Referees : Should they be interviewed after a match?
Posted by Martin in HOT Topics | 18 November 2006
I’ve noticed more recently the call from the football pundits and in some cases the managers, to get refs to account for their actions in same way that managers do when interviewed after a match.
Whilst this would give us the satisfaction of watching some refs squirm after a match riddled with poor decisions, I’m not convinced that it will do much for the game itself. Do we honestly think that a ref would stand and in front of the cameras and say to the world, “Yes I got it wrong, it should have been a penalty”. I think not.
As for the interviewer, would there be any aspects of the game that are off limits. “Who do you think deserved to win?”. O.k. I hear you say, interviewers wouldn’t be that silly to ask such questions and they are trained professionals, they know how far to go. But it only takes one!
So, I have to say, I’m going to stay on the side of the refs on this one. Yes I would like to make them more accountable for their actions, and I’m hopeful that they learn from their mistakes. But adding media training as a quality for a ref, is probably one step too far!
