SFC Ref is back after the break with a run down of the weekend's games and the controversial decisions that were open for debate, read on for his overview of the Premier League refs and for a little quiz at the end

“The last months been a fairly interesting one with regards to officials, for both the Premier League and the world.

As we’ve had Howard Webb being appointed the new head of select group 1 officials (aka prem ones), and some of the things he’s said he wants to change and adapt with VAR and what the refs are informed to do in the prem, all of which will certainly be interesting and certainly be something to see how it progresses.

But of course we’ve also had the World Cup on, with both Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor being selected and sent off to Qatar to officiate in the tournament with some of the other best officials from across the world.

There have of course been a wide range of referee performances, but still the usual criticism towards those World Cup refs (some of which I have seen as quite baffling).

As I’ve seen many criticise them for a vast array of things and complain about the quality of these officials (although 99% of which were due to them giving a major decision against their team, or simply the fans not knowing the LOTG themselves), but the thing is that these are the very best and if you see them as not good enough then you’ll always be disappointed.

But more need to realise that all those abusing and criticising officials are only making things worse. As it’s not just on social media that’s there’s issues, but also at grassroots level, which leads to less people wanting to be officials due to all the abuse and such they see the officials get, leading to more officials quitting due to all that abuse and less progressing up the refereeing ladder. All of which leads to less officials, meaning less competition for higher leagues and therefore less quality in them. So in a way all those consistently criticising the officials for “their poor quality” are only making things worse!

But anyway, now that the prems back, so has the ref watch, which will now also have a little LOTG quiz for those to give a go at and see how well they can do every week. But still here’s this match week’s review…

Fulham VS Southampton (Graham Scott)
I myself went to this game, so have more than just the highlights to base my opinions on the days officiating on.

As for major decisions there wasn’t too much to discuss, as all 3 goals were pretty fair with no issues around them and our free kick along with their pen were both blatant fouls with no debate whatsoever around ether.

Although I didn’t think that the officiating on the day was too great as there was quite a few fouls missed and a few times where both us and Fulham got away without disciplinary action.

And it was also shown by when Scott told Edozie to leave the field of play, yet Edozie did not and didn’t get anything for it, although why he got asked to leave in the first place, when he hadn’t said that to any Fulham players I’m not even sure on.

But at the same time it’s not like the ref was to blame for the result whatsoever, and these decisions were given both ways. So overall a fair performance from the officials in todays game (although that certainly can’t always be said for the Saints players playing!)

West Ham VS Brentford (Darren England)
Nothing really to discuss around this game, as there were a few early shouts from West Ham for a pen or two, but none were any that were ever going to get given, and rightfully so. So a fairly straight forward game for the officials and VAR.

Liverpool VS Leicester (Craig Pawson)
I think the only real controversies to this game wasn’t around the officials but around Faes, and his brace of own goals!

But VAR didn’t have too much to do, had to rule out a Liverpool goal for offside, but was a blatant offside so no real debate there. So a fairly straight forward and easy game for the officials and VAR.

Wolves VS Man United (Robert Jones)
Certainly a result which saints fans would’ve preferred for how this seasons looking for us and Wolves, but for refereeing this game seemed to be as interesting as the scoreline, with nothing much to discuss.

As VAR did have to rule out a second goal for Man U for a handball offence against Rashford, although it’s a fairly blatant handball as under the currently LOTG you can’t score directly with or directly after the ball has struck the hand, which for this goal it blatantly had. Although I do think ten Hang was lucky to not receive any disciplinary action for how he reacted after this decision.

But other than that, very little to discuss for this game.

Bournemouth VS Palace (Andre Marriner)
This game had a few shouts here and there, but very little major controversial decisions in it.

As there were a few early shouts for a Bournemouth penalty, but there was no where near enough force or contact for it to be a pen and even the players reaction afterwards showed that it wasn’t a penalty, as he looked more disappointed in himself than he did in the officials.

But other than that, nothing else to discuss here as both of Palace’s goals had no controversy around them and no other major decisions were needed to be made by the officials.

Man City VS Everton (Andy Madley)
On the way back from the Fulham game, I was listening to TalkSport and heard one or two City fans complaining and blaming the ref for this game. But after watching the highlights and looking at the time added, it really does dum up how pathetic some fans are, blaming officials for any games they don’t get the results they wanted.

But for what I saw from the highlights it looked like a fairly clear game with very little controversy around it all. As there was a few shouts for Haaland to be sent off in the first half for a late tackle, although it was never enough for a red card as it didn’t have enough force/contact and the studs weren’t showing enough for a red. Although I do think that a few of the Everton players were lucky not to be cautioned for dissent, after their gestures towards the AR around this decision.

But other than that, nothing much around this game for VAR/the officials to deal with.

Newcastle VS Leeds (Simon Hooper)
This games scoreline had a lot in common with the major decisions the officials deal with, as there didn’t seem to be any real shouts around any major decisions let alone any controversial ones.

Brighton VS Arsenal (Anthony Taylor)
This game was Taylor’s first since coming back from Qatar, and for what he had to deal with, seemed to do a fairly decent job from the highlights of this game.
As there wasn’t too much to talk about around this game, as it’s only Arsenal fans saying it was a foul before Brighton’s second goal, and Brightons 3rd which was ruled out by VAR was a fairly clear offside, so not too much around that.

Although there was a shout for a sending off for Saka for a second cautioning, as it was a late challenge and both sides have points to the debate. As I think if Saka hadn’t been cautioned earlier in the game then he would’ve for that one, which is what makes me think that he should’ve been cautioned for that incident, although it’s certainly a decision up for debate with no real blatant answer.

Spurs VS Villa (John Brooks)
Outta all this weekends games, I do think this one’s gotta be the quietest when it comes down to VAR/refereeing controversies. As from the highlights I’ve seen to this game, there doesn’t seem to be any major decisions needing to be made whatsoever, with both of Villa’s goals being perfectly fine and rightfully awarded. So an easy, yet decent game for VAR and Brooks.

Forrest VS Chelsea (Peter Bankes)
Again another game with very little to talk about around the officiating or VAR. As there was a little goal line check needed early in the game, but as the footage showed, the ball was no where near crossing the line, but still no issues with the goal line tech there. So yet another good game for VAR and the officials.

Weekly conclusion + LOTG quiz
For Webbs second matchweek in charge or the prem’s refs, it’s certainly been a fairly decent one. As there’s been no real controversial decisions this week whatsoever, with all games having VAR and the officials doing their jobs how they should be, and getting all the key match decisions correct.

As it’s certainly been an easier matchweek for them, with no real major decisions around a 50:50 incidents, meaning that all were very clear, but as we’ve seen previously, even when everyone knows what should be awarded, doesn’t mean VAR will think the same way! But still no mess ups this week for the officials, and hopefully that can continue under Howard Webbs new era of Prem officiating!

But now it’s time for something a bit new, a little LOTG (Laws Of The Game) quiz, which I’ll be doing every gameweek now, where there’ll be 3 questions around the LOTG, in which I’ll post the answers to which in the following article.
So give them a try and post what you think the answers are to each question in the comments section…

Q1= Team A take a thrown in, the player taking it throws it back to his own keeper. The keeper swings at the ball but completely misses it, leading to the ball going directly into the Team A net. What do you give?

Q2= A penalty is given to Team A. A player from team A is identified to be the one taking the penalty kick, but when the referee signals for it to be taken, another player from team A comes up and takes it. What happens next?

Q3= Team A have kick off, in which the player taking it sees the Team B goalie off of his line. So when taking KO kicks the ball directly into Team B’s net. What should happen next?“

Photo: Action Images

cocklebreath added 10:41 - Jan 2 What is the point of these articles? Is it just a chance for you to moan about fans moaning about refs
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SFC_Referee added 12:23 - Jan 2 Well maybe then fans shouldn’t do it soo much than cocklebreath? As it’s those fans that are causing the issues. But anyway the articles are done to teach fans about why certain decisions are made, and sometimes the thinking behind these decisions. As this week there’s practically been nothing to discuss as it was all fairly decent, but other weeks there could be all sorts happening hence why they’re done every gameweek. And even then for the ones like this week where it’s all been quite easy, it does highlight the fact that many weeks are like this even though nobody points it out, whilst when there’s a poor one everyone acts like it’s always like that every week, but as this and other articles show that’s not the case at all

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stmichael added 12:38 - Jan 2 Jones felt that 2 players were in an offside position blocking Gavins view for the first goal?
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SFC_Referee added 13:14 - Jan 2 Well as it’s unfortunately been intentional played by Prowsey, it basically ‘resets’ the offside, meaning that nobody can be offside whether they’re blocking a players line of site or playing the ball. So as much as I’d love him to be right, he’s not for this one
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