Officialdumb!

First off I would like to apologise for the deafening silence. I have been on study leave and put everything else on the back burner for the month. But enough about me, lets talk about sport!

Wow, is it just me or has sporting officiating dropped to an all time low? I actually cant remember watching a game of late and having nothing to say about the referee. For those of you that don't know, I am a provincial field hockey umpire. I know that officiating is not the easiest thing in the world, however, I know its not the most difficult job.

Heart Surgery must definitely be more difficult, yet people who are adequately trained, are performing this on a daily basis with no mistakes. Officials cant be bothered to not make a mistake. Here I will just highlight some of the flaws I have seen of late:

South Africa vs Scotland rugby - Stuart Dickinson. Dickinson decided that while South Africa were playing rubbish rugby, he would also blow rubbishly. So much so that the Scottish commentators at one point said they would be very disappointed if they were South African with the decisions being made. The highlight was blowing Juan Smith for going off his feet at a ruck. Juan Smith was still on his feet after the whistle went, he hadn't moved. Shocking!

Arsenal vs Braga - Some European dude. The Uefa Champions League is seen as the best league in the world by many. However, it is not matched by the best referees. Braga were seen to dive about 10 or 11 times in the game, everyone of them being given as fouls. 2 of them leading to yellow cards for Arsenal. Eboue was then chopped down from behind and damaged medial ligament in his knee and not even a free kick was given. Then to top it all off Vela is taken out in the box. Stonewall penalty! No? You say HE DIVED! And promptly a yellow is shown. Its moments like that which will haunt you. Think Chelsea vs Barca a few years back even!

Tottenham vs Man Utd - Clattenburg. What a pathetic moment in English Premier League. Nani (Portuguese like Braga!) goes down by tripping over his own foot and in the process grabs the ball. He then proceeds to lie on the floor like a baby, while Gomes picks the ball up to play a free kick. Gomes moves away from the ball to kick it and Nani runs and knocks it in. The cherry on the cake is the referee just waved play on. I'm sorry United fans, but that was appalling refereeing.

South Africa vs Pakistan - Assoka da Silva. The ball missed amla's bat by a good spacing, yet again Amla was given out caught behind. Are you serious?

Football - Various. Time Wasting has been ludicrous. Teams like Stoke City will kick the ball out and take a minute to throw it back in. at the end of the day, 3 minutes will be added. Time wasting is the worst form of sportsmanship for me, because it isn't sportsmanship!

The thing is that we don't hear from refs afterwards, which I think is something that needs to change. When I umpire a hockey match I can tell you why I made each decision. I can also tell you that above all I am 100% consistent. If this was a card for you, the same is a card for your opponent. Another big problem in football.

Mike Dean (who brags about Arsenal losing when he refs) in an Arsenal game gave a red card to Laurent Koscielny for being the last man. The incident occurred 45 metres from the goal line and against the touch line. The very next week Ashley Young was mauled down by Wes Brown, the last defender, a mere 10 metres from goal, in the penalty box. Only a yellow card! Seriously dude, you are a (insert choice insult here)

All we want from refs is that they don't influence the result. We are asking for consistency, fairness and not being idiots. Is it too much to ask? I don't think so, I mean these days reffing is a profession. If I keep making mistakes at work I would get fired and that's without millions of bucks riding on my decisions!

Big Sporting weekend. Springboks try to redeem themselves (not likely), The Ashes heads into day 3 and 4, the EPL and of course the PSL. Lets hope these games are decided on skill and not referees being stupid!

Until next time, don't throw your remote at the TV, it will hurt you not the ref!

JABU