I've had the honour recently of exchanging emails with a certain Stanley Lover. Stanley, who lives in Paris, had a 25-year long global officiating career, including top matches in Britain and abroad. He's particularly proud of serving FIFA for 23 years, as an
instructor for international referees, in all six confederations. His first book Football Laws Illustrated is still in print
after 42 years. He qualified with the Kent CFA when living at the top of Shooters Hill, Woolwich.. Stanley is well into his 80s these days but shows few signs of slowing up after an extraordinary life. He has given me permission to reproduce what he describes as "A referee's Rant."
Walk away - from
Thugball!
A rant by Stanley Lover
State of play 2012
Patrick Collins (in the Mail on
Sunday recently) brilliantly exposed the state of play of the pro
game. His theme was how the "Beautiful Game" has turned ugly.
The thug element at pro level
is dragging the game into disrepute. On and off the field the thugs are
seen to get away with murder. Faithful fans are losing interest in today's game
- I'm one of them.
No one seems to care about
the undeniable damage done to grass roots football and, particularly, the
problems of referees trying to police the thugs. Pro examples spread the cancer
of contempt throughout all levels of the game. Sickening.
Where did it all go wrong,
from the days of sportsmanship and respect?
Consider this: A traditional
approach towards the ethic of sporting play is enshrined in the
Minutes of a postwar FA International Selection Committee. This states
that 'no player who has received a caution shall be considered for
selection in England teams'.
Consider the force of
punitive measures for unsporting conduct - cautions, dismissals, fines,
suspensions. Today, top matches rarely finish without three or more cautions
and a dismissal or two. What does that say about the state of play?
Appeals for fair play
Consider efforts to bring
back sportsmanship, respect and tolerance, during the past three decades:
* Incentives - plaudits,
trophies.
* Fair Play publicity -
slogans, badges, pennants, banners, flags.
* Fair Play armbands
displayed by team captains.
* Fair Play Days -
"Respect the Referee".
* Pre-match verbal pledges
and appeals by team captains, via microphones, at high profile matches.
All have failed to make any
noticeable improvement. Can we expect any progress with other similar,
well meant but ineffective, peripheral campaigns?
Enough is enough
When will someone at the IFAB
and FIFA have the courage to shout "Enough is enough!" and act to
stop the decline of "The Beautiful Game" into "Thugball"
anarchy? This, and similar appeals, from loyal football folk, have floated
around the world for years. But, considering the enormous investments which
underpin the glamour industry of football; the self-interest of players;
administrators and, it must be admitted, of some referees, the task is well nigh
impossible.
Clearly the game cannot rely
on swift and meaningful action from the top. What other means are there?
Patrick Collins says the
answer lies with the referees. He is right, cites the laxity of our pro match
officials and calls for more red cards. At that level, other factors influence
this worthy aim, requiring a certain flexibility to avoid upsetting employers.
However, that flexibility and its consequences, affects the whole game.
They, and all referees in recreational football games, are required to
police the sport in strict accordance with the letter and spirit of the Laws of
the Game and IFAB instructions. In so doing they suffer regular verbal and
physical abuse on and off the field.
Many grass roots referees
leave the game, disillusioned after years of loyal service to our sport. The
unpopular image of the referee makes recruitment extremely difficult.
Briefly then, the fans are
not happy; players seek more freedom to impose their thug mentality; referees
feel like a nut in a nutcracker; the dwindling force of match officials means
shortages out on the parks.
Walk away.
What about you - the grass
roots soldier in the front line? Can you do anything to help win the battle?
Yes, you can! Charge from the trenches! Show the enemy your determination to
change the current malaise in football; to regain its position as a noble,
clean, healthy, and fair play sport.
But, I hear you say, what
practical action can I take to make a difference?
It's easy - just WALK AWAY!
Make the vow that whenever
you get fed up with the lack of sportsmanship of players, or spectators, in
your match; when you feel that you have had enough - you will just WALK
AWAY.
Before you do that you will
have;
1. asked the captains (at the
toss-up) if you can rely on them for any assistance you may need to ensure a
sporting match,
2. advised them, during the
play, of any problems which they can help you with e.g., calm players who
appear to contest your decisions; cut out excessive force in challenges; foul
language; respecting the 10 yards limit at free kicks without delay, etc.,
3. displayed yellow or red
cards, as needed,
4. indicated your thoughts
about unsporting behaviour from the touch-lines, which is nearing your
tolerance limits; ask for support to control this problem,
5. told the coaches and
captains that if such behaviour continues you will abandon the match.
6. seen no improvement and
have displayed a yellow card as a caution to the culprits (players and/or
spectators),
7. finally had enough,
produced a red card - and put your whistle in your pocket.
Do not be a lone ranger.
Discuss this suggestion with fellow referees on the leagues you whistle and
agree to lower tolerance levels.
Also discuss your views with
the leagues to agree a common policy to improving the sportsmanship among
the clubs. They are anxious you continue to serve their needs.
Where co-operation is not
forthcoming a few score of abandoned matches will prove more powerful than
appeals.
All fair minded football folk
will applaud your actions.
A concerted campaign will
spread until the powers-that-be accept that football suffers a terminal
disease. Only major surgery can save the game.
Enough is enough - just WALK
AWAY!
Stanley Lover 2013>
_____________________________________________________________
Stanley Lover's latest publication is a two-part
guide. The first, SOCCER FAN , invites all members of the
soccer family to know more about the basics of the laws of play, for greater
enjoyment of the game. The second, Key Fair Play Partners, identifies
the ten key members who can stimulate the vital principle of fair play in our
sport. It proposes practical actions each member can contribute to keep soccer
clean and healthy.
No comments:
Post a Comment