Publications
It’s not that long ago that soccer referees didn’t have the services of a fourth official. In fact, I can remember when we also didn’t have the services of assistant referees – linesmen as they used to be called – and had to do everything on our own.
Now that was a hair-raising experience. Trying to watch 22 players getting up to all sorts of tricks, not only in front of you, but behind your back as well.
And then there was also the issue of trying to get the offside right. Phew! That was real refereeing.
Today the fourth official is standard in most, if not all, top-grade matches. I get so hot under the collar when I see the fourth official being harangued and abused by coaches and technical area staff.
They take out their frustrations on the unfortunate guy as if he is responsible for the decisions of the referee. What can he do? He doesn’t have control of the whistle.
His main job is to ensure that the substitutions take place according to the laws of the game and especially to ensure the substitute coming on does not do so until the player they are replacing has left the pitch.
Why is this so important? Put simply, this is because, if the player coming off commits a foul that is deserving of either a second yellow or a straight red card, he is immediately sent off and the player coming on is then refused permission to enter the fray.
For any young referees out there, this is very important.
That is very important.
The fourth official will also indicate when a substitute is coming by holding up the substitution board indicating to the crowd the numbers of the substitutions being made.
At the end of each half, he will also show the amount of time being added on by the referee and will endeavour to control both technical areas.
This is the part I am having a major problem with. Regularly, I’m seeing coaches/managers well outside their technical areas. Some as far as 10m down the touch line which is totally wrong.
In a recent English Premiership game, the manager of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, raced out of his area, collected the ball and gave it to his player.
READ: Mikel Arteta inks new Arsenal deal until 2025
This resulted in a quick throw-in for his team from which a goal was scored.
The fourth official, the assistant referee on that side, or the referee himself, should have seen this and awarded a throw-in to the opposition.
He should also have disallowed the goal and cautioned the Arsenal manager. He (the referee) did neither.
It’s also a bad example to young aspiring referees who may idolise these “top” guys and think it’s all right. It’s not.
Please stay safe and well out there. This pandemic is not over yet. Protect yourselves and your families, and observe all medical and scientific advice. No one is safe until everyone is safe.
Happy whistling!. thehangingjudge88@gmail.com
. Follow me on Twitter @dr_errol
. Check out my Monday Review Show at 8pm on facebook.com/hangingjudge
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
