REF’S DECISION FINAL?????????????

January 30th, 2009 | by: sscouser | Comments(2)

The referee has “full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed” (Law 5), and the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play are final, so far as the result of the game is concerned.

In September, 2008, during a game between Watford and Reading, Assistant referee Nigel Bannister mistakenly awarded Reading’s first goal in the 2-2 draw after the ball had gone wide of the post.

The League’s chief operating officer Andy Williamson confirmed the decision to award the goal was final: “The laws of the game give no discretion in these matters. The referee’s decision regarding whether a goal is scored or not is final and binding. Given this explicit position, the League cannot intervene.”

In other related news, Robinson has had his red card against Manchester United on Tuesday rescinded by the Football Association. The 30-year-old was shown a straight red by referee Rob Styles for his first-half challenge on Ji-Sung Park in the 5-0 defeat to leaders United. He would have faced a three-match ban had the sending off been upheld. However, the FA has overturned the decision on appeal, freeing the left-back to play against Hull this weekend.

If the red card has been rescinded shouldn’t the game be replayed? West Brom played with 10 men for over 45 minutes. In a game of soccer anything can happen. Liverpool 1 Wigan 1. Nobody knows what would have happened had West Brom played with 11 men up to the end. That game may end up being a title decider if the league leaders end up getting tied on points. Goal difference will matter. It seems once again, Rob Styles will play a part in deciding who wins the title . West Brom should protest. They can ask for a replay of the second half or from the time Robinson was sent off. The game should re-start with scores at 2-0.

On December 19, 2007, during a basketball game between Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks, with 51.9 seconds left, the official scorer ruled incorrectly that the then Miami’s Shaq O’Neal fouled out. The Hawks won 117-111 at home in overtime.

The Heat protested the game after Shaquille O’Neal was incorrectly disqualified after picking up his fifth foul with 51.9 seconds left and the Hawks leading 114-111. Shaq was accidentally attributed with an earlier foul that instead belonged to Udonis Haslem, and because of the error the NBA decided to do something they had never done since 1982: require a do-over.

First of all, to set the scene, Shaq fouled Al Horford with 51.9 left on the clock. Horford made the pair, making the score 114-111. So, when they started the replay, it started at 114-111 Hawks lead, and Miami had ball possession. Shaq still had his five fouls (foul out = 6th). The remaining 51.9 seconds were played just a few minutes before the two teams met again on March 28, 2008.

If that’s not fairness then I don’t know what is.

Football Associations need to be flexible. Yes laws shouldn’t be broken but they can be bent.

The refs are costing teams championships.