Centenary Conference of the Century

In spectacular fashion the Referees� Association celebrated its Centenary with a Conference and Gala Dinner for the largest gathering of its members in modern times.   The Conference consisted of plenary sessions interspersed with workshop sessions. Launching proceedings with a personal message of goodwill from the President of the FA HRH Prince William, Hon President David Elleray, a Harrow School teacher and former FIFA referee, confessed he was once accused of being �schoolmasterly� � declaring this to be a good way to run a Conference!  At the beginning of referee meetings in South Africa (as the visiting South African referees confirmed) the doors are locked - ensuring good timekeeping � a policy he would be reviewing here too!  But run it did - like clockwork.  He proposed a positive message for Conference: �Look back with a smile; look forward with hope.�  The philosophical advice was that there is no value in negativity about the past or pessimism for the future.

Steve Smith � �Raise the Bar�

Olympic high jumper Steve Smith gave an inspirational opening talk on the challenges he faced setting his staggering UK high jump record in 1996 of 7�10� (2.37 m.), which still stands, and winning an Olympic bronze.  �You need�, he said �preparation, talent, skill, motivation and a goal.�  Referring to Roger Bannister�s 1952 4-minute mile target, Steve explained that after finishing last of twelve finalists at Barcelona in 1992, he resolved: �In the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 I will win a medal.�  His motto �control the controllable� led him to focus on living, eating and training rigorously, according to precise and demanding routines, whilst ignoring the (uncontrollable) performances of other athletes.  �You need an aura of self-belief� he said, drawing strong parallels with refereeing.  There were gasps of disbelief when he put up a bar at his record height - just below the 8� for a cross bar.  At 6�1� he could just reach it from a standing position.  Using DVD replays he illustrated his experience in the 1996 final stages of first reaching a medal position and then setting the UK record and winning the bronze medal, �There were 125,000 Americans sucking the US silver medallist Charles Foster over the bar at 2.39 m, but when I attempted the same height they were all trying to blow it off!�

Refereeing Workshops

Everyone left Steve�s talk highly motivated for three refereeing workshops sessions led by Select Group referees Mike Riley, Steve Bennett, Howard Webb, Chris Foy and Martin Atkinson; FA Heads of Refereeing, Ian Blanchard and Neale Barry; Assessors Peter Jones and Rob Stearn; whilst RAE Board members led a discussion on developments in the Association.  The following gives a flavour of these workshops. 

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Mike Riley � �Tackles that Injure�

Mike referred to the legal �duty of care� of players to others on the field of play and discussed four criteria when assessing tackles that injure: ability to play the ball, speed, intensity and control.

The greater the distance from the ball the chance of a fair challenge decreases - as speed of approach and level of intensity increase, the risk of injury grows; players jumping feet first into challenges sacrifice control of their landing positions and create danger and challenges which �endangered the safety of an opponent� which must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

In response to questions Mike asserted that:

�        when judging foul challenges skill levels should not be considered

�        playing the ball then the opponent is an offence

�        referees should penalise a two-footed challenge which makes no contact with an opponent

�        referees must concentrate on the ball and the feet, but be aware of with the arms 

�        referees need to watch players� approaches and also �trailing legs�

�        referees can improve their judgement of foul play by watching tackles in TV games; after penalising we have 2-3 seconds to decide whether to show a card. 

�        skill is needed in detecting the more subtle foul challenges seen at Euro 2008 where players deliberately step onto an opponent�s foot causing injuries. 

Howard Webb � Illegal use of the Hands and Arms

Howard said that the illegal use of the arms is more difficult to identify than foul play with the legs. He discussed four examples: holding; penalty area offences; strong, unfair physical contact with the elbows; and handball.

Holding should always be penalised; if it is blatant and prevents a promising attack it requires a yellow card.  Delaying the whistle to see if an advantage accrues can be dangerous as the player being held might lash out in frustration. Referees must consider the temperature of the game, character of the players and the risk of a flare up between the teams.

Illegal use of the arms before an attacking free kick or a corner kick is easily missed in a crowded penalty area.  Referees should intervene before the kick is taken and warn the players; if the misbehaviour persists, disciplinary action is necessary.  Referees need an advantageous viewing position and should consider the assistant referee�s role.  Howard showed his last minute penalty in Euro 2008 when he warned the Polish defence before the free kick was taken and when the shirt pulling continued after the free kick had been taken he awarded Austria a penalty - the commentator remarking, �Poland did not heed the warning.�

Howard used DVDs to show that using the arm/elbow as a �tool� requires a yellow card; using it as a �weapon� requires a red card.  We determine the player�s intent by watching whether he is looking at the ball or the opponent; a clenched hand (fist) usually indicates malicious intent. 

Judging handball is subjective and we should ask �ball to hand or hand to ball?�. Referees must take account of distance and the speed of the ball.  Was the arm in a natural position when contact was made? Not every offence is cautionable � much depends on the impact of the offence. 

Afternoon Sessions

The high point of the day was the Hon President welcoming international refereeing star and special guest Pierluigi Collina who had just arrived from Italy.  He stood momentarily, acknowledging the rapturous applause, a lean, towering figure of a man with his distinct baldness, piercing blue eyes and a striking warmth and modesty, politely bowing to the gathering of 400 with his hands held together momentarily, as though in prayer, deferring to an audience simply mesmerised by his presence.  The presence of this hugely respected figure, the 2002 World Cup final referee, brought a special pleasure to all and a tangible sense of admiration and delight.

Law changes 2009 � Neale Barry

Promising to explain the 2008 Law changes in 60 seconds Neale Barry, FA Head of Senior Referee Development and an IFAB technical committee member, took 62.5 seconds according to a forgiving Hon President!  The changes are minimal.

The Future of refereeing

David Elleray and Neale Barry conducted a short session outlining four areas which might affect refereeing in the future and inviting members to ponder on their thoughts.

Video replays

David opposes video replays asserting that �90% of refereeing is opinion rather than fact�.  He queried who would decide when to challenge a decision (players, captains or coaches?) and how and when challenges be made.  Would it only be �important� decisions? What is important - penalty kick, red card, or even a throw in which leads to a goal?  Players have no technological assistance on the field, nor should referees. 

Goal Line Technology and Assistants

Neale outlined the two main types of technology: (1) Smart chip in the ball; (2) Hawkeye (supported by the FA and the Premier League).  At Gleneagles in March 2008 the IFAB put all technology �on ice� but agreed an experiment involving placing two additional assistant referees, one on each goal line.  It seemed remarkably complicated. 

Sin Bin � David Elleray

The case was persuasively argued for this method of temporary exclusion both as a deterrent and for the wider fairness of punishing the player immediately rather than later in the season when another team benefits.

Euro 2008 � Howard Webb

To an enthusiastic welcome and lengthy applause, Howard spoke of his team�s experiences and expressed his gratitude for the many messages of support from members.  UEFA�s emphasis had been to tackle dissent, simulation, crude challenges and holding, especially within the penalty area. Howard gave a personal account of his time in Salzburg for Austria v Poland and Vienna for Greece v Spain.

Workshops (contd..)

Martin Atkinson � Managing Free Kicks and Penalties

Martin outlined the factors to have in mind when a penalty kick is to be taken:  position of the ball on the penalty mark; identifying the player taking the kick; ensuring the players are correctly positioned - behind the ball and outside the penalty area and the arc; goalkeeper on the goal line between the goal posts.  Referees must demonstrate confidence, ensure compliance and not signal for the kick to be taken until all players are in a correct position.

Referees must adopt the best position to observe the players and ball; when refereeing alone the goal line may be best.  During discussions Martin agreed that players should be told not to enter the penalty area or arc until the ball has been kicked. He emphasised the importance of confidence and positioning before displaying a series of good and not-so-good examples;  Christiano Ronaldo�s hesitation in his approach to a penalty kick was shown � it is permitted.

Four factors were discussed on the taking of free kicks: the ball; the players; the wall and the whistle.  We should watch where the ball goes after the free kick is awarded and sometimes utilise the assistants to ensure the correct free kick position.  For �formal� attacking free kicks the player taking the kick should be identified and told to wait for the whistle; those in the wall must be 9.15 m. and should be told to remain there until the ball has been kicked.  We should watch for the �runner� who encroaches when the whistle is blown but before the ball is kicked and also the shuffling �penguin� walk by players in walls i.e. creeping forward before the kick is taken. 

Mike Riley � The Future of Refereeing

In the final plenary session Mike Riley picked up on the Hon. President�s opening theme.  Showering praise on Societies for welcoming and developing new referees and providing friendship and support, he insisted he would not have without the help received from Society members in his early days. Displaying a picture of an older member changing from his car boot before a parks game, he emphasised the value of referees of all ages and stages.  Moving to the life blood of the Association, he displayed pictures of younger match officials, with the Hon President. �The future,� he said, �is not about the man on the left!�  But the Hon President would yet have the last laugh!

Mike�s fascinating discourse was greeted with rapturous applause and the Hon President then moved to the rostrum, promptly tossing Mike�s notes to the floor!  Thanking generous sponsors including the FA, PGMOL, and the PFA; the Solihull Society; Board members, and all guests and members for their goodwill, he added with much laughter �I would like to thank Mike Riley for an interesting talk [i.e. but not after his comments!].  He remarked on the great success of the day and looked forward to the Centenary dinner.

David�s final task was to present Mike, now in his fourth consecutive year as a leading guest speaker at Conference, with a specially commissioned centenary medal and Conference closed promptly at 5.00 p.m.

Centenary Gala Dinner                                                                                       

Nearly 500 members and guests attended the biggest RA dinner in modern times with a spectacular array of guests including Pierluigi Collina, former and current FA Chairmen Geoff Thompson and Lord Triesman, leading football commentator John Motson, Jack Taylor � 1974 World Cup final referee,  VIPs from the FA and PGMOL, and a large contingent of Select Group officials.  All were warmly welcomed by the Hon. President to loud applause and after grace from Stuart Attwell (the youngest PL referee) the dinner began.  This was a black tie event, with ladies and gentlemen alike looking elegant and often, stunning.  The flow of good food, conversation and wine was accompanied by a montage of hundreds of photographs of persons and events from the past and present in the RA on display on large wall-mounted TVs.

Courses were interspersed with the presentation of Cup Final mementoes by Pierluigi Collina to officials from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the FA Cup Final officials led by Mike Dean taking centre stage.  The dessert was delivered to the tables by waiters dressed in referee shirts, marching to the tune of �Match of the Day�, which brought John Motson to the stage for a few amusing words.

Dinner was followed by brilliant and engaging speeches from Messrs Thompson, Elleray and Collina.

Geoff Thompson, Guest of Honour, in a witty and at times emotional speech, recalled his many years involved with refereeing and toasted the health of the Referees� Association.

The Hon President toasted the many guests with an hilarious, fictitious account of the having received a urgent call from FIFA President Sepp Blatter confirming the cancellation of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and its replacement by a mini World Cup in the UK during the coming week.  David was to gather a team of administrators, match officials and assessors from those present at the dinner � and we had just enough personnel to meet the needs! 

The highlight was, of course, Pierluigi who modestly but fascinatingly spoke (using a montage of visual images) about his experiences refereeing notably the 1999 Champions� League final and 2002 World Cup final.

Lord Triesman, made a presentation to mark the RA�s Centenary, speaking strongly of the FA�s commitment to referees and refereeing.

David Elleray offered a characteristically eloquent tribute of thanks to all and, before he drew the formal part of the evening to a close,  RAE Chairman Alan Poulain thanked and made a presentation to the one person whose masterly contributions had yet to be acknowledged � the Hon. President himself.

For those still with energy, the dance floor opened and the bops, hops, moves and boogies continued until the early hours � but not for Pierluigi - who remained signing autographs and posing for photographs alongside members patiently queuing for an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand alongside this great referee.

All is all, an outstanding and memorable day which will ensure that the RA Centenary celebrations will be long-remembered by those lucky enough to be there.