Recent content by 2nd String Ref

Definitely a pen and you could say it was a genuine attempt to play the ball (albeit very clumsy), so not a red. Buffon's red also deserved after he grabbed the ref and got in his face. I thought i lip-read a "no way' but couldn't get much else. Quite a good game from Oliver in dealing with the...

I've had CARs in all matches so far and have found them to be generally honest (maybe I'm just lucky with them) . It's usually a parent so there are varying degrees of competence and some polite guidance is often needed. Interesting to note that some of the comments above seem to indicate that...

I tend to agree. His feint is right before he kicks the ball. Does that not mean his run up is completed?

He took a a dive while 3-0 up and ten minutes to play on Saturday. So yes, he's THAT stupid. I wish the referee hadn't seen it and given the pen so he was the first one caught in the post-game review and banned for two matches.

Looks like some attempt to play the ball so penalty and yellow. But worth checking with your AR to see how they saw it. A side view would show more about how close the defender was to getting the ball.

Sounds like a tough game for anyone, let alone a first game. I think we all tend to focus on our mistakes, especially early on in our refereeing careers. I was you just a year and a half ago! Have another go next week and you'll have another game to reflect on, and then another and before long...

What about the Sevilla manager throwing the ball away at a throw in, not once but twice!? An idiotic move by any standards. I applaud the ref for making our lives easier by sending him away on the second instance. I liked the way he did it to - no chat, no niceties, just run over, point to the...

Why was the keeper so far out of his goal? Is there any context in the title?

I live in Melbourne, Australia. I'm in my second year refereeing, mostly youth matches and a few senior matches as AR. After playing for years at school and university I only came back to the game when my son started playing. But I've really enjoyed refereeing so hope to continue for many more...

I would think he's on a very short leash with every referee in Europe for the rest of the season

That's a great achievement - congratulations Alberola! Please let us know which matches you are appointed to in La Liga so we can see you on TV. Will you be doing only 2 matches per month? Or switch between La Liga matches and La Liga 2?

The instructor when I did my course was a young woman who is a FIFA AR. I think she does up to the 2nd tier of football in Australia. I saw her mentioned in a recent report as being the AR in an Women's Asian Cup qualifier in Pyongyang between North and South Korea! Talk about a unique away day...

Early season matches here are often well above 30 degrees. My first senior match as player was 36! Above 32 and players can take a drink without the ref's permission at any time. If conditions are considered extreme by the Match Official, he or she may; a. allow a 2 minute break during the...

Poor guy, but credit for trying to keep going. A real question ,how long do you give him until you decide he can't continue and let the 4th official take over?

Only you know what you're capable of, so I voted based on my expereinces which told me I couldn't take on that many matches. The ftness side would probably be OK, but concentrating for that long combined with fatigue and I know I couldn't do it. But good luck!