Rugby refereeing leaving football in wake

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Honestly, see these rugby types complaining about a referee, don’t they know these things even themselves out over the season? What’s that? You mean the maths suggest that random events don’t even themselves out with small sample sizes, such as cup ties (sample of 1) and games against rivals (same of 4)?

The ‘even themselves out’ brigade could do with some remedial maths, it’s statistical hokum.

Within 24 hours of a mistake World Rugby called it so. No ‘referees’ union’ stonewalling, no defending the indefensible, no conspiracy to hide a lie, no tolerance of unacceptable standards, no fans left wondering why their game was misaligned with the rules. Without delay, World Rugby set the record straight, there is literally nothing more to see here.

Compare and contrast with our own sport in Scotland. The ‘referees’ union’ is alive and well, indefensible decisions are excused by a myriad of excuses, unacceptable standards have been tolerated for decades, instead of an explanation, fans are left with a vacuum into which they attempt to construct reason (which is very unhelpful). And although a referee quickly declared his own lie, the culture of the SFA was such that it was not declared beyond the Association until after a whistle-blower made sure it was known. Fifa is not the only football organisation bedevilled by a culture of cronyism.

Scottish football is under no pressure from above to improve. Fifa and Uefa thrive in the culture which has recently been revealed – largely by US prosecutors and journalists, some of whom have been whistling in the wind for 30 years. This percolates down to national associations, who are filled with office holders, appointed by the same patronage culture which allowed Michel Platini pocket 2m Swiss francs from Sep Blatter’s Fifa.

Nor is there sufficient pressure on the SFA from member clubs, apart from Celtic and one or two others, who are viewed as pariahs by some at Hampden, for the persistent flow of DVD-enclosed performance complaints.

It’s not easy being a referee; good ones are invaluable. They will continue to make mistakes at all levels, in all sports, but it should be easy to have an open culture which recognises the interests of the paying spectators. Just as World Rugby does. Protecting referees with a wall of silence is, in fact, not protecting them at all.

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336 Comments

  1. 0-0 at Half time at the Tony Macaroni stadium.

     

    Celtic thoroughly dominant with Helsinki limited to 1 speculative effort.

     

     

    Looking for a few goals second half.

     

     

    No11 for The Hoops the best player so far. Think he may be Nesbitt

     

     

    HH

  2. One criticism however.

     

    Too many Celtic laddies wearing orange boots. There’s 1 even wearing a blue pair!!

     

     

    HH

  3. Grumphy Auld Kilbowie Kelt on

    Modest.

     

    Decent.

     

    BRILLIANT;

     

    Commited.

     

    Brave.

     

    Selfless.

     

    Betrayed.

     

     

    Celtic Football Clubs greatest ever ambassador, on & off the field.

     

     

    We could NEVER repay what Jimmy McGrory gave to our club.

     

     

    REST IN PEACE.

  4. stairheedrammy

     

     

    “Magners Guest, is he a foreign player we just signed? ”

     

     

    He’s a Norwegian goalkeeper who has been training with us since the start of the season with a view to turning us down and pissing off in January.

  5. From the bbc,s own website:Ref Alan Muir awards Hibs a soft penalty ……even the bbc commentary team thinks its very a soft decision

     

    HH

     

     

    Phil

  6. weet weet weet(GBWO) on

    Jimmy Mcgrory of Arsenal just doesn’t sound right

     

     

    Too feckin true ;)

     

     

    HH

  7. saltires en sevilla on

    bournesouprecipe

     

     

    The oul’ Bavarians know a thing or two about getting value for money

     

     

    £120 per season to watch Ribery, lewandowsky & Robben running riot against

  8. saltires en sevilla on

    Bloody new site does my nut in .. Jeezo just look at the wrong way and it’s off doing something you don’t want or need

     

     

    Anyway, you all knew the rest about value for money …any comparison you like!

     

     

    Offski

  9. I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYNAME on 20TH OCTOBER 2015 8:40 PM

     

    are we on the telly?

     

     

    ____________________

     

     

     

    We don’t play until Thursday:)

     

     

    Summa 0-0

  10. Saltires

     

    however it shows up the majority of epl teams who get +£100m and in the case of arsenal £1000 per season ticket.

  11. I seem to have landed on offishul hun tv, the jokes are writing themselves but apparently it’s cruel to mock the afflicted:))

     

     

     

    Commentators from Planet Janet:))

     

     

    Hahaha it’s Lovenkrands:))) New pants please..he sounds about six:))

  12. Must be getting near penalty time down govan way . Btw are they not allowed to play away from home in cup games

  13. Falkirk 0-1 Hibernian

     

    BBC Scotland commentator Rob Maclean

     

    Posted at 20:34

     

    “Falkirk manager Peter Houston will be at least looking for an explanation for that bizarre decision, that controversial penalty award.”

     

    Falkirk 0-1 Hibernian

     

    Former Hibs captain Craig Paterson

     

    Posted at 20:28

     

    “I was as amazed as anybody when the referee pointed to the penalty spot.”

     

     

    Scotland rugby days of questions on a refereeing decision

     

     

    Rob mclean urging Peter Houston to demand clarification on a penalty award

     

     

    Celtic according to the SMSM……….have no right to question refereeing decisions

     

    their biased agenda is so blatant even stevie wonder can see it

  14. Watching Arsenal v Bayern.

     

    Arsenal have bludgeoned themselves in front.

     

    Arsenal are one of the silkier epl teams but in this game they are all effort and no finesse .

     

    Sometimes taking a cudgel to a knife fight works.