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Monday, January 13, 2014

Good to watch a star ref in the making after a grim weekend

I won't name him as it'll probably go to his head but I had the pleasure to assist someone who could well be a star in the making at the weekend. Only 18 years old, the lad had it all as a referee; calm, confident and astonishingly fit.

During a weekend when some referees, especially one of my favourites, Mike Jones, did not cover themselves in glory, it was a pleasure to watch this youngster in action, controlling a fierce and tough game with an authority that was astonishing considering his age.
I should have realised. Chatting before the game, he revealed his Dad and brother were referees. He had clearly been raised in a family that enjoyed discussing the intricacies of the game's laws.
As good refs do, he made his whistle talk. 90 percent of stoppages were indicated by a brief but firm peep and only once or twice did he need to increase the tone and volume.
He spoke with authority to players, but in a friendly way and his interpretation of the laws seemed, to me anyway, to be flawless. To an old codger like me, he was Superman-like in his fitness, popping up behind the goal-line, on the same touchline as me and close to the ball at all times.
He's soon going to be a Level 4, one of very few 18 year olds to reach that grade at 18, and I'm pretty sure he'll be pushing the top level refs when he's in his early 20s.
All this over a weekend when television once again revealed the ugly truth that referees make mistakes.
But Jones' mistakes were real bloomers. He should not have over-ruled his assistant to disallow a goal for offside and he should have sent off a Newcastle player for a foul that has put Samir Nasri out of the game for several weeks.
And just to compound it, fourth official Martin Atkinson would have clearly heard Alan Pardew cursing Man City manager Pellegrini with the most obscene language. He was standing 2 yards away. He should have reported this to Jones and Jones should have sent him to the stands. Maybe he did report it to the referee, I don't know, but no action was taken.
After Jones ruled the Newcastle goal out, the Geordies really lost their cool and Manchester City are to be congratulated for refusing to sink to Newcastle's level. Jones did what he could to clamp down by showing yellow several times, but the damage was done.
Such challenges are sent to make referees look closely at themselves. I'm sure he'll return stronger. Unfortunately those points are lost for ever to Pardew.


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