SSFL referees watch party

No task in sports is ever easy. And so it should be, just as life tests us all; accepting responsibility in sports comes with added pressure, numerous demands, and the need for critical and unwavering introspection.

Therefore, in cricket, umpires find themselves under a large television microscope, similar to football referees. Both the umpire and referee have technology on their shadow (where available), and we have all witnessed that the relationship is not always loving and “fair.”

I will admit that when I regularly commentate on international football, I have made it “my business” to examine the role of the referee team. This I owe to the injustice handed down to Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, March 28th, 2017, by two (2) Jamaican officials. Trinidad and Tobago star midfielder Kevin Molino played a brilliant through ball to Joevin Jones in the 32nd minute, and Jones responded with a thunderous shot past Mexico goalkeeper Garcia, only for Jamaican referee’s assistant Richard Washington to raise an early flag, and his compatriot, referee Valdin Legister, disallowed the item for offside.

On the commentary, we clearly knew it was a horrible decision and said so, and video replays and many subsequent match reports after that confirmed it was the wrong call. Trinidad and Tobago, instead of taking a lead, would lose the match 1-0 to Mexico and eventually not qualify for the World Cup in 2018. Since then, I have named every referee and official at every match involving Trinidad and Tobago. When I watch football on television, whether it is the Premier League, La Liga, or even Serie A, I tend to focus on the actions of the referees.

That leads me to events over the last four weeks culminating in a match involving St. Mary’s College and Fatima College on Wednesday, 7th October. A possible opening goal by St. Mary’s College was quickly disallowed by the referee assistant, and the decision has led to a lot of questions and not enough credible answers. The video footage available varies, as there was apparently no live broadcast, and the angles all vary, with some showing the St. Mary’s player onside and others offside. It was not a clear-cut decision, and therefore the quick referee release has naturally raised concerns about anxiety and experience.

But what makes this entire episode even more intoxicating (and depending on who you speak with, this may be an appropriate description of some of the responses) is that the incident pales in comparison to reports and further video evidence (where games were transmitted live) of clear hometown town (Tobago) decisions in several secondary school matches, whether it be penalties or more penalties in favour of the Tobago Secondary Schools. I did not witness the same uproar and ignorance from the thinly consumed (that word again) referee community in trying to defend these gross errors, which are as clear as a glass of old oak with on the rocks (a rocky road, it appears).

I was told by a few persons that in the case of last Wednesday’s match, it was because I raised the query and doubt that the powers that be “got their knickers all tight,” as against the Tobago debacle calls that went against video evidence that signals injustice.

Let me say, the difference is clear and present and may be a DANGER for the ill-advised referees going forward (past and present), and that is—I was at that match on Wednesday—but I was not in Tobago.

We as spectators, we as fans, and we as supporters must demand the best from officials in all sports. Referees and referee assistants need to be properly in line with the play and not be either 5-7 meters adrift (hint, hint, hint). Fitness is key in all sports, not only for players but also for officials. I know that the ball went from inside the penalty box to back outside and then back inside in 67-70 seconds, but you have got to move with it.

I have been made aware that several qualified officials have refused to officiate in the Secondary Schools league because of nonpayment of fees. I have to then ask, are we getting the best officials in the Secondary Schools league? Here, I must say that there are quality referees in the Secondary Schools league because I have seen some, but clearly there are questions on others. My further investigations have revealed that the Secondary Schools League is not in charge of the appointment of referees, and it comes through the Referees Association, and therefore I expect a more professional approach.

When I raised the question of poor decisions and review of officials with a leading figure at the Secondary Schools League, I was surprised there appeared to be no knowledge of the injustice clearly handed down to both Naparima College and Presentation San Fernando, to the point that I was told that they did not view those videos but instead appeared to have watched my videos and comments.

All of this has led to many persons, even on Saturday, raising more concerns about events in Tobago that suggest the Tobago officials are making critical errors, and if this is indeed so, there needs to be some accountability and even change in appointments sooner rather than later. I have asked two friends of mine, whom I trust, to go watch a few matches in Tobago and let me know their thoughts.

Editor’s note: The views expressed in the preceding article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of any organisation in which he is a stakeholder.