More changes within refereeing ranks

[malouf]

After my post from yesterday was removed (must have hit a little too close to home), I will reiterate the information a little clearer.

So the Referee Committee Chairman and one of his committeemen have decided to leave, less than 12 months into their jaunt. Call it choice or call it pushed. Its is the same thing because they are gone!

Once again, the refereeing structure within FSA is changing. Another year, another change.

Why is it that every year, there are changes within the refereeing structure (be it the Referee TC or management inside the referee department). Why cant the Referee Technical Committee remain in place for more than 12 months without the need for changes? Perhaps it is time for certain people within the FSA to start to have a look in the mirror.

We went from an experienced structure 12 months ago to the need for a "restructure". FSA used their discretion to get rid of capable people within refereeing to appoint their own group of people under the guise of a "restructure", including some people who the refereeing group have never even heard of and we still don't even see them make an appearance at training. Lets face it, I never saw the chairman at training nor half of the committee this year. The FSA refereeing department and its senior reporting line clearly didn't like the fact that the previous referee TC and coaches used to make choices and decisions that were in the best interests of referees, but not the FSA. After all though, who were they there to work for, the best interests of referees or the FSA?

Lo and behold, not even 12 moths later the person who was appointed amidst much fanfare as the new beginning came in with all the big ideas is gone along with one of his fellow committeemen.. And now another new chairperson. The FSA must be running out of people to lead the referees. Pretty soon there will be no one left as they will have alienated all of them.

So why the instability, why the inability to maintain a structure for a period longer than 12 months. Perhaps it is time for the FSA to start to have a look at itself and its own behavior here.

Perhaps it is time for them to stop interfering in areas of refereeing that they should stay out of....like referee appointments. Perhaps they stop knifing people who are not prepared to tow the line and who actually step in and support referees instead of allowing them to be walked over. Two years ago I recall the time when the FSA approved two teams to wear the same colors in a match and sent the referee out like a lamb to the slaughter. It was mentioned within this forum and then a strong directive was provided to us at the next coaching session by the coach Paul Cetrangolo to insist that teams change colors and not allow a ridiculous kit allocation to be permitted (after all it is clear in the laws of the game that there shouldn't be a clash of strips) Spectators judged the referee that day and questioned him, not the ignoramus at headquarters that approved the clash of colors to save embarrassment that they didn't do their job appropriately in the first place by insisting that the way team have a kit that didn't clash with all teams!

Time and time again, they are caught holding the ball and rather than admit defeat and that they don't run things right, they simply come in, get rid of the people who hold them to account and start again. Anything to avoid embarrassment. Well the available pool of talent is almost empty. They have drained the pool and are now clutching at straws.

Then we come to the FSA Board. Surely it is time that they start to have a look at this and take ownership of the constant changes and start to ask some serious questions. A Board doesn't sit back and simply accept everything that is done within an organisation. Where they see a trend, they need to question it independently and check for themselves. Perhaps they should start to ask some questions of the departed people over the past ten years and seek feedback as to why they are no longer involved. Who knows, they may learn something

Lets see how long it takes for this post to be removed.....

[Lucas Leiva]

If fixtures are released months in advance, and clubs are having their home & away strips audited by FSA as early as two months ago, why doesn't the refs group predetermine the strip allocation at the start of the season instead of clubs receiving it from the FSA two days before the game and refs complaining about it on the day?

[Side Kick]

If fixtures are released months in advance, and clubs are having their home & away strips audited by FSA as early as two months ago, why doesn't the refs group predetermine the strip allocation at the start of the season instead of clubs receiving it from the FSA two days before the game and refs complaining about it on the day?

that would involve work for the paid employees, leave it to the club volunteers

[nagatomo]

If fixtures are released months in advance, and clubs are having their home & away strips audited by FSA as early as two months ago, why doesn't the refs group predetermine the strip allocation at the start of the season instead of clubs receiving it from the FSA two days before the game and refs complaining about it on the day?

Because this is based on the assumption that FSA HQ actually audit the strips properly in the first place. The process of kit allocations works fine as long as the initial process is completed in a diligent and accurate manner. However at the time referred to above, I think you will find that this was clearly not done and chaos ensured with the poor referee copping grief from the crowd.

The Laws of the Game are what the sport is built on. If the powers that be cannot follow the most basic of laws (Law 4), what hope do the rest of us have?

Realistically, its not a difficult process to get right. Primary school kids could do it and therefore adults should also be able to do it properly!

[nagatomo]

After my post from yesterday was removed (must have hit a little too close to home), I will reiterate the information a little clearer.

So the Referee Committee Chairman and one of his committeemen have decided to leave, less than 12 months into their jaunt. Call it choice or call it pushed. Its is the same thing because they are gone!

Once again, the refereeing structure within FSA is changing. Another year, another change.

Why is it that every year, there are changes within the refereeing structure (be it the Referee TC or management inside the referee department). Why cant the Referee Technical Committee remain in place for more than 12 months without the need for changes? Perhaps it is time for certain people within the FSA to start to have a look in the mirror.

We went from an experienced structure 12 months ago to the need for a "restructure". FSA used their discretion to get rid of capable people within refereeing to appoint their own group of people under the guise of a "restructure", including some people who the refereeing group have never even heard of and we still don't even see them make an appearance at training. Lets face it, I never saw the chairman at training nor half of the committee this year. The FSA refereeing department and its senior reporting line clearly didn't like the fact that the previous referee TC and coaches used to make choices and decisions that were in the best interests of referees, but not the FSA. After all though, who were they there to work for, the best interests of referees or the FSA?

Lo and behold, not even 12 moths later the person who was appointed amidst much fanfare as the new beginning came in with all the big ideas is gone along with one of his fellow committeemen.. And now another new chairperson. The FSA must be running out of people to lead the referees. Pretty soon there will be no one left as they will have alienated all of them.

So why the instability, why the inability to maintain a structure for a period longer than 12 months. Perhaps it is time for the FSA to start to have a look at itself and its own behavior here.

Perhaps it is time for them to stop interfering in areas of refereeing that they should stay out of....like referee appointments. Perhaps they stop knifing people who are not prepared to tow the line and who actually step in and support referees instead of allowing them to be walked over. Two years ago I recall the time when the FSA approved two teams to wear the same colors in a match and sent the referee out like a lamb to the slaughter. It was mentioned within this forum and then a strong directive was provided to us at the next coaching session by the coach Paul Cetrangolo to insist that teams change colors and not allow a ridiculous kit allocation to be permitted (after all it is clear in the laws of the game that there shouldn't be a clash of strips) Spectators judged the referee that day and questioned him, not the ignoramus at headquarters that approved the clash of colors to save embarrassment that they didn't do their job appropriately in the first place by insisting that the way team have a kit that didn't clash with all teams!

Time and time again, they are caught holding the ball and rather than admit defeat and that they don't run things right, they simply come in, get rid of the people who hold them to account and start again. Anything to avoid embarrassment. Well the available pool of talent is almost empty. They have drained the pool and are now clutching at straws.

Then we come to the FSA Board. Surely it is time that they start to have a look at this and take ownership of the constant changes and start to ask some serious questions. A Board doesn't sit back and simply accept everything that is done within an organisation. Where they see a trend, they need to question it independently and check for themselves. Perhaps they should start to ask some questions of the departed people over the past ten years and seek feedback as to why they are no longer involved. Who knows, they may learn something

Lets see how long it takes for this post to be removed.....

You make some very interesting points Malouf. Definitely food for thought.

[malouf]

After my post from yesterday was removed (must have hit a little too close to home), I will reiterate the information a little clearer.

So the Referee Committee Chairman and one of his committeemen have decided to leave, less than 12 months into their jaunt. Call it choice or call it pushed. Its is the same thing because they are gone!

Once again, the refereeing structure within FSA is changing. Another year, another change.

Why is it that every year, there are changes within the refereeing structure (be it the Referee TC or management inside the referee department). Why cant the Referee Technical Committee remain in place for more than 12 months without the need for changes? Perhaps it is time for certain people within the FSA to start to have a look in the mirror.

We went from an experienced structure 12 months ago to the need for a "restructure". FSA used their discretion to get rid of capable people within refereeing to appoint their own group of people under the guise of a "restructure", including some people who the refereeing group have never even heard of and we still don't even see them make an appearance at training. Lets face it, I never saw the chairman at training nor half of the committee this year. The FSA refereeing department and its senior reporting line clearly didn't like the fact that the previous referee TC and coaches used to make choices and decisions that were in the best interests of referees, but not the FSA. After all though, who were they there to work for, the best interests of referees or the FSA?

Lo and behold, not even 12 moths later the person who was appointed amidst much fanfare as the new beginning came in with all the big ideas is gone along with one of his fellow committeemen.. And now another new chairperson. The FSA must be running out of people to lead the referees. Pretty soon there will be no one left as they will have alienated all of them.

So why the instability, why the inability to maintain a structure for a period longer than 12 months. Perhaps it is time for the FSA to start to have a look at itself and its own behavior here.

Perhaps it is time for them to stop interfering in areas of refereeing that they should stay out of....like referee appointments. Perhaps they stop knifing people who are not prepared to tow the line and who actually step in and support referees instead of allowing them to be walked over. Two years ago I recall the time when the FSA approved two teams to wear the same colors in a match and sent the referee out like a lamb to the slaughter. It was mentioned within this forum and then a strong directive was provided to us at the next coaching session by the coach Paul Cetrangolo to insist that teams change colors and not allow a ridiculous kit allocation to be permitted (after all it is clear in the laws of the game that there shouldn't be a clash of strips) Spectators judged the referee that day and questioned him, not the ignoramus at headquarters that approved the clash of colors to save embarrassment that they didn't do their job appropriately in the first place by insisting that the way team have a kit that didn't clash with all teams!

Time and time again, they are caught holding the ball and rather than admit defeat and that they don't run things right, they simply come in, get rid of the people who hold them to account and start again. Anything to avoid embarrassment. Well the available pool of talent is almost empty. They have drained the pool and are now clutching at straws.

Then we come to the FSA Board. Surely it is time that they start to have a look at this and take ownership of the constant changes and start to ask some serious questions. A Board doesn't sit back and simply accept everything that is done within an organisation. Where they see a trend, they need to question it independently and check for themselves. Perhaps they should start to ask some questions of the departed people over the past ten years and seek feedback as to why they are no longer involved. Who knows, they may learn something

Lets see how long it takes for this post to be removed.....

You make some very interesting points Malouf. Definitely food for thought.

Thanks Nagatomo

The time came for some honesty and straight talk. I have seen and heard enough in my short time to know that the management of refereeing and the constant chopping and changing is getting beyond a joke.

There is no stability with annual changes and restructures. The refereeing fraternity deserves better. We deserve to have an independent technical committee that is free from interference from the FSA. Unfortunately it is abundantly clear that whenever the FSA are held to account, the simply organize a restructure so that they can maintain their control. Its a bit like china really....

[God is an Englishman]

Why not just leave the decision to the referees on the day. Away team is required to have a kit that doesn't clash.

No discussion needed.

[malouf]

After my post from yesterday was removed (must have hit a little too close to home), I will reiterate the information a little clearer.

So the Referee Committee Chairman and one of his committeemen have decided to leave, less than 12 months into their jaunt. Call it choice or call it pushed. Its is the same thing because they are gone!

Once again, the refereeing structure within FSA is changing. Another year, another change.

Why is it that every year, there are changes within the refereeing structure (be it the Referee TC or management inside the referee department). Why cant the Referee Technical Committee remain in place for more than 12 months without the need for changes? Perhaps it is time for certain people within the FSA to start to have a look in the mirror.

We went from an experienced structure 12 months ago to the need for a "restructure". FSA used their discretion to get rid of capable people within refereeing to appoint their own group of people under the guise of a "restructure", including some people who the refereeing group have never even heard of and we still don't even see them make an appearance at training. Lets face it, I never saw the chairman at training nor half of the committee this year. The FSA refereeing department and its senior reporting line clearly didn't like the fact that the previous referee TC and coaches used to make choices and decisions that were in the best interests of referees, but not the FSA. After all though, who were they there to work for, the best interests of referees or the FSA?

Lo and behold, not even 12 moths later the person who was appointed amidst much fanfare as the new beginning came in with all the big ideas is gone along with one of his fellow committeemen.. And now another new chairperson. The FSA must be running out of people to lead the referees. Pretty soon there will be no one left as they will have alienated all of them.

So why the instability, why the inability to maintain a structure for a period longer than 12 months. Perhaps it is time for the FSA to start to have a look at itself and its own behavior here.

Perhaps it is time for them to stop interfering in areas of refereeing that they should stay out of....like referee appointments. Perhaps they stop knifing people who are not prepared to tow the line and who actually step in and support referees instead of allowing them to be walked over. Two years ago I recall the time when the FSA approved two teams to wear the same colors in a match and sent the referee out like a lamb to the slaughter. It was mentioned within this forum and then a strong directive was provided to us at the next coaching session by the coach Paul Cetrangolo to insist that teams change colors and not allow a ridiculous kit allocation to be permitted (after all it is clear in the laws of the game that there shouldn't be a clash of strips) Spectators judged the referee that day and questioned him, not the ignoramus at headquarters that approved the clash of colors to save embarrassment that they didn't do their job appropriately in the first place by insisting that the way team have a kit that didn't clash with all teams!

Time and time again, they are caught holding the ball and rather than admit defeat and that they don't run things right, they simply come in, get rid of the people who hold them to account and start again. Anything to avoid embarrassment. Well the available pool of talent is almost empty. They have drained the pool and are now clutching at straws.

Then we come to the FSA Board. Surely it is time that they start to have a look at this and take ownership of the constant changes and start to ask some serious questions. A Board doesn't sit back and simply accept everything that is done within an organisation. Where they see a trend, they need to question it independently and check for themselves. Perhaps they should start to ask some questions of the departed people over the past ten years and seek feedback as to why they are no longer involved. Who knows, they may learn something

Lets see how long it takes for this post to be removed.....

You make some very interesting points Malouf. Definitely food for thought.

Thanks Nagatomo

The time came for some honesty and straight talk. I have seen and heard enough in my short time to know that the management of refereeing and the constant chopping and changing is getting beyond a joke.

There is no stability with annual changes and restructures. The refereeing fraternity deserves better. We deserve to have an independent technical committee that is free from interference from the FSA. Unfortunately it is abundantly clear that whenever the FSA are held to account, the simply organize a restructure so that they can maintain their control. Its a bit like china really....

Its just interesting how the Referee Manager at the FSA keeps his job after turning a blind eye to the inappropriate behavior of his friend on the Committee.

However others are effectively sacked by the FSA.... (they can word their email release however they like but when push comes to shove, they didn't resign, they were sacked!)

And the FSA have issued an email looking for new Technical Committee members to nominate. They didn't need a new committee last year but persisted with a new one and it ended in disaster. Sometimes you are better with what you have instead of something new. I wonder if the members of the past will be interested in reapplying for their roles. I hope that they do so that we can have people keeping the FSA to account once again! Then again, knowing how the FSA work, they will probably ignore them in favor of their preferred dictatorship approach

[united92]

After my post from yesterday was removed (must have hit a little too close to home), I will reiterate the information a little clearer.

So the Referee Committee Chairman and one of his committeemen have decided to leave, less than 12 months into their jaunt. Call it choice or call it pushed. Its is the same thing because they are gone!

Once again, the refereeing structure within FSA is changing. Another year, another change.

Why is it that every year, there are changes within the refereeing structure (be it the Referee TC or management inside the referee department). Why cant the Referee Technical Committee remain in place for more than 12 months without the need for changes? Perhaps it is time for certain people within the FSA to start to have a look in the mirror.

We went from an experienced structure 12 months ago to the need for a "restructure". FSA used their discretion to get rid of capable people within refereeing to appoint their own group of people under the guise of a "restructure", including some people who the refereeing group have never even heard of and we still don't even see them make an appearance at training. Lets face it, I never saw the chairman at training nor half of the committee this year. The FSA refereeing department and its senior reporting line clearly didn't like the fact that the previous referee TC and coaches used to make choices and decisions that were in the best interests of referees, but not the FSA. After all though, who were they there to work for, the best interests of referees or the FSA?

Lo and behold, not even 12 moths later the person who was appointed amidst much fanfare as the new beginning came in with all the big ideas is gone along with one of his fellow committeemen.. And now another new chairperson. The FSA must be running out of people to lead the referees. Pretty soon there will be no one left as they will have alienated all of them.

So why the instability, why the inability to maintain a structure for a period longer than 12 months. Perhaps it is time for the FSA to start to have a look at itself and its own behavior here.

Perhaps it is time for them to stop interfering in areas of refereeing that they should stay out of....like referee appointments. Perhaps they stop knifing people who are not prepared to tow the line and who actually step in and support referees instead of allowing them to be walked over. Two years ago I recall the time when the FSA approved two teams to wear the same colors in a match and sent the referee out like a lamb to the slaughter. It was mentioned within this forum and then a strong directive was provided to us at the next coaching session by the coach Paul Cetrangolo to insist that teams change colors and not allow a ridiculous kit allocation to be permitted (after all it is clear in the laws of the game that there shouldn't be a clash of strips) Spectators judged the referee that day and questioned him, not the ignoramus at headquarters that approved the clash of colors to save embarrassment that they didn't do their job appropriately in the first place by insisting that the way team have a kit that didn't clash with all teams!

Time and time again, they are caught holding the ball and rather than admit defeat and that they don't run things right, they simply come in, get rid of the people who hold them to account and start again. Anything to avoid embarrassment. Well the available pool of talent is almost empty. They have drained the pool and are now clutching at straws.

Then we come to the FSA Board. Surely it is time that they start to have a look at this and take ownership of the constant changes and start to ask some serious questions. A Board doesn't sit back and simply accept everything that is done within an organisation. Where they see a trend, they need to question it independently and check for themselves. Perhaps they should start to ask some questions of the departed people over the past ten years and seek feedback as to why they are no longer involved. Who knows, they may learn something

Lets see how long it takes for this post to be removed.....

You make some very interesting points Malouf. Definitely food for thought.

Thanks Nagatomo

The time came for some honesty and straight talk. I have seen and heard enough in my short time to know that the management of refereeing and the constant chopping and changing is getting beyond a joke.

There is no stability with annual changes and restructures. The refereeing fraternity deserves better. We deserve to have an independent technical committee that is free from interference from the FSA. Unfortunately it is abundantly clear that whenever the FSA are held to account, the simply organize a restructure so that they can maintain their control. Its a bit like china really....

Its just interesting how the Referee Manager at the FSA keeps his job after turning a blind eye to the inappropriate behavior of his friend on the Committee.

However others are effectively sacked by the FSA.... (they can word their email release however they like but when push comes to shove, they didn't resign, they were sacked!)

And the FSA have issued an email looking for new Technical Committee members to nominate. They didn't need a new committee last year but persisted with a new one and it ended in disaster. Sometimes you are better with what you have instead of something new. I wonder if the members of the past will be interested in reapplying for their roles. I hope that they do so that we can have people keeping the FSA to account once again! Then again, knowing how the FSA work, they will probably ignore them in favor of their preferred dictatorship approach

Complaining that there are changes, but annoyed that someone else hasn't left their position... You can't have it both ways.

For a "young referee" as you claim to be, you seem to know a lot about the goings on behind the scenes of FSA and this technical committee.

[malouf]

After my post from yesterday was removed (must have hit a little too close to home), I will reiterate the information a little clearer.

So the Referee Committee Chairman and one of his committeemen have decided to leave, less than 12 months into their jaunt. Call it choice or call it pushed. Its is the same thing because they are gone!

Once again, the refereeing structure within FSA is changing. Another year, another change.

Why is it that every year, there are changes within the refereeing structure (be it the Referee TC or management inside the referee department). Why cant the Referee Technical Committee remain in place for more than 12 months without the need for changes? Perhaps it is time for certain people within the FSA to start to have a look in the mirror.

We went from an experienced structure 12 months ago to the need for a "restructure". FSA used their discretion to get rid of capable people within refereeing to appoint their own group of people under the guise of a "restructure", including some people who the refereeing group have never even heard of and we still don't even see them make an appearance at training. Lets face it, I never saw the chairman at training nor half of the committee this year. The FSA refereeing department and its senior reporting line clearly didn't like the fact that the previous referee TC and coaches used to make choices and decisions that were in the best interests of referees, but not the FSA. After all though, who were they there to work for, the best interests of referees or the FSA?

Lo and behold, not even 12 moths later the person who was appointed amidst much fanfare as the new beginning came in with all the big ideas is gone along with one of his fellow committeemen.. And now another new chairperson. The FSA must be running out of people to lead the referees. Pretty soon there will be no one left as they will have alienated all of them.

So why the instability, why the inability to maintain a structure for a period longer than 12 months. Perhaps it is time for the FSA to start to have a look at itself and its own behavior here.

Perhaps it is time for them to stop interfering in areas of refereeing that they should stay out of....like referee appointments. Perhaps they stop knifing people who are not prepared to tow the line and who actually step in and support referees instead of allowing them to be walked over. Two years ago I recall the time when the FSA approved two teams to wear the same colors in a match and sent the referee out like a lamb to the slaughter. It was mentioned within this forum and then a strong directive was provided to us at the next coaching session by the coach Paul Cetrangolo to insist that teams change colors and not allow a ridiculous kit allocation to be permitted (after all it is clear in the laws of the game that there shouldn't be a clash of strips) Spectators judged the referee that day and questioned him, not the ignoramus at headquarters that approved the clash of colors to save embarrassment that they didn't do their job appropriately in the first place by insisting that the way team have a kit that didn't clash with all teams!

Time and time again, they are caught holding the ball and rather than admit defeat and that they don't run things right, they simply come in, get rid of the people who hold them to account and start again. Anything to avoid embarrassment. Well the available pool of talent is almost empty. They have drained the pool and are now clutching at straws.

Then we come to the FSA Board. Surely it is time that they start to have a look at this and take ownership of the constant changes and start to ask some serious questions. A Board doesn't sit back and simply accept everything that is done within an organisation. Where they see a trend, they need to question it independently and check for themselves. Perhaps they should start to ask some questions of the departed people over the past ten years and seek feedback as to why they are no longer involved. Who knows, they may learn something

Lets see how long it takes for this post to be removed.....

You make some very interesting points Malouf. Definitely food for thought.

Thanks Nagatomo

The time came for some honesty and straight talk. I have seen and heard enough in my short time to know that the management of refereeing and the constant chopping and changing is getting beyond a joke.

There is no stability with annual changes and restructures. The refereeing fraternity deserves better. We deserve to have an independent technical committee that is free from interference from the FSA. Unfortunately it is abundantly clear that whenever the FSA are held to account, the simply organize a restructure so that they can maintain their control. Its a bit like china really....

Its just interesting how the Referee Manager at the FSA keeps his job after turning a blind eye to the inappropriate behavior of his friend on the Committee.

However others are effectively sacked by the FSA.... (they can word their email release however they like but when push comes to shove, they didn't resign, they were sacked!)

And the FSA have issued an email looking for new Technical Committee members to nominate. They didn't need a new committee last year but persisted with a new one and it ended in disaster. Sometimes you are better with what you have instead of something new. I wonder if the members of the past will be interested in reapplying for their roles. I hope that they do so that we can have people keeping the FSA to account once again! Then again, knowing how the FSA work, they will probably ignore them in favor of their preferred dictatorship approach

Complaining that there are changes, but annoyed that someone else hasn't left their position... You can't have it both ways.

For a "young referee" as you claim to be, you seem to know a lot about the goings on behind the scenes of FSA and this technical committee.

On the contrary, I think that there is a clear difference.

Change for the sake of change is not good. It undermines people and isn't necessarily for the best. The last 12 months proves this where we are now back to square one with the need for yet another set of changes and incoming people when there was no need for a change in the first place. But we all know why the changes were made.

A person in a position of power who ignores the inappropriate behavior of someone in a position of management just because they are good friends does not deserve to maintain their role. It is unethical and wouldn't last within any "professional" organisation.

I am not a young referee by any means. I have never said I was. Pretty sure that I have said from the outset that I am a community referee that runs occasional lines on Saturday afternoons. There are plenty of us that do this. I am just not as experienced in my refereeing as many others because I started later than most referees. But you don't need to be experienced to know when things are not fair and just. And when you speak at training and outside with multiple people who are very experienced referees (both current and past and in between)and the same comments about the FSA and its management come back, its hard to ignore them!

I have now seen multiple restructures and continued change in the short time I have been involved. This is not good for continuity. It would be nice to have a structure in place that is allowed to operate independently with no interruption/influence from other parties. Hopefully this year it will happen but a lot of us are not holding our collective breaths.

[C U Next Saturday]

I am a community referee that runs occasional lines on Saturday afternoons.

you're referring to drug use??

[nagatomo]

After my post from yesterday was removed (must have hit a little too close to home), I will reiterate the information a little clearer.

So the Referee Committee Chairman and one of his committeemen have decided to leave, less than 12 months into their jaunt. Call it choice or call it pushed. Its is the same thing because they are gone!

Once again, the refereeing structure within FSA is changing. Another year, another change.

Why is it that every year, there are changes within the refereeing structure (be it the Referee TC or management inside the referee department). Why cant the Referee Technical Committee remain in place for more than 12 months without the need for changes? Perhaps it is time for certain people within the FSA to start to have a look in the mirror.

We went from an experienced structure 12 months ago to the need for a "restructure". FSA used their discretion to get rid of capable people within refereeing to appoint their own group of people under the guise of a "restructure", including some people who the refereeing group have never even heard of and we still don't even see them make an appearance at training. Lets face it, I never saw the chairman at training nor half of the committee this year. The FSA refereeing department and its senior reporting line clearly didn't like the fact that the previous referee TC and coaches used to make choices and decisions that were in the best interests of referees, but not the FSA. After all though, who were they there to work for, the best interests of referees or the FSA?

Lo and behold, not even 12 moths later the person who was appointed amidst much fanfare as the new beginning came in with all the big ideas is gone along with one of his fellow committeemen.. And now another new chairperson. The FSA must be running out of people to lead the referees. Pretty soon there will be no one left as they will have alienated all of them.

So why the instability, why the inability to maintain a structure for a period longer than 12 months. Perhaps it is time for the FSA to start to have a look at itself and its own behavior here.

Perhaps it is time for them to stop interfering in areas of refereeing that they should stay out of....like referee appointments. Perhaps they stop knifing people who are not prepared to tow the line and who actually step in and support referees instead of allowing them to be walked over. Two years ago I recall the time when the FSA approved two teams to wear the same colors in a match and sent the referee out like a lamb to the slaughter. It was mentioned within this forum and then a strong directive was provided to us at the next coaching session by the coach Paul Cetrangolo to insist that teams change colors and not allow a ridiculous kit allocation to be permitted (after all it is clear in the laws of the game that there shouldn't be a clash of strips) Spectators judged the referee that day and questioned him, not the ignoramus at headquarters that approved the clash of colors to save embarrassment that they didn't do their job appropriately in the first place by insisting that the way team have a kit that didn't clash with all teams!

Time and time again, they are caught holding the ball and rather than admit defeat and that they don't run things right, they simply come in, get rid of the people who hold them to account and start again. Anything to avoid embarrassment. Well the available pool of talent is almost empty. They have drained the pool and are now clutching at straws.

Then we come to the FSA Board. Surely it is time that they start to have a look at this and take ownership of the constant changes and start to ask some serious questions. A Board doesn't sit back and simply accept everything that is done within an organisation. Where they see a trend, they need to question it independently and check for themselves. Perhaps they should start to ask some questions of the departed people over the past ten years and seek feedback as to why they are no longer involved. Who knows, they may learn something

Lets see how long it takes for this post to be removed.....

You make some very interesting points Malouf. Definitely food for thought.

Thanks Nagatomo

The time came for some honesty and straight talk. I have seen and heard enough in my short time to know that the management of refereeing and the constant chopping and changing is getting beyond a joke.

There is no stability with annual changes and restructures. The refereeing fraternity deserves better. We deserve to have an independent technical committee that is free from interference from the FSA. Unfortunately it is abundantly clear that whenever the FSA are held to account, the simply organize a restructure so that they can maintain their control. Its a bit like china really....

Its just interesting how the Referee Manager at the FSA keeps his job after turning a blind eye to the inappropriate behavior of his friend on the Committee.

However others are effectively sacked by the FSA.... (they can word their email release however they like but when push comes to shove, they didn't resign, they were sacked!)

And the FSA have issued an email looking for new Technical Committee members to nominate. They didn't need a new committee last year but persisted with a new one and it ended in disaster. Sometimes you are better with what you have instead of something new. I wonder if the members of the past will be interested in reapplying for their roles. I hope that they do so that we can have people keeping the FSA to account once again! Then again, knowing how the FSA work, they will probably ignore them in favor of their preferred dictatorship approach

Complaining that there are changes, but annoyed that someone else hasn't left their position... You can't have it both ways.

For a "young referee" as you claim to be, you seem to know a lot about the goings on behind the scenes of FSA and this technical committee.

On the contrary, I think that there is a clear difference.

Change for the sake of change is not good. It undermines people and isn't necessarily for the best. The last 12 months proves this where we are now back to square one with the need for yet another set of changes and incoming people when there was no need for a change in the first place. But we all know why the changes were made.

A person in a position of power who ignores the inappropriate behavior of someone in a position of management just because they are good friends does not deserve to maintain their role. It is unethical and wouldn't last within any "professional" organisation.

I am not a young referee by any means. I have never said I was. Pretty sure that I have said from the outset that I am a community referee that runs occasional lines on Saturday afternoons. There are plenty of us that do this. I am just not as experienced in my refereeing as many others because I started later than most referees. But you don't need to be experienced to know when things are not fair and just. And when you speak at training and outside with multiple people who are very experienced referees (both current and past and in between)and the same comments about the FSA and its management come back, its hard to ignore them!

I have now seen multiple restructures and continued change in the short time I have been involved. This is not good for continuity. It would be nice to have a structure in place that is allowed to operate independently with no interruption/influence from other parties. Hopefully this year it will happen but a lot of us are not holding our collective breaths.

Agree with your points.

There has been too much change within refereeing management over the past three to four years. There is no continuity and there seems to always be a restructure being made. Some stability would be nice but unfortunately you have hit the nail on the head in relation to the reasons why there are always restructures taking place.

The FSA are too hands on in relation to their influence on refereeing and it needs a person who is strong enough to stand up to them in the position of referee manager. Unfortunately they don't have one and will not attract one as a) they don't want someone who will hold them to account and b) you wont attract good people if you are only prepared to pay $45K per year.

As long as this persists, the status quo will remain.

[Flexi]

I am a community referee that runs occasional lines on Saturday afternoons.

you're referring to drug use??

He is a referee so you know the answer to that one. Living the high life.