How impartial are referees?

[Phil McAvity]

When the whole opponent's team are on first name terms with the referee, is is possible for him to treat players equally when he knows them so well?

[Stich This]

When the whole opponent's team are on first name terms with the referee, is is possible for him to treat players equally when he knows them so well?

It's possible, but unless he is on first name terms with the other team , better to not call by first names.

[Stich This]

When the whole opponent's team are on first name terms with the referee, is is possible for him to treat players equally when he knows them so well?

What age level?

[Phil McAvity]

When the whole opponent's team are on first name terms with the referee, is is possible for him to treat players equally when he knows them so well?

What age level?

Seniors, and he's a really good referee too. I just wonder if, subconsciously, it gets to them. Easy to give yellows and reds out when you don't know the bloke, not so easy when you do and he's a long established player.

[Stich This]

When the whole opponent's team are on first name terms with the referee, is is possible for him to treat players equally when he knows them so well?

What age level?

Seniors, and he's a really good referee too. I just wonder if, subconsciously, it gets to them. Easy to give yellows and reds out when you don't know the bloke, not so easy when you do and he's a long established player.

Agree

[God is an Englishman]

I agree it can look that way at times but if you know someone's name then why wouldn't you use it if it might help to calm a situation.

I've had many referees use my nickname and I find it more likely to get a calm response than a blanket NUMBER 8.

[Adolf Hįtler]

That four letter word beginning with c?

[Con M]

[quote="kevinkeegan"]Seniors, and he's a really good referee too. I just wonder if, subconsciously, it gets to them. Easy to give yellows and reds out when you don't know the bloke, not so easy when you do and he's a long established player.

Agree

+1. Had an experience like that back in antiquity when I was taken out of our forward line and asked to mark & continually foul a high-profile forward (those days you could get away repetitive fouls before the ref finally ran out of patience and wrote you in his little book - no yellow & red cards those days). The ref was on a first-name basis with this high-profile forward and vitually consoled him when he always hit the turf, saying neutral things like "keep going J.., don't worry about him" (me, the marker).

[Stich This]

That four letter word beginning with c?

[Randoman]

When the whole opponent's team are on first name terms with the referee, is is possible for him to treat players equally when he knows them so well?

Its easy. Once you've been playing for a while (and the referees have been around for a while) its just silly not to use names if you're the referee. It happens all the way up to the EPL. And in other sports - like the AFL. Its a good way to manage players - I've been booked in the first minute by a referee who used my name, and sent off by another - it should never impact their decisions. And just because a referee knows your name certainly doesnt mean he favours you!

[grumbly]

Perhaps referees should stop sitting with the coaches and parents during half time too.
May all be perfectly innocent, but doesn't look that way. Catch up for a chat after the game.

[ExtraTime]

All AFL field umpires must know every player by their first name