While I agree that abusing referees is wrong I do understand why coaches and players get so frustrated with the men in the middle. There is no consistency in their decisions and the fact that most of them have never player football doesn't help. The letter blames the players and coaches but maybe they should look at the training they are giving the referees as well. The thing that annoys me most is when the assistant referee waits for the ref to give a throw-in or free-kick before finally raising his flag even tho he is closer to the incident. Surely they are there to help the referee but they only seem to be there to back-up the referees decision. I've heard on more than one occasion that this is the way they are coached but surely this is just wrong? Also if Mainland clamped down harder on the coach of the Canterbury team then others wouldn't tink they could get away with abusing the ref.
[/QUOTE]
I agree that the refs need to look at themselve as well. Like players refs and their assistants do make mistakes. Yes in the past some of the best refs (not all) have played to a reasonable level.
Maybe it is time to bring a ref in from overseas to ref for a season and do coaching, rather than rely on what is currently here.