for Stoke vs Spurs.   If you havent seen it here are the highlights from that game.

To be honest you can’t really tell from the video if it’s over the line.  I maybe lean towards it being over just but that is based on freeze framing it.   However one element of the debate over this goal that has been missed is Chris Foy‘s position for the “goal.”   It is exactly the same position as the Extra Assistant Referee‘s would be taking up as part of the experiment that FIFA are carrying out.   Now I admit they may not be as far forward onto the pitch in that case as Chris Foy was.  However I do think that If he is not able to give the decision from there regardless of angle AND possibly missed the foul on the keeper then it adds to the case for technology.    Hate to say it but Andy Gray does show this quite well.

Related Articles

• Champions League to use two extra assistant referees (freekicksreport.blogspot.com)
• Champions League to have two extra assistant referees (3news.co.nz)
• Bale brace sets up Spurs triumph (mirror.co.uk)

You may have seen this celebration already, but it makes me smile.

Link Fixed