Asked about the performance of referee Jon Moss last night, Steven Gerrard said: “No comment, I just hope that it’s looked at. That’s all I say. I hope it’s looked at.”

“Have I gone to talk to Jon Moss? No. I just hope his performance is looked at. I don’t want to be sour, Liverpool scored two goals against us and we need to look at that and I don’t want to cover over any cracks.”

Then told that Moss was retiring, he added: "Is he? Good."

The standard of ref's in this country is seriously abysmal. Moss retiring thank f*ck more like!

Moss was an embarrassment last night.

It’s the first time I’ve ever thought that a ref may have to be hooked out of the game he was that bad.

AwayClaret wrote: ↑

Wed May 11, 2022 3:38 pm

The standard of ref's in this country is seriously abysmal. Moss retiring thank f*ck more like!

The problem is he'll likely be replaced by someone even worse.
Something needs to be done to produce decent Refs .....it's ruining the game.

Grassroots football hasn't got enough referees. Not difficult to reason out why.

So far behind the game due to appalling fitness levels - hence his shocking performances for a number of years

I’m often asked that if the Premier League is one of the best in the world, why does it have so many poor referees?

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 11, 2022 3:49 pm

Grassroots football hasn't got enough referees. Not difficult to reason out why.

Second time in a day that I have agreed with Silky.

Yes, sworn at, spat at, punched and kicked.....is it any wonder we have no refs.

Then by the time they go on to referee 9 year olds.......well.

Suratclaret wrote: ↑

Wed May 11, 2022 4:17 pm

I’m often asked that if the Premier League is one of the best in the world, why does it have so many poor referees?

and for all the money it generates, why are referees not brought in from abroad? like with players/managers. This English lot are an absolute bunch of jokers and they don't seem to be getting any better. That young referee who reffed us away vs Leeds last year, he blew the whistle for a foul on the GK when Mee did nothing

Don't start thinking about importing French refs bar two or three.

Interestingly, the French and Portuguese Leagues have an exchange system in place this season. I only found out the other day. The bloke on the radio said the Portuguese ref in charge of Reims v Lens had an "English-style" approach ie not stopping play every ten seconds for non-existent fouls.

Do young refs on the continent not get spat at, threatened or verbally and physically abused? Genuine question because if they do why would they want to carry on?

I've said this before...loads of times...the guy should stick to selling vinyl in his shop in Headingley Didn't see last night's effort but nothing would surprise me about that guy...other than how he got the job in the first place .

So Gerrard bemoans inept refereeing yet, one assumes, is happy for his keeper to behave as he did against us?
Even a coupe of Villa fans from my local were embarrassed.

evensteadiereddie wrote: ↑

Wed May 11, 2022 6:06 pm

Even a coupe of Villa fans from my local were embarrassed.

Come in a coupe, you could've come in a coupe.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 11, 2022 5:10 pm

Do young refs on the continent not get spat at, threatened or verbally and physically abused? Genuine question because if they do why would they want to carry on?

Hi Silkyskills,

Sadly, this is often the case in certain parts of France. As I imagine is the case in most countries, the worst problems are in the bigger cities.

My lad played for eight, nine years in Orléans (roughly size of Preston built-up area) and I never saw any problems. However, discipline within clubs isn't always easy and the attitude of most parents ie never attending matches is a real problem.

The volunteers who work at grassroots level (coaches, officials etc) are the real heroes of football but very rarely get the credit they deserve.

Thanks for the reply, ecc. Good to receive information of a primary kind and I'd always be full.of praise for those volunteers who work tirelessly to get games on. The issue though is referees and it appears endemic with regards to attitudes that prevail.towards them. I have an older brother who, after finishing playing locally, devoted years to officiating at grassroots until he got attacked after the final whistle was blown.
I have no idea what the solution is or if indeed there is one. I think now there are plenty that might 'pass' with flying colours when it comes.to the laws.of the game but not .any that understand the game, which despite its ills and problems is still the best game to both play in and watch for an hour and a half.every week or so.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 11, 2022 3:49 pm

Grassroots football hasn't got enough referees. Not difficult to reason out why.

Exactly this. My nephew was so keen to become a referee for a career. It started out great with youth teams and he was loving it.

After a spell refereeing grown men twice his age, in Sunday league. Constantly being abused and physically attacked on more than one occasion brought his career aspirations to a stop

The abuse refs get especially at amateur level is putting people off, it needs to start at the top respect,no back chat no histrionics. The pundits who dissect every decision in miniscule detail should volunteer to ref at amateur level for a few weeks then come back on the tele and admit it is a hard joyless at times profession

For once, I would say we might be blessed if we had Jon Moss at Villa!

While Gerrard is a vile scouser utterly devoid of class or personality ( great player mind ) Moss should have been retired years ago . His fitness and speed are appalling .

Surprisingly Gerrard made no comment on Coote’s performance last Saturday at Turf Moor which was in no way better than Moss’s.I wonder why.Hypocrite !

We now know that 40 pts is the maximum needed to be safe so we can afford to lose one of three games !

Interesting topic. I coach at grassroots level (U11) and imo coaches themselves are generally the issue, or a lack of training of them by the FA possibly. The coaches need to understand that they are responsible for what goes on around their teams, dealing with problem parents and players, and they should be supporting the referee from the younger ages right through. Parents and kids generally take their lead from the coaches and the calm, positive coaches generally have no issues in their teams, and the good ones deal with issues straight away. The issues arise from overly vocal, aggressive, disrespectful coaches who create an atmosphere around their matches, turning a kids game of football into an adult one - referees suffer for that and don’t last long, unless they are very thick skinned.

The FA generally don’t do enough to train, educate and deal with problem coaches in my opinion. They should properly licence grassroots coaches making sure they have gone through a course that educates them on expected behaviour, supporting the refs, dealing with issues and why it’s important. Then re-educate or remove the licences for those that don’t comply, ensuring young referees are protected and don’t leave in droves like we have seen in recent years. I do think professionals and managers in the public eye have a part to play but by that point it’s probably too late - the FA need to start fixing the grassroots level to make real long term change.

Rumpelstiltskin wrote: ↑

Wed May 11, 2022 8:42 pm

Surprisingly Gerrard made no comment on Coote’s performance last Saturday at Turf Moor which was in no way better than Moss’s.I wonder why.Hypocrite !

Content was not even watching!

On the subject of grassroots football and referees, I saw this last week. The lad who has written this, is a 15-year-old.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu May 12, 2022 11:48 am

On the subject of grassroots football and referees, I saw this last week. The lad who has written this, is a 15-year-old.

I think Steven Gerrard showed a distinct lack of class. Complaining about poor performance is one thing - enjoying the fact that someone has been forced or has decided to retire is another...

I ended up hating kids football and cricket because of the way people behave. I've even see clubs where coaches picked their own kids for awards year in - year out.

My wife was even abused in the street by one coach because my son couldn't play and my 80 year old father got confused about the reason.

Also seen young referees abused etc. It became purgatory to be involved.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu May 12, 2022 11:48 am

On the subject of grassroots football and referees, I saw this last week. The lad who has written this, is a 15-year-old.


Grassroots Ref.jpg

Things have certainly changed, I remember several players being banned for life for assaulting referees in the Sunday leagues. I remember being warned prior to my debut for Rossendale town team not to contest any refereeing decision I would put my place in the team in jeopardy.

I remember being close to tears sat in the dressing room at Marl Pits against Blackburn having been taken off playing against a winger who rolled around every time I tackled him, which the ref bought every time. My manager explained later he took me off for to protect me from the referee; but nothing was said to the ref by the manager or myself because it just wasn’t the way to behave at that level.

Watching a team play my lads one last weekend, who screamed at the ref and the linesman (me) whenever there was a decision they didn't agree with.

The ref was a 14 year old lad in his third game, and the coach of the team did nothing about it (lets face it, the team are like that because of the coach)

I laughed at them, because I've seen it all before and gobby 13 year olds who think they are Ronaldo and Messi are everywhere, but the ref was clearly affected and it certainly impacted on his game

There just isn't any need, its kids football and none of the lads playing are going to have a career in the game, its all supposed to be a bit of fun, and I think there is a balance to be head where the kids take it as competitive, watching that was just a bit depressing

Sadly, it isn't going to go away any time soon. Been a mess for a very long time now. Who in their right mind would want to put up with that every week?

Touching a ref, talking back to a ref, never mind the abusive, aggresive language that you see doled out to them in many matches, should be an immediate red card. If these players behaved like this in the street, they would be arrested (if the police could be located or bothered to attend)!!!

It seems that refereeing a football match is arguably now the most difficult of all to do of any sport. Billions of pounds and multi millionaires later no one appears genuinely able, for whatever reason, to officiate a game without the fear of reprisal. The beautiful game indeed.