HE SHOULD BE GIVEN A LIFETIME BAN
ARE OUR REFEREES GOOD ENOUGH?
Martin Keown: I refuse to believe that our referees are not good enough. Our game is played at an electric pace. That makes it harder for our officials but it makes them better, too.
Chris Sutton: This has to have been the hardest season to be a referee. Officials are scrutinised more than ever before and vAR has only confused matters. On the whole the standard this season has been pretty good.
DOES A LACK OF RESPECT FROM PLAYERS CAUSE THESE INCIDENTS?
Keown: It is dangerous when someone like Gianluigi Buffon is not punished more severely for confronting a referee. People may use that as an excuse to overreact. vAR has also made it easier for players to get even more angry with referees.
Sutton: Everybody — fans and players included — has a personal responsibility to behave in the correct manner. Surely that supporter at Rochdale cannot use what Buffon did as an excuse?
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS?
Keown: The fan at Rochdale should receive a lifetime ban. This was a highstakes match between two teams battling relegation. Given Rochdale missed the penalty after the delay, you cannot say the incident did not affect the result. What happened with Buffon last week cannot become the norm. He should have been banned for two or three matches. Unless there is action at the top of the game, this kind of behaviour will filter down.
Sutton: Football could take a leaf from rugby union’s book where referees are wired up. If that had been the case with Michael Oliver at the Bernabeu, fans would have heard him explain why he gave Real Madrid a penalty and sent off Buffon. Not everyone would have agreed but the sensible fan would understand his thought process. If it became possible to hear the reasoning for decisions in real-time, it would go a long way to changing the perception of referees.
DO YOU FEEL EMBARRASSED ABOUT HOW YOU TREATED A REF?
Keown: No, I always tried to respect the officials. Although I would let a referee know if I thought they had missed a particular incident, I tried to remain respectful while doing so.
Sutton: The one time that stands out was the first red card of my career. I was playing in defence for Norwich reserves against Oxford and said some choice words to the linesman for failing to give an offside. He called over the referee who sent me off. I learned that you cannot talk to officials in that way.