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This is a phrase we’ve all probably heard far too often, and one that I had directed at me this weekend. It's something I've struggled with processing over the past few days. The situation: I awarded a second penalty to the same team in a U15 boys’ cup semi-final. At the time, the score was...

45 minutes of the most tedious football I have ever seen, that aside, this is a refereeing discussion forum. Is Anthony Taylor really one of the best we’ve got? Pointing at your watch in lieu of a yellow card for delaying the restart isn’t “what football expects”, nor is it in the LOTG and...

Backpass? Yay or nay? Was a backpass for me as I felt it was enough of a deliberate play.

I've checked the LOTG but couldn't find a definitive answer to this situation nor did the refchat search function, need some clarification as I swear either I, or the referee I watched today, has 'made up a law'. If Blue team is penalised for a foul throw, and the Red team then commits a foul...

I am so conflicted with this video! Probably more so because this club have started their own smear campaign against the ref on TikTok. Every ounce of my refereeing knowledge and every word in the LOTG is telling me to stop the game because it is most likely a head injury. But there is...

At a time when confidence in match officials is at an all-time low (if that's even possible), the PGMOL has, in its infinite wisdom, chosen to appoint the following officials to what could be the biggest game of the season: Chris Kavanagh (Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester) Anthony Taylor...

I’d be interested to hear the thoughts of the forum, though I’ve worded this carefully as I know some colleagues from my CFA may have seen this interaction. A club sent out an email this week to "all league referees" asking if anyone was available to officiate their game next weekend. The email...

What is the qualifying criteria for using C1 - UB? I ask because I used it for a player who achieved a mixture of unsporting behaviour, antagonising the opposition and kicking the ball away. UB seems the most appropriate as it didn't really tick AA or C4 in the context of the game.

With Bonfire Night in full swing, I figured I’d add a bit more fuel to the fire of what turned out to be a pretty frustrating Sunday for many of us. After sleeping on it for a couple of days, I felt it was time to unload my thoughts rather than just venting a stream of frustration. I’d planned...

I’ve asked a similar question before about a different area, but now it looks like that my relocation for work is confirmed as Gloucestershire (West) — possibly Cinderford, Newnham, or near the Wales border. (Keen to not referee in Wales as I will need permission to swap countries but mainly...

I saw this ref a few times on TikTok and I thought it was some kinda joke, only to stumble across a whole YouTube account of videos. North York Sports League YouTube Normally, I’m the first to defend a fellow referee or at least understand why they do the things they do, but without intending...

I'm on a LOTG - Spirit of the Game mission tonight 🤣 In my opinion, some of the most satisfying free-kick goals in history are the ones that go under the wall. They require a combination of skill, precision, and a bit of risk from the taker. However, the introduction of the "draught excluder"...

This situation requires a bit of explaining, so bear with me! An attacker is in possession of the ball, and a defender makes a sliding challenge. However, the defender does not attempt to win the ball—importantly, the slide isn't careless, reckless, or excessive. But the slide forces the...

Quick question Should I be concerned that only one of the four yellow cards I dished out are showing on the match result on FA Full Time? Is this my responsibility to raise / resolve or is this on the clubs?

I've now had the chance to referee a few Sunday OA games (very much at the Dog and Duck level). One of the most frustrating aspects I'm facing is the constant appeals from players, mostly for foul throws, hands in the back, and aerial contests. I’ve tried speaking with both captains, and while...

Is Stuart Attwell feeling okay? Penalty confirmed within 30 seconds of the penalty being awarded! However, unlike Stuart, that is purely simulation for me by Gordon Seems bizarre they managed to confirm the penalty so quick when every replay seems to suggest simulation

I want to caveat this post by stating that I fully understand the proper procedure for managing substitutions: Halfway line Record the name and number of the player coming off Record the name, number, and check the kit of the player coming on I also realise that not following this process...

I'm trying to ask this as diplomatically as possible because it’s a genuine question. I received an email from a local club asking for referees to officiate their under-8s non-competitive games. My question is: What’s the point? I struggle to see how refereeing a game like this—especially one...

Bizarre game I watched the full 90 mins... admittedly through Guinness impacted eyes, but seemed a lot of yellow cards for very innocuous/nothing challenges/situations (and some stonewall yellows thrown in for good measure), but I wouldn't disagree with any of them. "Anthony, are you starting...

After only refereeing Youth games last year, took the plunge and decided to referee Sunday mens this season. Well that was an experience 👀 If I'm being completely honest, I found this game to be quite challenging—not necessarily because of the refereeing itself (though I don’t think I was...