Referees

Football fans are often critical of referees. It's a fact that's become part-and-parcel of the modern game. And its not like the supporters don't have any right to moan, because it's more than an opinion that the standard of officiating in the English game is getting considerably worse.

I sit here as a fan of Doncaster Rovers, who's side has been arguably denied six points, already this season, from official's decision-makings. And to summarize it simply is not good enough.

Last season, I approximately accused an official's poor influence to deny Rovers of a 'better result' in ten games I attended - I only got to 26 all season, so its a pure disgrace.

On Saturday, Neil Warnock slammed the referee's influence in managing to disallow a goal for 'not crossing the line', when it clearly had. Sean O'Driscoll's Rovers side have had the same fury unleashed twice in the last twelve months. James Coppinger's 'goal that wasn't', in a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest in the later stages of 2008, and Dean Sheil's against Watford on the opening day of this season.

This is a possible opportunity for me to possibly go on to discuss the argument of goal-line technology - but that is for another day.

I've often wondered what would help referees. I have contemplated before whether it would be beneficial for an official to be in the stand, overlooking the pitch, with a clear and decisive view, that the fans get - when referees and their linesmanning colleagues tend to turn a blind eye.
So regularly we see the referees and other staff's views obstructed by players. This leads to the incident not being noted and the game being continued with the aggressive player with a cheeky, but relieved grin on his face.

One thing's for sure. This could be down to one of these - if not both - of the following points. Either they are not getting enough of the correct sort of training or the wrong individuals are being influenced by the idea of being on the same pitch of a set of icons.

The training speaks for itself. If money is put in the influence will be gradual. But if it's too tough potential quality refs will quit the course, and we don't want that. The Premier League gets a lot of money from revenue and television, yet it seemingly manages to avoid this referees, an area where we have been struggling for numerous years.

As for the individuals, obviously we need a good marketing plea. It can't be helped that the quality of referees at the moment is so poor, people know that if they want to become referees they can see the treatment made by the fans and this clearly puts them off.

The only people who sign up to become referees are determined people, who are very confident in their own ability who think 'I can do a better job than the man in the middle, and I want to prove it'. But I don't feel there are enough of these characters.