Sport

Colm Cavanagh: Referees need extra set of eyes on the pitch and off it

'My 'conversations' with referees over the years have sometimes been heated to say the least'<br />Picture: Margaret McLaughlin&nbsp;
'My 'conversations' with referees over the years have sometimes been heated to say the least'
Picture: Margaret McLaughlin 
'My 'conversations' with referees over the years have sometimes been heated to say the least'
Picture: Margaret McLaughlin 

SOME call it emotion, some call it poor temperament, some just call it aggression, but my 'conversations' with referees over the years have sometimes been heated to say the least.

I will be the first to admit that during a match, when I get called back for something innocuous or overly technical, frustration would quite often get the better of me. I have been known to answer the referee back, react, huff, stamp my feet in bad temper but only because I’m always innocent and being picked on.

One of the most common talking points of the League so far has been refereeing decisions and the standard of referees in general.

As a player, the lack of consistency has always been my biggest gripe with referees. Some let a game flow and allow an element of aggressive play (especially with our unique brand of football in Ulster) whereas others will be whistle happy and blow for every slight misdemeanour on the field.

A referee who is stalling the game at every opportunity for a heavy tackle or for something silly off the ball is never letting a game get into any sort of rhythm, which is frustrating for players and spectators.

Other referees are very technical. Everything is by the book and to the letter of the law, which is correct but, in some situations, common sense has to prevail, and a decision made based on what they have seen in front of them and the situation they are in.

Despite my petulance over the years, I have the highest respect for referees and what they do. I couldn’t do it and they are in the most difficult position on the pitch, but I just think that there should be a consistent approach applied across the board.

If my frustrations with referees have been evident in the past it is nothing to my frustrations with linesmen and to a larger extent again, umpires.

I’ll be completely honest I never understood how much sway or input they have in a game. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but in cases where forwards are standing with a defender nipping at them and tugging at their jerseys, they turn to the umpire to ask if they saw anything or if there was anything can be done, to be told “take it easy lads” or “settle it down”.

It is a rare case when an umpire will alert a referee to foul play yet when it comes to some of the biggest calls in our games over the last few weeks, it has been the umpires who have had the most influence on the referee’s decision. It just baffles me.

Rian O’Neill had a goal from a penalty for Armagh against Monaghan that wasn’t given when the ball was undoubtedly over the line.

The goal not being given had a clear affect on the game and could potentially have been in the difference in Armagh having a win instead of a drawn game.

Surely for a penalty, the umpires should be standing on the line and watching for such events.

Umpires should be referees in training or retired referees who know the rules of the game inside out, know what it is like to be a referee and the importance of each decision and therefore be in a better position to be of relevant assistance to the referee.

I understand that ultimately it is the referee who makes the final decision and if they don't have clear sight of an incident, then this can be difficult.

The referee can’t see everything, they are trying to keep up with the pace of the game, the constantly changing rules, the competition between teams and the different personalities on the pitch.

All the more reason then, for an investment in technology in support of the referee. We have HawkEye in Croke Park but that is one pitch in thousands across Ireland.

Every game of the League is being recorded, surely there is a way of using that recording to rerun incidents to help the referee in making their decision, much like VAR in soccer or the TMO in rugby.

Yes, it slows the game down and if it was used for every incident the games would never get to flow but I think for goals or potential goals it is something that needs consideration.

Until an incorrect decision costs a team an All-Ireland or the chance to be in an All-Ireland final, it is unlikely to be seriously considered, which is unfair.

There is a huge drive on currently to have people train to become referees. For what seems like a thankless job, it is vital to our games.

Their technical knowledge is exceptional and without them our games literally cease to happen.

As a player all you want from a referee to tell you what you did wrong. I could never get angry with a referee who tells me what I did wrong, even if I didn’t agree with it.

I would like to see more players getting involved in refereeing, as I think the best referees are guys who have played at the highest level.

They know the game inside out, all the tricks used by players and know the frustrations involved.

Something to consider perhaps, maybe not with my temperament though.