However, it also reminds me of how far we’ve come since those dark days, reminds me to be grateful, be appreciative and enjoy every moment. Plus, when isn’t it funny to laugh at Spurs?

And (b) the price gouging that’s affected matchgoing fans irrespective of allegiance is on the other hand depressing predictable no matter the shade of your tinted spectacles. See our CC game against Newcastle being cat C instead of special CC pricing as usual.

Obviously as an Arsenal fan, it’s objectively funny. But it also hits a little different as (a) I remember that feeling from a few years ago going to games in a half empty stadium, knowing the football could be a tough watch, the atmosphere would be crap and results unpredictable

Fans of all allegiances have issues with refereeing.

So this is *exactly* the time we should be speaking up, when it’s not our team.

Just like managers have started to complain about the schedule when they win, so it’s not seen as sour grapes.

/end

Calm decision, rationally explained

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Clear logic, applied to the situation

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Post-analysis, evaluated and acted on

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

= Elite performance, benefiting everyone

/14

We might not always agree with those decisions, but it gives us (and the players!) confidence that they’re being made with logic and clarity, it means the ref can manage the emotions of the game better, and it means those decision can then be analysed properly too.
/13

And finally, my goodness, can we get the refs calmly explaining decisions on the big screen alongside replays like in rugby so that
(a) the matchday fans get the same experience as the fans at home, and
(b) we can understand, and they can justify, why decisions have been made /12

(d) change the culture to one of performance - honesty when decisions are wrong, consequences beyond sitting out a single game to “think about what you’ve done”, quality coaching and mentoring of referees to equip them with skills, on an ongoing basis.
/11

(c) select the right referees. A wider talent pool will mean we don’t need a Liverpool fan officiating title rivals’ matches for example, or teams being repeatedly officiated by the same referee. Plus, VAR should be entirely separate, and not “marking your own homework”
/10

(b) pay our referees better - careers are short, and Mike Dean secured his post-officiating payday by making focus on him and his dramatics instead of always delivering the best decision. And let’s not be jollying off to the UAE - “unconscious” bias is a real thing
/9

PGMOL (or more likely a new body with a blank sheet of paper, generously funded by the PL) need to:
(a) cast the talent net wider - I’ve touched on grassroots, where we don’t bring through (m)any refs from outside NW England, and why can’t we tempt the best European refs over?
/8

And it continues into the professional ranks where there is a lack of quality control that invites criticism in a performance sport where players, coaches and teams live and die by their results. Yet referees have a free pass. /7

That starts at grassroots - referees are exposed to some hideous incidents and behaviour that puts many off at a young age, before they’ve developed the maturity and resilience to brush it off and/or take control. /6

We need higher calibre referees full stop.

Until we have:
(a) a wider pool of talent
(b) better selection processes
(c) genuine performance management

we will continue to see poor decision making that encourages conspiracy theories around bias and/or incompetence. /5

What does it say about the intelligence of one of our highest ranked and best paid referees that he thinks making this video is advisable? He’s not been sneakily filmed ranting after a bad day - he’s an active, knowing participant in the moment. /4

Officiating is a complex, challenging role that requires:
- emotional intelligence (managing players, staying cool under pressure)
- game intelligence (reading the play, understanding intentions)
- general intelligence (knowing and interpreting rules quickly and accurately)
/3

What he is not allowed to do is (a) act upon it in a game and (b) make a video about it. For me, the most concerning thing about the whole incident is how stupid you have to be to actively participate in the making of that video. /2