Keith Hackett on Referees

[Pintolager]

Interesting read from one of the top ex refs

https://www.fairgameuk.org/press-releases/hackett

[drfchound]

Telling us what we already know I suppose, but will the FA top brass accept his words and do something about it.

[Dutch Uncle]

Agree about the sin bin though, and feigning injuries. I put this up a few months ago:

Complicated but how would this be for the professional game:

1: Independent medically trained official at each match as member of officiating team
2: Every injury where a player goes down for more than say 10 seconds clutching his head - mandatory 10 minutes off the pitch with assessment from 'medical referee'. A concussion sub is allowed on.
3: After 10 minutes, if the injured player is not fit to continue, sub stays on
4: After 10 minutes, if the injured player is fit to continue the medical referee makes an assessment of whether the injured player had a real knock, or is feigning injury.
          a: If real, then team can choose whether injured player returns or sub continues
          b: If assessed as feigned, sub has to come off and team carries on one player light

Might need a tweak for the last 10 minutes of the game, but that should stop tactical feigned head injuries

[i_ateallthepies]

I like that, DU yes, a lot.