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I don't mind the introduction of technology but think it should be limited to yes/no, black/white incidents only. That includes, in my idea, goal-line technology (even though that is debatable; see this opinion), balls crossing other lines, and offside calls. Apart from these two, I see no need...

Hi, I'm not certain this is the right forum, but I found this on FIFA's website: Busacca. Interesting thoughts and development.

General run of play: about 15 metres distance, trying to keep a decent viewing angle. Try to remain behind the ball. You can vary your positioning in line with play. Inside the penalty area, I usually try to be a little closer, for example. With experience growing you'll just sense the best...

Actually, I'm opposed to penalising this. I was only pointing out the similarity with field hockey and the options available. It was a reply to Tealeaf's suggestion to penalise all handballs the same way.

How the national squad of Eritrea ended up in a small Dutch town. Read their story: Eritrea. The article (which is about nine months old) has even sparked a documentary, which can be viewed here. Please note that it is in Dutch.

A very good book on the intent of the lawmakers is Stanley Lover's "Association Football-Match Control", (Pelham Books, London, 1978, ISBN: 0720710359, 240 pages), which, though dated, is still a must-read if you ask me. The first few chapters of this book were later condensed in Lover's...

Very interesting indeed. The LOTG changed frequently and radically the first 30 years or so since first being written down and have not changed much since then, except for some rewrites in the 1930s and 1990s. Law 11 (off-side) has seen most changes. There have been other additions, decisions...

I agree with banning the indirect free-kick, but I would like to restrict the ban only to those offences that involve direct disadvantage for the opposing team: dangerous play and impeding. Those should become direct free kicks. Off-side, stopping play for certain incidents (entering field...

Exactly, it's down to what each of us sees. And although you and I may see the same situation, we may still interpret it differently. As for the LOTG: the formulation may be the same, but I think it goes without saying that there is a major difference between striking and tripping.

I've maintained a civil tone throughout this debate. The second paragraph of your post quoted above is out of line. I will from now on refrain from replying to your posts.

Page 79 of my Dutch Handleiding voor de scheidsrechter

Thank you all for your replies, though you haven't convinced me. While you may be right on the 'attempt to trip' theory, I'm simply saying that no foul occurred in this instance. Butland has every right to make an attempt for the ball the way he did, for the simple reason that he is a keeper in...

I'm terribly sorry, but there are too many "ifs" and "buts" there for me to accept this. The referee can only call what he sees and not for something that might have been. By this logic I will henceforth have to blow my whistle for any legitimate challenge that does not end in a tumble because...

Beezer, looks like you're trying to breathe new life into the "advantage in the PA" debate ;):D Seriously, though, in their post-match analyses, Dermot Gallagher, Keith Hackett and other (former) referees agree that by the letter of the law Taylor was right not to award a penalty. As I said...

It would take a lot of convincing to get me to accept the "attempt to trip" argument too. If it were like some here say it is, you can call any challenge by a keeper for the ball an attempt to trip. Being at liberty, within the PA, to use their whole body to perform saves, it is natural and...

Hey, you're my age! I've been around a bit longer (since 1987) but I've found age doesn't matter when picking up the whistle. If you enjoy it, there's still plenty of years ahead to continue doing so :)

In addition to memoirs (Jack Taylor: World Soccer Referee), 1974 WC final referee Jack Taylor also wrote a short book in an attempt to encourage young people to take up refereeing. There's a brief review of this book on my website Refereeingbooks. Enjoy!

Hi, I posted another review this weekend, about 1970s favourite whipping boy referee Clive Thomas. Did you know he co-authored a book on fitness, training and nutrition that was actually quite good and in some ways ahead of his time? Yeah, it took me by surprise too. Read more here: Soccer...

Yes, that makes sense. Unfortunately, these examples have not been distributed over here in the Netherlands, although our national FA did send all registered officials a video with examples. None comes close to this one, however. Thanks a lot for clearing this up for me.

Great, much appreciated SM.