Spitting is out, but Cornthwaite was hardly sporting.

Melbourne's Brazilian Ney Fabiano is out for nine weeks after being found guilty of spitting in the game last week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkT6xyAUo-0 Did he spit? Well treefellas's met last night including Canberra's own Danny Moulis to adjudicate. We assume they got it right. but the Fox video seems inconclusive.

But I'm also interested in Robbie Cornthwaite. Ney Fabiano if he spat got his dues. No arguments here. But a discussion between the Ref and Ney Fabiano had nothing to do with Cornthwaite. Indeed he's well away from the less than heated discussion.

Cornthwaite comes over, interferes, and fires up a by-now tame event. And then asks for the player to be sent-off.

Is this against our new FFA rules? I thought you weren't allowed to ask for a card...or is only if you are Asian or foreign you get booked?

Cornthwaite should have been booked....or is it okay to ask for a card sometimes?

Book the guys who stop skilful or open play by fouling/tripping, there's heaps of them. If a player asks for a card after he's been tripped, why can't the ref do his job and be a ref, make a decision yourself. Just ignore the guy asking for the card, and only if he persists then book him.

But how about booking the crude tacklers first. That could improve the A-League overnight.

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Why doesn't football have a ten metre rule!

"I have made it clear referees should be a no-go area," said English players' union (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor.

Liverpool's Javier Mascherano, Central Coast Mariners Danny Vukovic have both grabbed headlines for their recent send-offs from the pitch.

Why doesn't FIFA enforce two simple rules.

1. Only the Captain can question a decision.(Sounds like Rugby.)

2.Only a Captain can protest a decision. Protesting and/or swearing at an official and you move the free-kick ten metres forward.

Sounds like Rugby but Union guys tend to be a lot less abusive to referees in televised games and let's face it their rules leave an amazing amount to interpretation never mind understanding!

So simple, but when the Nearpost forms Government watch the football culture change across the World.

Why wouldn't we do it? Can't think of any reason why we wouldn't do it, can you?

English players' union (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor has called for the introduction of an exclusion zone around referees following recent incidents of player dissent.

"I have made it clear referees should be a no-go area," Taylor told BBC radio after Liverpool's Javier Mascherano was sent off on Sunday for harrowing referee Steve Bennett over his decisions.

"It is time managers and players did accept a responsibility ...It is the bad points that get highlighted and the game has to be very much aware and do all it can to eradicate it."

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Let's here it for our Referees.

We support you ever more.

Clive MacKillop joined us on the Nearpost this week. Clive is a well-known referee and football coach in Canberra. He is also an A-League referees’ assessor.

Clive talked Grand Final, Refereeing standards, Pay rates, and why he started Refereeing.

Read the full article below.



We took the opportunity to get an insight into the life of the modern referee.
Clive what does a Referee’s Assessor do?

“We have to judge the whole game, the Referee, Assistant Referee and Fourth Official. We rate them against criteria and report to the FFA (Football Federation Australia).”

THE GRAND FINAL

The recent Grand Final ended in controversy. Newspapers reported players saying one ref had seen the suspected handball but was too far way. What would happen in such a case?

“Well I haven’t spoken to any of the Referees involved, but they would all be hooked up during the game and if either linesman had seen something clearly it would have been reported straight away.

“I know in the incident you are talking about the Ref (Mark Shield) went and spoke to the linesman. The evidence couldn’t have been conclusive, if you don’t see it you can’t give it.

It’s about whether people have a good view of the incident.”

AUSSIE REFEREES

Are you happy with the level of Refereeing in Australia?

“We should be employing Refs on the same basis as they do in Europe. You can make a pretty handsome living over there.

“In the case of the group we have in Australia, they go to Asia, make trips midweek, they have to make peace with their employer, come back to families they haven’t seen, and then perform in the A-League on the weekend.

“It’s now a 12 month job and even at the A-League level it’s still part-time.

“In the A-League Ref’s get about $1,000 per game which is a long way behind AFL who are quite handsomely paid.”

Would you like to see Referees become Professional?

“There is no scheme at the moment. And there are different views among the refs. It’s hard to be employed by two masters, by Asia and the A-League. I know Richard Lorenz wouldn’t be too happy if the Ref’s were putting other competitions before the A-League.”

Underperforming Refs? What happens to them Clive?

“Promotion and relegation is the ideal situation. It’s difficult with such a small pool. We started the year with 7 referees and one retired and another got injured, so it’s difficult to bring new people through.

“The National Referee’s Manager will make a decision if a Ref has to be stood down. In England they can go down to the Championship or a lower league, here it could mean you lose your chance in to be a part of the league.

“At the moment it means different things to be a Ref in NSW or Victoria. We’re trying to move to one level under the FFA.”

CLIVE’S JOURNEY

Why did you start refereeing Clive?

“I was coaching and I’d thought it would improve my coaching and understanding of the game if I knew the laws better. I started when I was 28 in Reserve Grade (in Canberra) and I enjoyed it.

And to people out there who may be thinking of Refereeing?

“The abuse (of Refs) is a tiny percentage of football. You do it for enjoyment. There are slight benefits, financial benefits for kids, they get to wear a nice uniform and control a game.

“The chats I have with Coaches from Premier League to junior ranks are all pretty positive. They’d rather have a Ref than not have a Referee.”

CANBERRA A-LEAGUE

Would you like to see an A-League team in Canberra?

I’d love to see a Canberra A-League team. From a refereeing point of it would be good for refereeing and we need to keep the stream of referees coming through. We’ve got three FIFA referees here in Canberra and I can’t see us having another three in five or ten years if we don’t have an A-League side.

Ben Wilson Ben Williams and Alyson Flynn who I might say is in the Algarve at the moment enjoying a FIFA international tournament.

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Capital Footbal CEO: Let's reduce the abuse.

Capital Football CEO Heather Reid spoke to the Nearpost last night and called for support for Local Refs.

"Indications are Junior registrations will exceed 12,000 this year. Our key limitations are to provide grounds and competition fixtures with Referees. I put a call out to listeners to get involved in some capacity as a referee or at least make the life of the referee a bit more enjoyable on the park. Let's reduce the abuse and harassment of referees and make it much more friendly for them," said Reid.

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Any questions for the A-League Refs?

Next week on the Nearpost Radio show we've got an A-League Referee's Matchday Assessor coming in for a chat.

Given the "interest" in ref's this season let me know if you have any questions!

And why Mark Shield missed the penalty is a question. But I managed to think of that one myself:)

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Danny Vukovic: We support you evermore.

I received an email from a fan concerned about the punishment given out to Danny Vukovic, the Mariners keeper. The standard of refereeing is also of concern to many.

Mariners fans have started a petition and a facebook page has gained almost 1,000 members in support of reducing Vukovic's punishment.

I feel for the guy, missing the Olympics possibly, but professional players cannot, must not touch the Referee. But the level of support for Vukovic is interesting.

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Danny Vukovic: Banned until Nov 24th

And wait there's more. He could miss National team duty.

Well what sort of a ban allows him to miss A-League games but not representative games. Someone is having a larf.

More tosh from me and FFA statement below.


I've no time for violence. Not in the game not anywhere. I've no time for hitting referees even touching them. And that is all Vukovic did. It was almost a high five.

But at the game, I had a good view, it could have sparked a riot. It was that tense. One bottle came on. In Scotland I've seen fans pour over the barricades for less.

You can't do it Danny. Not now not ever. But I feel for the young man. He should miss the Olympics the ban should cover all football across the World.

But it seems so harsh, for a glorified high five. Maybe in the heat of battle Mark Shields could have booked him and be done with it. But it was so tense in the stadium at the point, he had to go.

But a ban is a ban is a ban.

And sport in Australia needs a bit of discipline in all codes, at all levels of the game.

So despite my compassion towards the young excellent keeper. If given a ban, as he has, he should miss all football in that period including the Olympic games.

OUTCOME OF INDEPENDENT MATCH REVIEW PANEL

Football Federation Australia (FFA) tonight announced the decision of the independent Match Review Panel arising from the red card (send off) offence of Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners) at the Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final on Sunday.

The Match Review Panel for the Hyundai A-League has suspended Vukovic for 15 months, of which nine months will be served with the remaining six months suspended on a probationary basis for 12 months.

In effect, this means that Vukovic will not be eligible to play in the Hyundai A-League competition again until 24 November 2008. If Vukovic re-offends in the 12 month period after 24 November 2008, he will be required to serve the remaining six months of his 15 month suspension (in addition to any new sanction).

If he chooses to appeal the decision, Vukovic has up to two avenues of appeal under FFA procedures.

Vukovic has seven days in which to lodge an appeal.

FFA is considering the extension of the sanction beyond the Hyundai A-League, including to national team duty.

FFA has also cited Sasho Petrovski (Central Coast Mariners) for an alleged infringement of the laws of the game concerning the use of an abusive gesture against a match official.

The matter is automatically referred to the Disciplinary Committee for hearing.

In addition, FFA is writing to the Central Coast Mariners asking them to show cause why the Club should not also be sanctioned under the FFA National Disciplinary Regulations for team misconduct.

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Aussie refs World Cup Final

Well done Tammy Ogston (AUS). Tammy has been appointed the referee of the FIFA Women's World Cup final.

Australian referee Tammy Ogston has been designated to officiate the Final of the FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007, Germany - Brazil, scheduled to kick off at 20:00 local time in Shanghai Hongkou Stadium on Sunday 30 September.

Tammy Ogston also refereed the opening game between Germany and Argentina as well as the group stage match between Korea DPR and Nigera and the quarter final between Germany and Korea DPR. She also officiated at the Olympic Football Tournament Sydney 2000 as well as at the last two FWWCs.

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Aussie gets to ref Asia Cup Final

Mark Shield sets the standard

AUSSIE REFEREE APPOINTED TO AFC ASIAN CUP FINAL


Australian referee Mark Shield will add another prestigious honour to his lengthy tally of international appointments after it was announced that 33-year-old will control tomorrow’s AFC Asian Cup Final between Iraq and Saudi Arabia in Jakarta.

The Brisbane-based Shield has already refereed four previous matches in the tournament - Korea Republic vs Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia vs Indonesia, Indonesia vs Korea Republic (all group stage matches) and Iran vs Korea Republic (quarterfinal).

Great to see one Aussie in the Asian Cup Final. Well done Mark Shield.

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Ben Wilson: He's officiated at the 2006 World Cup.

Ben Wilson: One of Canberra's top referees

Would you like to represent Australia at a major football tournament?

Can’t shift Mark Viduka from the striker’s position that should rightfully be yours?

There is another way to go to the World Cup.

Ben Wilson is a Canberran referee who loves Australia’s move into Asia.

He represented Australia at the FIFA 2006 World Cup in Germany. This year alone he’s officiated at Asian Champions League, Olympic qualifiers and of course the A-League Grand Final.

Wilson is a referee and part of a team on nine Australian referees accredited through the Asian Football Confederation.

Speaking at the launch of the Kang Cup in Canberra recently, Wilson said, “The move to Asia has been great. Instead of maybe one tournament a year in Oceania, I’ve already done Olympic qualifiers and Asian Champions League games in Uzbekistan, Iran, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates to name a few. And I expect more games and travel after this two month break around the Asian Cup.”

“I love refereeing, you make great friends and get to see places I would never go with my family.”

Wilson, like many refs , started life as a player.

“I was playing Division 2 in Canberra, and then took up refereeing at 15. At 18 I got serious and have never looked back.”

“I was part of the Australian four man team at the World Cup.”

“It’s hard work. We train as a group of refs two nights a week. On top of that I do my own personal fitness.”

“In England and Germany refs are professional, but for Australians we have to manage work and refereeing commitments.”

“I have a good relationship with my employer. I’ve travelled for ten weeks this year alone. Refereeing costs don’t really cover my loss of earnings. In fact I sometimes take work with me when I go overseas.”

What frustrates you? Does Ross Aloisi get under your nose, or maybe some other player!

“No,” he laughs, “no one player upsets me. Occasionally I get annoyed when fans or players don’t understand the rules and dispute a decision which you know is correct. You don’t get chance to explain the rules during a game. But mostly it is great.”

I’m having a two month break at the moment so I get to catch up with family.”

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So you think Refereeing is tough?

Mark Shields off overseas again and again and again!

So you are currently refereeing the young players at your local club. Well so was Mark Shields and look what happened to him. For young male and female refs there are now wonderful opportunities ahead of them

Having begun his refereeing career at the age of 12, Mark quickly rose through the refereeing ranks officiating senior matches at 16, his first professional matches at 22, received his FIFA international badge at 25 years and at 28 was selected to referee at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.

Sheild's was thrilled after hearing news of his appointment. He has been appointed one of 15 official Asia Cup referees. “It's fantastic to receive an appointment to the top football competition in Asia,” said Shield

"Having refereed quite a few games in the region since Australia become part of the AFC, I'm expecting the matches to be very fast, exciting and challenging. Shield and fellow Aussie ref Matthew Breeze will join their fellow referees in Kuala Lumpur on the 30th of June to prepare for the tournament and receive their first match appointments.

Good luck to all the young refs on the ovals this weekend. If you see one tell them they have a big career path ahead of them now Australia is in Asia.

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