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Discussions among the refereeing community.

Forums/RefChat — Forums

my poor Spintso

so this happened the other week, i love this watch it may be a bit old fashioned but for me it looks the part and helps with the stoppages. I had the smaller one the 2S that bips, whereas this one vibrates (easier for me) and not having players asking "whats that beeping". Just wondered if anyone knows how I can repair or replace the band? Am aware parts are non-existent so would be a bit makeshift. I typically wear this on my right wrist, and have the newer Spintso S2 Pro on my left wrist... Read more

4 Aug

Forums/RefChat — Forums

One match suspension for repeatedly calling me a "c*nt"

Never posted this incident at the time as I'd filed an EA and was awaiting outcome. In summary, U15s semi-final. Player X receives a second yellow card late in the game (first one for handbags alongside an opposition player) for calling me a "f***ing joke" after I awarded a penalty against his side which was converted to make it 3-3. Before I've even had time to issue the RC, he's calling me a "c*nt", "bald c*nt", "f*cking c*nt" and multiple variations of those phrases. After FT, I'm... Read more

3 Aug

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Banned player seen playing..

Hi all - I have just seen thanks to the power of social media a known banned player, playing a friendly. I have posted on here and was unfortunately assaulted by this player in November. He was then given a 1-year total ban effective from December 12th. So he should not be playing in any capacity. There was a photographer at this game and their photos show him playing. Just wondered if anyone else has had this and what my course of action is, I presume it is to reply straight to the case... Read more

3 Aug

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Question about extra sub- extra time

Scenario: In 90 mins, a team makes 4 subs over 3 different substitution opportunities. Competition rules state that Extra Time Allowance: If a match goes to extra time, each team gets one extra substitute (a sixth in total) and an additional substitution opportunity. [ 1 , 2 ] Unused Substitutes: Any unused substitutes and opportunities remaining from normal time carry over into extra time The team then makes a double substitute in extra time... Read more

2 Aug

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Level 4 to Level 3 Promotion / Assessment Days

Hi All Hoping someone can provide some answers to the following queries myself and a couple of colleagues have. 1. What is the minimum number of games as a L4 to be considered for promotion to L3 (both middles and AR if there is a requirement for min number on both) 2. Assume that if invited to an assessment day that attendance is mandatory otherwise will not be considered for promotion 3. The fitness test on the Assessment day - if you fail this do you automatically miss the chance for... Read more

31 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Dutch Referee Blog - Laws of the Game Quiz #02 of 2026-2027

The Laws of the Game Quiz season has started already. This is the 2nd quiz of 2026-2027. It has 5 clips of the World Cup, used for educational purposes. The clips will be available for 4 weeks. Good luck with the quiz. My goal is to publish a quiz every fortnight. You can participate on the embedded form below or directly on Google Forms. Laden… Do the quiz in Google Forms Do the quiz Continue reading...

31 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Dutch Referee Blog - So Near Yet So VAR – new podcast by Bobby Madden

So Near Yet So VAR is the new podcast by Bobby Madden. The Scottish former FIFA referee will start on Monday 3rd of August, right after the 1st competition round. “No media agendas, no referee bashing—just the actual laws of the game and my view from being in the middle”, is how he announced it on Instagram. I’ve called with Bobby Madden to hear what we can expect as listeners. He wants to give refs, coaches an informed opinion based on the laws. There’s a need for that, he says. “There was... Read more

31 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Dutch Referee Blog - Mistaken identity and how it should work

Mistaken identity led to some discussions during the 2026 World Cup. The new wording in the VAR Protocol caused referee Danny Makkelie to change a yellow card for USA player Ream into a caution for diving for the opponent. And João Pinheiro whistled for a foul by Argentian player Paredes, but after a VAR review the Swiss Embolo was sent off with a 2nd caution. Is this how it should have worked? No, says the law governing body IFAB in their latest circular. FIFA’s interpretation was broader... Read more

30 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Law 15 & 16 - Blowing the whistle to start the count?

Hi all So I had my summer CPD the last week of June, and have tried to apply all the new LoTG (where applicable) in my pre-season games. The only one I am not understanding is why the necessity to blow my whistle to start a 5 second countdown?? I think the idea in principle is good, and I love the 8 second count for a catch for the GK but having recently been promoted from 7-6, both my MDCs and CPDs during that time were about match control, and "using the whistle" where appropriate... Read more

28 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Law 5 Clarification

Hi all Can I please clarify Law 5 just on the basis I may be understanding it wrong. An outfield player is required to leave the FOP in an actual or suspected injury in ONE or MORE of the following. Play is stopped because the player has an actual or suspected injury • the referee has signalled for the medical staff to enter the field of play • the referee has asked the player if they require on-field medical attention and the player has requested it. So from my reading of ONE or more... Read more

25 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Refereeing YouTube Channel?

Hello all, I'm a 19 year old college student and youth football/soccer referee from the US. I've been refereeing youth matches since I was 13 and I have developed a passion for it. I've had the idea for a while to start a YouTube channel about refereeing, specifically targeted towards newer/grassroots referees. Thinking on my own experience, I would've gotten a lot of use out of a dedicated channel/series with tips, tricks, and advice for new referees, and there are a few videos already on... Read more

23 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

pre-season delusion

More of a rant here to be honest. I've been fortunate to cover 4-5 pre season fixtures currently, with a couple more scheduled in midweek and Saturday over the next week or so. I had a internal Vets vs Reserve team on Sunday last week, and last night 2 Eastern counties U18 sides so that one was a reasonably high standard. What is really starting to wind me up a bit is this deluded expectation from players and especially coaches that just because its "pre-season" and a "friendly" that... Read more

23 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Echo

I don't believe we have discussed this before. I often referee on fieds that have one or more sides with solid structures that can echo sounds. A ball is kicked and an opponent attempts to block it from very close distance, and the ball goes out of play. For various reasons it is difficult to determine who touched the ball last visually and I rely on sound and use my built in snicko. I keep second guessing myself if the second sound was an echo or the opponent also touched the ball. Does... Read more

21 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Apply for your training, coaching, academies!

Futsal but I’ll tell anyway… I’ve had a load of assessments in the last couple of months as I’m in an academy group. As well as getting video reviews, I attended more, plus extra online classroom sessions with lots more clips and analysis. It’s been great, learnt loads, great group and it’s helped me get over my panic-my-chiefs-are-watching that’s caught me out before. I’ve been watched by our head futsal ref, head assessor, several others and had loads of training. Given a platform. Armed... Read more

21 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

An Introduction - The Match Record

Hey Team, Greetings from Australia! We write with a quick introduction to The Match Record . A new offering in match recording equipment. The Football All Conditions notebook was built (selfishly) to find a solution to replace my previously scrawled, messy notes with a clean, structured system that fits right into your pocket. Key Features & Highlights ​ Water and Tear resistent pages - Engineered Materials used in the book will... Read more

20 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

The future of refereeing

Has this world cup made potential referees think to not take it up? Every game people are criticising officials and VAR. Every game even players and management are criticising officials. I get its been happening for years but for some reason I just think its got far, far, worse this summer. Every minute challenge. Every little incident (or non incident) has been scrutinised and dissected to the nth degree. And its always the refs fault. Even President(s) are getting involved and... Read more

13 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Slurs in the car

Not sure how to approach this one. When travelling with another referee a couple of weeks ago they repeatedly used a slur for disabled people and it left me a bit - to my shame - tongue tied. If that’s a player or club official at the game I’d put a report straight in as is right - but I considered trying to educate and in the end backed out. Not sure what I should or shouldn’t have done here but would appreciate some thoughts from the hive mind.

12 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Which coach do you approach first?

I just saw a FB post about this. By coincidence I mentioned it to two young assistants I was working with this week. It was a big youth tournament, lots of teams, lots of coaches, lots of parents/fans. We were in the later stages and I think it’s really important (and traditional here) to talk to the coaches pre-match. Anyway, I said to my colleagues “let’s always approach the female coach first. Let’s first assume she is the head coach.” Which coach do you approach first, have you thought... Read more

12 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Spain v Belgium

I can’t see any comments about this game yet, so, if this is the case, I will make a start. I thought Michael Oliver put in a very good performance. Calm, decisive, very good movement, appropriate yellow cards etc. It wasn’t perfect but imho not far off & especially given the magnitude of the game. The players from both teams also deserve credit because overall not only did they want to get on with the game, but also did so when they disagreed with some of his decisions. As to the incident... Read more

11 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

Higher bar for second yellow

There are arguments for and against having a higher bar for second yellow. I do have a higher bar for some offences only. An interesting game I had tonight. Blue team playing with no subs. One of them came off midway through first hlaf injured while they were up 3-0 so they are one short. Hlaf time they lead 3-1. Red score early in second hlaf and its 3-2. Blue scores midway second hlaf for 4-2. Throughout the second hlaf I have to hurry the blue keeper for restarts. Eventually in the 85th... Read more

10 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

is women football better than mens?

I am a younger referee . I started doing my level 7 to 6 but I had to stop due to my mental health as I couldn't cope with the abuse I was getting from men's open age leagues. So I just continued with youth. I run the line on the womens national league and enjoy it and wanted to get back into middles but for the women's side. I know I will be refeering in the regional/county leagues. But I wanted to know if you get less abuse then men's open age. As I don't want it to affect my mental... Read more

7 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

World Cup referee standards

Having watch so many games, I’m wondering if anyone else thinks the standard of referees is lower than normal. I mean it’s been low for many tournaments ever since blatter offered referee positions in World Cup for votes to keep him in power, but it seems lower than normal. The last France game was a disgrace in officiating. With no disrespect meant, a referee from Uzbekistan league has no place at this level. I would say that there are many referees on this forum who would do a better... Read more

5 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

France v Paraguay

Missed yellow cards here. Probably needs to reel it in a bit to get bsck control as the appearance is he has, or is close, to losing control and it turning into a battle royale. Barcola challenge, maybe a card fkr the way went in but the Paraguay player was very theatrical with his antics on the floor. Then the deliberate drag back on Mbappe outside the area and no card. Then the apparent slap on his arm to stop him getting into a promising passing position.

4 Jul

Forums/RefChat — Forums

New LoTG - Injuries - Liking it!!

Evening all. First senior pre season friendly today with new law changes, step5 vs step7. All went well but this particular law change is causing severe confusion, challenge and misunderstanding from players: Injuries An injured outfield player who causes play to be stopped due to an actual or suspected injury or who receives assessment/treatment on the field of play must then leave and remain off the field for one minute (running clock) following the restart to allow the medical staff the... Read more

4 Jul