FL respond to recent FF incidents

[Guest HighGreen_Owl]

We all know about the recent incidents involving Fernando and officials over recent weeks. As most would agree, referee standards in recent years seem to have dropped, i can count a lot of decisions not going our way which were clear over recent seasons. Some may think it's not a worthwhile task but contacting the Football League is important to keep pressure on authorities who run the game at this level.  Please see the email i sent to the FL on the 25th April highlighting concerns of recent events below: 

From:

 

 J Leigh

Sent:

 

25 April 2016 13:11

To:

 

Enquiries <

enquiries@football-league.co.uk

>

Subject:

 

Fair play

 

Like most football fans we know when we are beaten by a better team and sometimes you have to "take it on the chin" and move on ....thats life.

 

However as a Sheffield Wednesday supporter  at present i do not think that Football League referees recognise the damage they are doing to our beautiful game by constantly targeting Fernando  Forestieri and accusing him of diving, simulation - effectively  cheating. 

 

All football fans want to see good players PLAYING and FF comes into this category. Video evidence and testimonies from opposing players(Michael Dawson) and Managers (Karl Robinson) and TV pundits confirm that bookings and red cards against FF have been gargantuan mistakes by officials. One mistake by a referee you could accept and possibly 2 but this campaign of persistent victimization  is utterly wrong and is at odds with the British sense of FAIR PLAY. 

 

The RESPECT campaign will be dead in the water unless someone gets a grip of this situation which ultimately will drive football fans away from the beautiful game. Referees need to show a bit of commonsense and acceptance that this is a high speed game and that  even the slightest touch when someone is running or turning (with a ball at his feet) , will send them sprawling...worse as in the Michael Dawson case....do players like Forestieri need to sustain a career threatening injury before they are offered a modicum of protection?.

 

Referees need to man up and do all they can to give players like FF the benefit of  any doubt - as forward players often get in offside calls which are marginal.

 

As football fans we do recognise refs have a tough job ...making decisions in real time situations but they need to learn to help themselves and the RESPECT will return. Just to admit they've made a mistake will go a long way with all football fans.

 

We shouldn't be leaving games talking about poor refereeing decisions...instead we should be marveling at the skill these players possess which ultimately will encourage young kids to play the game now and into the future.

 

Hopefully the sense of FAIR PLAY will return for the playoffs if we are in them.

 

Yours Sincerely

 

J Leigh 

 

[Tea Baggins]

Sorry mate but that's cringy as hell.

[Guest HighGreen_Owl]

Today i received a response from the Football League following my concerns about Fernando's treatment over recent weeks. You could say a quite standard reply but it shows fans can put pressure on the FL by contacting them directly or via social media. Please see the Football League response below highlighting process involving referees performance:  

From: 

Enquiries <

enquiries@football-league.co.uk

>

Subject: 

RE: Fair play

Date: 

27 April 2016 at 12:34:01 BST

To: 

'J LEIGH' 

Mr Leigh,

 

Thank you for your email in relation to the performance of referees.

 

The League receives numerous queries and complaints regarding individual referee's and match officials’ decisions and their overall performance. Without usually commenting on specific incidents or bookings, we can advise that the performances of all officials are constantly monitored by way of club and assessor reports, match videos or DVD and Prozone statistics. Matches are also analysed by the Referees' Manager, a referees’ coach and the referee and, despite the perception of some, match officials are most accountable for their performance.

 

In a general sense, in some cases it is extremely difficult to spot every single incident that occurs on the field of play, whether this be due to the proximity of the ball to players, the position of the referee, or other players obscuring views of the officials. In addition it is a fact that the human element of the sport means referees do also make mistakes during games, just like players (missing penalties, committing fouls etc) and managers do on a weekly basis. With only one chance to view every incident, and no benefit of replays, the modern referee has a sometimes difficult task. In all situations the decision of the referee is final. Quite often incidents are viewed again and again with the benefit of replay, and sometimes even the pundits and panellists cannot agree, so the split-second decisions referees often have to take can be challenging.

 

The Referees’ Manager works with his group in a bid to constantly improve standards in a game which has become faster and more frenetic over recent years. Every match is recorded and referees are under closer scrutiny than ever before. The match assessor is asked to consider the referee’s and officials’ overall performance and circumstances of the match in determining the mark awarded for his performance. This will include consideration of any proactive or preventative measures taken by the referee which aided his control of the game, of how the referee responded to situations that occurred in the match and how the referee managed the consequences of any difficult decisions or situations.

 

Specifically, the assessor is asked to appraise the referee’s performance against the following competencies;

 

• Application of the Laws of the Game and disciplinary control

• Management of the games and players

• Personality

• Teamwork

• Fitness, positioning and movements

 

The information shared between the referee and his assessor is not made public and is confidential. This is similar to conversations between a club manager and his players for example but as aforementioned, assessors are present at every match. In addition there are a range of ‘integrity measures’ in place to ensure that referees abide by the high standards required to perform. Again, should any particular club have reason to query a referee or want to discuss a referee’s performance, they do so by contacting the referees’ manager. We have been informed that the referees’ manager has had contact with Sheffield Wednesday regarding the matter.

 

We trust that this at least highlights to you the procedures in place designed to improve performances and thank you for contacting us with your comments, which have been noted and passed on.

 

Thank you for contacting The Football League.

 

Regards,

 

Jessica Crook

 

[Orlando_Trustful]

Where's their response then?

[bladeshater]

Not for me

[Orlando_Trustful]

Don't worry, seen it. 

[Guest Kameron]

.

 

[Orlando_Trustful]

A woman

 

[jambler]

Good on you for doing it. 

[rob1601]

It's like the Green Un tribute page this..

[Flat Owl]

A woman

 

 

 

....called Crook...

[Guest Deleted member]

Word for word that's the same response as the last bloke got when he posted about it

[pgmetcalf]

The FA demand end of season excitement. Things can be arranged

[Birley Owl 1867]

Ooooh look at you sending an email and being all important.

 

Once our fans realise that sending threatening emails only makes this worse, then this will all blow over

[bigdan2003]

I bet the FL send that same generic response thousands of times a week.

[Guest HighGreen_Owl]

Word for word that's the same response as the last bloke got when he posted about it

 

You're probably right but if nothing else it gets fans talking about what's been happening. Fans need to keep highlighting this until authorities listen. 

[Guest HighGreen_Owl]

Ooooh look at you sending an email and being all important.

 

Once our fans realise that sending threatening emails only makes this worse, then this will all blow over

 

I struggle to see how this is threatening, valid points were made. Do we just accept that ref standards are getting worse or keep talking about it? 

[theowlsman]

Well at least after all that furore, we got a letter from Jessica.

[Birley Owl 1867]

I struggle to see how this is threatening, valid points were made. Do we just accept that ref standards are getting worse or keep talking about it? 

Mate refs have been crap for 10-15 years now. Nowts gonna change cos you sent some FL person and email

 

Look I want it to change dont get me wrong, but this isn't they way about it. If you wanna send out a message it needs to be in public not in private over emails.

[Eaton_Swfc]

Ooooh look at you sending an email and being all important.

Once our fans realise that sending threatening emails only makes this worse, then this will all blow over

Shurrup you tart.

Well done OP, doubt it will achieve anything but fair play none the less.