We will publish your letters on this page regularly,
complete with comments from Jeff.
So why not write in and let us know what you are thinking
about the goings on at Boro, Darlington, Hartlepool and Rangers. We'll
get your letter on the site as soon as we can.
Do you not think that when there is an incident like the Henry handball that there is a natural pause in the play? I think that in the time that the Ireland players were protesting, another official could have been watching the replay and could have made a correct decision within a matter of seconds. I certainly think you're right that goal-line technology is essential for dealing with situations like Freddie Sears'. I can't understand why it hasn't been implemented yet.
Jeff's Reply:
The trouble is that on many occasions, say an appeal for a penalty, the ball does not go out of play. You could have the scenario that a goal is scored at the other end whilst a video Ref is still debating the initial decision. We see some aspects like Henry, many others take a very long time and still are not conclusive. You can’t have a system that works sometime and not others. Anyway bottom line is that FIFA will not agree to it.
Best wishes
Jeff Winter
From: Ken, 5th February, 2010
Hello Jeff,
That incident got quite a response! I do not think for one minute that the FA have toughened up. They really had no option but to extend Ferdinand's ban. I noticed they have the power to extend the suspension by further matches if they deem it neccessary. I suspect if a club other than the 'big four' did that they would have extended it further. If I had have been in charge I would have extended it to take in the Carling Cup Final.
As for Foy I was surprized at him he had a good game. The thing that made me laugh about Foy with Man U was all the times he fallen for Ronaldo's diving antics then in his biggest match of all - last season's Carling Cup Final he cautioned him for diving when he was clearly fouled in the penalty area!
Thanks for your time.
Ken
Jeff's Reply:
As I understand it Rio might be going to appeal against the extra one game ban. Unbelievable - they should increase it further.
From: Sean Loughran, 3rd February, 2010
Hi there Jeff. Technology in football is always a hot topic of debate. I
know you've probably debated it countless times before.
I just wanted to ask you what your personal opinions are on the matter as
I'm writing about as part of my English GCSE coursework and I think that an
opinion from a former professional official of the game would definitely
earn me a few extra marks.
Could you please tell me what you think of video-refereeing, goal-line
technology and anything else you feel would push me up to an A grade :)
I'm particularly interested in the matter as I am Irish and the Henry
handball incident was the last straw for me. I think it needs to be
implemented in some form as human error is affecting teams at all levels of
football.
I don't have anything against referees. I think technology will definitely
make it a lot easier for them.
Jeff's reply
The Thierry Henry incident highlighted the problems there are with cheating
in the modern game. Ireland as a country suffered and also the aspirations
of the fans. I initially thought also of the players, but my sympathy for
them was diluted as it became apparent whilst they complained about the ref,
Fifa and everyone else, none would castigate their fellow professional.
The bottom line is that they would have done exactly the same at the other end
of the field. Cheating is endemic in the game. I firmly believe that the
authorities should be pro-active in dealing consistently post match with the
cheats.
I believe that goal line technology should be introduced as this is a matter
of fact, all other aspects of the game are of opinion. The introduction of
extra goal line officials as seen in the Europa league would help, the Henry
handball would almost certainly have been seen had this system been in
force.
I am afraid though that I along with FIFA disagree with video refs for on
field incidents. It would kill the natural flow of the game, every decision
would be contested and at the end of the day, if the decision still goes
against you fans, managers and players would still not accept many
decisions.
Best Wishes
Jeff Winter
From: Stuart Kilpatrick, 3rd February, 2010
Hi Jeff,
Great site you have here and being a Rangers man I especially
enjoy your articles on ourselves!
Recently, as I'm sure you are aware, there
has been a lot of "paranoia" from "that lot" regarding refereeing in
Scotland. Now I for one don't believe in any of this. I agree that there has
been some terrible decisions but that happens all over world football. The
UEFA Cup final season, we got some absolute honkers gave against us all
season long, two late winners chopped wrongly off for offside, the 3-2 game we
lost at Celtic Park their first goal was offside and their penalty was
outside the box, but we got on with it.
My main question is actually, do you believe that there can be some "iffy"
refereeing in Scottish football? Or is this more likely just Celtic fans
struggling to come to terms with their flop of a manager who has signed duds
for millions, lagging 10 points behind the skint Rangers who are a laughing
stock apparently?
One last point, what's going on at your Boro! Strachan? Killen? Flood? Robson?
I hear you have also signed McDonald too! You Boro fans must have been bad
in a previous life! Ha ha!
Keep up the good work Jeff,
God bless the Rangers.
Stuart
Jeff's reply
Glad you enjoy the site. Scotland is a problem with fans perceptions on
refs. It's a small country and virtually everyone is either Rangers or
Celtic or at least protestant or catholic. Therefore conspiracy theories
will always persist. It is more likely that mistakes are made honestly and
fans just use their paranoia to justify these.
I am worried about Celtic signing Robbie Keane. He will score goals for fun
in the SPL. Still we have it to lose.
As for Boro, if they help get us back on track I am prepared to excuse their
early career mistakes for playing for Celtic!!! Even Kenny Miller is a
reformed character.
Best Wishes
Jeff
From: Jamie Kerr-Gibbs, 3rd February, 2010
I'm not saying the ref in Boro v Bristol City was biased, alas I didn't go to the game so cannot comment (I'm at Coventry Uni). My opinion is of that the ref of a game between a Northern and a Southern club should be from an area between the two. I know, geographically speaking, it may not always be that simple, but in the interests of trying to keep everyone happy, surely the ref should have been from around the Midlands.
May I ask how a referee is chosen for a game?
Jeff's reply
Refs are appointed on rotation to games so that they don’t ref the same team too often. That means that on some occasions the refs are not always from a distance away from the clubs.
Expenses obviously come into appointments as well. I can assure you that any ref no matter where he comes from is ever going to keep everyone happy. It works the other way - I have reffed Newcastle in London.
Over a season the appointments average themselves out in terms of geography to clubs. The better refs are appointed to the top games and that may mean a Yorkshire ref reffing say Man United v Arsenal.
If he is the best man for the job, then nobody should complain.
Best Wishes
Jeff Winter
From: Jamie Kerr-Gibbs, 2nd February, 2010
Dear Jeff,
What is your opinion on the ref between Boro and Bristol City being from
Tyne & Wear? Surely there is a bountiful amount of refs available from the
Midlands or indeed anywhere but the area of our closest rivals who could
have taken charge of the match. It just seems a bit of an odd choice.
Regards,
Jamie
Jeff's reply
What is your point Jamie? I regularly reffed at both Newcastle and
Sunderland. The perception of fans that refs are going to be biased one way
or another is fallacy anyway. As I see it fans are rarely happy with the ref
when decisions go against their team, it would not matter if he came from
Timbuktu.
