Now is the winter of referee discontent
ANYBODY who watches a lot of Championship matches will not be surprised that clubs are demanding a meeting over the standard of refereeing, but why has taken it so long?
At times in the second tier the rules can appear very different – not always for the worse, it must be said. VAR is still to reach the EFL and some would say thank goodness for that. No five-minute delays, offside is only offside if the assistant referee says it is.
But such is the discontent at some of the decisions which are being made that it was reportedly the dominant issue at the latest meeting of Championship clubs and they have demanded a crisis meeting with referees’ chief Mike Riley to find a solution.
One of the triggers appears to have been Norwich’s claim of disrespectful treatment by referee Darren England in last week’s defeat at Luton. Their main gripe was Luke Berry going unpunished after celebrating the award of a penalty by throwing his hands around the referee’s shoulders.
Relations with officials were not helped by Nottingham Forest being fined £5,000 after their players surrounded David Webb in last week’s draw with Watford – the referee having waved play on after Nathaniel Chalobah clattered into Harry Arter and then not going back to show a second yellow card.
Perhaps familiarity is breeding contempt. A quick Twitter search for Keith Stroud
will underline to how many clubs his notoriety extends.
One of the issues does seem to be the glass ceiling referees reach – with the small group entrusted by the Premier League apparently becoming ever more select, with England one of a 19-strong pool.
Stroud, now 51, refereed the last of his 17 Premier League games four years ago but has been whistling in the second tier since 2005. Andy Woolmer is still officiating in the second tier aged 54, having never been given a top-flight game.
No side has been in the Championship that long. Referees clearly operate to a different set of rules.