Ex players

[Robbie_painter]

For me we need ex players officiating ,some of these refs don’t have a clue but ex players know the crack.Its always puzzled me why retired players don’t go into reffing.

[Mark the Claret]

Didn't Tony Philliskirk start reffing, don't know what happened with him, but I haven't heard of him since.

[Clovius Boofus]

Nothing to stop former professional footballers from officiating, if this is the path they want to go down after retirement from playing. I dare say though, why would they bother, given the days when they had to make a living from running a corner shop, pub or chippy are long gone.

[elwaclaret]

They really don’t need to financially. Listening to some of the ex-players on commentary; “he won a penalty”, “he was touched and had a right to go over”, suggests just being an ex-player does not give you a proper football brain.

I don’t believe ex-players should necessarily be making decisions, but I do believe a couple of players should be in the ivory towers advising on VAR (being as they not going to scrap VAR).

It takes quite a few years to move through the leagues as a referee…. Why most referees have never played the game to any decent level.


Just make sure they are players not invested in the status quo who cannot see beyond the big clubs… a lot cannot.

I’m sure Tony Philliskirk worked at the club for a while after studying to be a referee, but I could be wrong.

[randomclaret2]

Didn't Tony Philliskirk start reffing, don't know what happened with him, but I haven't heard of him since.

He's our Youth Team coach

[elwaclaret]

He's our Youth Team coach

Thought so, but was not sure if he was still with us.

[Quickenthetempo]

I've never met a football player that knows all the rules.

You only learn them if you do a refs course.

[Passing Clouds]

Didn't Tony Philliskirk start reffing, don't know what happened with him, but I haven't heard of him since.

He sent me off. My one and only red card

[Raconteur]

We constantly hear that this is needed even by ex pro's. I personally think it would be worse than it is, the unconscious bias would be through the roof, you see it clear as day when they are pundits or on co comms.

[criminalclaret]

If the likes of Paul Merson had gone into reffing, I think I'd had given up football and started watching tiddlewinks or something. I do not know how that man has stayed in employment as a pundit for so long.

Certainly like to see "some" ex pros/ ex managers being involved in rule change discussions to provide a different argument before a change happens. That would make sense.

Do rule changes happen from FA or FIFA or both? Are there panels where they discuss potential changes?

[Middle-agedClaret]

Would these be the same Ex players who incense so many on here with their cheating, diving, falling over if breathed on, shot-by-sniper impersonations, shirt-pulling, deliberate handballs…..

[Woodleyclaret]

Ally Mcoist was a good striker but talks absolute bxxxxxxs on the commentary ditto Alan Smith the ex Gooner.

[Herts Clarets]

Ally Mcoist was a good striker but talks absolute bxxxxxxs on the commentary he really does

[Swizzlestick]

Ally Mcoist was a good striker but talks absolute bxxxxxxs on the commentary ditto Alan Smith the ex Gooner.

Different styles but I like both on commentary, tbh.

[AfloatinClaret]

Ally Mcoist was a good striker but talks absolute bxxxxxxs on the commentary ditto Alan Smith the ex Gooner.

These things are always relative/comparative, so all the while Chris Sutton is working as a pundit, the rest, even Mrs Merton, will appear competent.

[jetblackcat]

Former Chesterfield captain Steve Baines is the only referee who had a significant football league career with 450 appearances before taking up the ref’s whistle.

[mickleoverclaret]

Would these be the same Ex players who incense so many on here with their cheating, diving, falling over if breathed on, shot-by-sniper impersonations, shirt-pulling, deliberate handballs…..

I think poacher-turned-gamekeeper is partly why it'd be a good idea!

[TheFamilyCat]

They really don’t need to financially. Listening to some of the ex-players on commentary; “he won a penalty”, “he was touched and had a right to go over”, suggests just being an ex-player does not give you a proper football brain.

I don’t believe ex-players should necessarily be making decisions, but I do believe a couple of players should be in the ivory towers advising on VAR (being as they not going to scrap VAR).

It takes quite a few years to move through the leagues as a referee…. Why most referees have never played the game to any decent level.


Just make sure they are players not invested in the status quo who cannot see beyond the big clubs… a lot cannot.

I’m sure Tony Philliskirk worked at the club for a while after studying to be a referee, but I could be wrong.

Depends what level of ex-player you are talking about. I guess an average league 2/national league player isn't made for life when they retire. I'd be more likely to agree with their definition of a foul too.

[superdimitri]

I don't see why they can't involve players like they have driver stewards in F1.
A lot of the time these stewards are ex C or B rated drivers with no real affiliation. Not that it really matters because they are there for perspective rather than making the decisions.

Just having someone who isn't in the old boys club would help.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

It takes quite a few years to move through the leagues as a referee…. Why most referees have never played the game to any decent level.

That seems the problem. Why would a decent ref need to do that? They are crying out for good ones looking at the likes of Rob Jones already working in the prem. They are already scraping the barrel.

They should fast track good ones ( if there are any with common sense) doesn’t seem like there are any coming through, the quality of the current prem refs is abysmal.

[elwaclaret]

That seems the problem. Why would a decent ref need to do that? They are crying out for good ones looking at the likes of Rob Jones already working in the prem. They are already scraping the barrel.

They should fast track good ones ( if there are any with common sense) doesn’t seem like there are any coming through, the quality of the current prem refs is abysmal.

All depends what they are looking for… fair games or keeping the Fergie and Klopps’ and money men of this world happy

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

All depends what they are looking for… fair games or keeping the Fergie and Klopps’ and money men of this world happy

If I was Pace I would be having a pi covering England the way he has given decisions against us this year it wouldn’t surprise me if he was found to be taking bribes.