Messages

Try refereeing a div one game were grown men gurn for every 'free' attitude you speak off is a two way street. Simples. Once a player gets his head round that then we can have sensible dialogue with players. Referees want an easy game but some of it is from start to finish. Calling you a cheat,cnut,w**ker...... Could go on but sure you'd be grand with that?

The referee doesn't care who wins. Just wants a quality game. For me as a player I love being involved in big games. I don't care or seek attention but like players there can be attention seekers, ot happens and we well i do, analyze the game afterwards on way home. Ears still ringing

In fairness Referees are really up against it with modern footballers. They are faster, stronger and getting more tuition in being cuter in the dark arts with and without the ball. Kerry taught Cormac Reilly a lesson or two (although he probably did not notice) in cute hoorism this year. Must be fairly embarrassing for Referees who have a stinker and realise it after. Wonder will Cormac don the Black suit in Championship again? Then again he is probably is oblivious to it!

players have stinkers too. It happens ffs

Pie in the sky. And according to most daft supporters it is life and death on whether a referee makes The wrong call. Jesus wept ffs

The rules test is in the 90's to pass

So it's official. You don't have to know all the rules to be a referee.

It's official you don't have to get 100% to be a doctor

I am a referee, mainly underage games and the level of training (CPD) provided is pathetic to give referees the necessary skills to officiate a game, confident in the knowledge that they know and apply the rules in a consistent manner.

I don't know what county you are from but each year I've been to 3 refereeing training days consisting of fitness tests (beep test that you must get over level to get championship games) and tests for understanding of rules. Minimum of 80% required before getting championship games. Been to Croke
Park for conference's. At intercounty level the beep test its set around 17. I'd be pretty fit and would find it tough enough to pass. The rules test is in the 90's to pass so hard enough.

So do you really think 2 referees will make it better? Name me two intercounty referees that haven't made a balls up? I cant think of any. Having two on the pitch will confuse it further. That referee allows this to happen on this side of pitch and he doesn't. He thinks its ok for that type of tackle and he to whistle happy......... If you want it right then take the contact out of the game, at that point ill not bother watchin playing or officiate in.

Enjoy it for what the game gives you. Take the rough with the smooth and move on. The amount of times I've to tell a player to shut the feck up and man up is unreal. Bunch of women

Honestly lads get a fecking grip, it is what it is, referees in all sports are not robots and never will be, be they professional or having five referees on the pitch won't make a blind bit of difference mistake/bad calls or incompetence will happen, if you want to watch something that doesn't make mistakes in sports then get involved with tiddly winks.

I've been involved with Gaelic games at all levels senior player to senior manager and been refereeing for few years, we'll never get it right all the time and I defy any of the barstool warriors or keyboard warriors to give it a go properly, not the stupid club tournaments ya get roped into I'm talking senior championship and get it right all the time.

Two referees could mean both of them getting it wrong, Umpires and linesmen are there to help the referee (after an incident that hasn't been seen initially by him) that means 6 people helping the referee

I don't think you can ever expect a referee to get everything right but that should prevent a sport from striving for perfection as much as possible

Frustrating listening to some of the comments though, I've seen it from every direction over the years and the amount of gripe coming from supporters over maybe 1/2 incidents is unreal! I've been watching Antrim for years and the amount of times I've watched good clubmen make feck ups that actually cost games for Antrim are a hell of a lot more that the referee, and I've said to them afterwards. but we still are great friends.

Referees though? they are fecking demonised with remarks of being cheats/useless attacked verbally in every game and abused physically during and after games by village idiots. You couldn't make it up. But hey it's easy to sit behind a keyboard or give a point of view without actually trying it and maybe just maybe you'll get an idea as to why ex decent players can't or won't be bothered taking it on, and why at club level anyways we'll never have 2 referees at games

[political in my opinion or easter lillies were worn]

Working in an integrated school at the minute and the staff are wearing them. They even have children going around selling them! I have told all the children in my class that they're not allowed them on during the school day and they can only put them when they leave the school. The children don't even know what they are for ffs. They think they're 'little flower things.' I am waiting to be called into the office with complaints made about it but I honestly couldn't give a shit. It's a disgrace that they have any badges or things like poppies in school at all!

no way should they be wearing anything in an integrated school that divides one side from the other. if a few GAA jerseys which aren't political in my opinion or easter lillies were worn they wouldn't be long stopping it,
I have no problem with remembering those who fought and died in the 2 world wars, my grandfather fought in ww1 but I wouldn't wear a poppy even though its a lovely flower

That's the problem, its all about opinions, and as they say opinions are like assholes, everyone has one

Honestly lads get a fecking grip, it is what it is, referees in all sports are not robots and never will be, be they professional or having five referees on the pitch won't make a blind bit of difference mistake/bad calls or incompetence will happen, if you want to watch something that doesn't make mistakes in sports then get involved with tiddly winks.

I've been involved with Gaelic games at all levels senior player to senior manager and been refereeing for few years, we'll never get it right all the time and I defy any of the barstool warriors or keyboard warriors to give it a go properly, not the stupid club tournaments ya get roped into I'm talking senior championship and get it right all the time.

Two referees could mean both of them getting it wrong, Umpires and linesmen are there to help the referee (after an incident that hasn't been seen initially by him) that means 6 people helping the referee

Working in Buxton at the minute and out of 26 on course plus staff there might be 7/8 people wearing them..... In fairness 3 of them are  ex forces. Thought there would be more. Though the girls and younger lads aren't wearing them.

If you get any time see some of the Peak District. Hope Valley area is nice. Buxton is a decent real ale town if that's your thing.

Buxton tap brewery is my local! Ale's are serious

The term "like a pig in shite" springs to mind  I suppose when talking to your missus you are giving her loads about how busy you are etc...

To be brutally honest I'm studying my fecking ass off!!! Lessons start at 9 finish at 6.30pm then I do some revision head out meal, 3/4 pints and back to hotel and re do my notes or go over them again for a morning test !!!

But yeah I am telling her its a lot harder than it really is. Axe or double ale is seriously strong

Working in Buxton at the minute and out of 26 on course plus staff there might be 7/8 people wearing them..... In fairness 3 of them are  ex forces. Thought there would be more. Though the girls and younger lads aren't wearing them.

If you get any time see some of the Peak District. Hope Valley area is nice. Buxton is a decent real ale town if that's your thing.

Buxton tap brewery is my local! Ale's are serious

Referees every year attend a training course and to be fair to the referee association they have the main referees doing the video analysis of the games. Carrying out breakdowns of tackles and a discussion about it. Then a test is carried out. Don't pass means no championship games for you (club level) like most things some referees take things and change it. Not perfect but two referees is silly. What if they both call things differently in each half? Players be wild confused ffs

Working in Buxton at the minute and out of 26 on course plus staff there might be 7/8 people wearing them..... In fairness 3 of them are  ex forces. Thought there would be more. Though the girls and younger lads aren't wearing them.

There is a motion set for congress now that managers who speak about referees in the lead up to a fixture or indeed after the fixture in a derogatory way will face a side line ban.  The most untouchable people in the GAA and they are getting even more protection now.  Only in the GAA..... Why are referees not sat down after games in all county level fixtures and asked to give feedback on their performance in terms of decisions given etc.  Why is there not more assessors at club games to witness the frustration they cause with decisions that are out of no rule book to be found??
Instead of making them answerable - the GAA offer more protection.. Madness..

They are sat down afterwards and game analysed for them by their assessor/marker/mentor, some teams would need to do it also considering the amount of mistakes they make, and the vast majority of the fouls being deliberate to boot, I don't think a referee, at that level sets out to purposely make a mistake, do you think that? Next time count up the amount of mistakes a player does in a game then compared it to a referee.......

Just in from pub, good enough game in fairness, well done Liverpool as that was a strong Madrid side. Was that the best Liverpool played in last 4 games? Two games to get through against poor enough teams should be enough