Let’s hope refs don’t have a big influence on Scots sides
IT was a much-needed win for Scotland on Tuesday at Hampden.
Although when the team in 40th place in the FIFA rankings plays the team ranked 91st then perhaps a home victory is to be expected. Still, the 3-2 win over Israel puts us into the next stage of the Nations League.
The draw for qualifying for Euro 2020 takes place on December 2 with Scotland in the third pot of seeds.
By the time the first round of qualifiers comes round in March let’s hope at least one of our two representatives in the Europa League are still in the competition.
But both Celtic and Rangers have some tough matches coming up.
In Celtic’s group Salzburg have won four out of four and Rosenborg have lost four out of four, so it looks like Celtic and Leipzig will be fighting for that vital second spot. The Hoops travel to Norway on Thursday for what now appears to be a crucial match.
The group involving Rangers is more evenly balanced, all four teams covered by two points, which makes the Light Blues’ home game on Thursday with Villarreal another crucial encounter.
These should be exciting, end-to-end matches where the crowd is not only entertained but also given a real boost by the success of their team.
I hope the matches – and the performances – rise up to expectations.
What we can do without is games where the performance of the referee plays a crucial part in the eventual outcome.
Refs’ straightforward task in every match is to apply the Laws of the Game.
This means not allowing headbutting, persistent blocking, jersey pulling, over-the-top tackles and tackling from behind, while making sure keepers do not take too many steps clearing the ball or move before the ball is kicked at a penalty.
Making sure the ball is inside the arc at a corner, the wall is at least 10 yards away from the ball at a free-kick, the colour of the teams’ strips doesn’t clash, the nets are firmly attached to the stanchions, players who score are not in an offside position, managers do not encroach on to the pitch and, probably most importantly, the ball is the right size, weight and shape.
Now, tell me, what’s so difficult about that?
They ought to be end to end matches where the crowd is entertained