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    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Blunder VAR referee Lee Mason AXED from Prem games this weekend after his shocker cost Newcastle ‘winner’ vs Palace

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      BLUNDER video ref Lee Mason has been axed from the Prem match list this weekend after his VAR cock-up at Newcastle.And Toon have lodged a complaint to the Prem and refs’ body PGMOL, claiming dodgy decisions against them are a “consistent theme”.
      Newcastle were denied a winner by VAR against Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
      Lee Mason will not officiate a Premier League game this weekendCredit: Rex
      Mason has been dropped after his role in disallowing Toon’s “winner” against Crystal Palace.
      He ruled Joe Willock had fouled keeper Vicente Guiata, though replays clearly showed he had been pushed into him by Eagles star Tyrick Mitchell. 
      Toon’s co-owner Amanda Staveley said: “We should have won, I hated the VAR decision.
      “That’s something we’re dealing with — it seems to be a consistent theme of the last few games.”
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      The PGMOL Board, headed by ex-ref Mike Riley, admitted Toon’s goal — and a KO’d West Ham leveller against Chelsea — should have stood after Prem chiefs launched an emergency review.
      But Newcastle are demanding answers from the Prem chiefs and the PGMOL on how blundering VAR calls can be improved.
      Staveley added: “We are dealing with that, talking to officials and trying to get something that will work going forward.”
      Ref Michael Salisbury overturned his original decision to allow the goal after being recommended by Mason to consult his pitchside monitor.
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      Fuming Toon boss Eddie Howe insisted it  was a “perfectly good” goal.
      It is the second time Newcastle have moaned about the standard of refereeing in just nine months.
      Newcastle believe they should also have been given penalties against Manchester City and Wolves in recent weeks, while they were also  raging when Liverpool scored a 98th-minute winner when just five  minutes of injury time had been awarded.
      Howe received some answers following the club’s original complaint in December, but sarcastically described the letter as an “interesting read”.
      Mason also came under fire for advising ref Paul Tierney to rule out Gabriel Martinelli’s strike for Arsenal at Manchester United on Sunday for a Martin Odegaard foul.
      However, Jarred Gillett WILL take control of Leicester’s game with Aston Villa on Saturday despite his Hammers clanger on Saturday.
      Raging West Ham boss David Moyes branded the Aussie VAR unfit for duty, calling the decision to rule out Maxwel Cornet’s late equaliser against the Blues as “scandalous”.
      Following the weekend clangers, all top-flight refs are expected to be reminded the FINAL word on any “subjective” VAR overturn must lie with them, even if they are urged to go to the screen.
      Michael Oliver became the first Prem ref in 18 months to stick with his original decision, despite a recommendation from Stockley Park when he confirmed a Nottingham Forest penalty in their 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth.
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      Oliver and Anthony Taylor will work with foreign VAR officials when the group phase of Uefa’s club competitions kick-off.
      Taylor will be in contact with Germany’s Marco Fritz when he refs PSG vs Juventus on Tuesday night, with Pole Tomasz Kwiatkowski in Oliver’s ear on Thursday. More

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      in Soccer

      I’m a gay referee and you’d be surprised how many footballers are homosexual… sadly there’s still prejudice in sport

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      UP to 40 per cent of footballers are gay, a top referee has claimed.Brazilian Fifa official Igor Benevenuto made headlines when he bravely came out last month.
      Igor Benevenuto has opened up about homosexuality in footballCredit: AFP
      The 41-year-old had been on the list for a VAR role at the World Cup finals in Qatar, but was not chosen.
      Benevenuto has now insisted homosexuality is far more widespread in football than previously thought.
      No serving top-flight male player in England has come out since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
      Benevenuto told German magazine Der Spiegel: “Let’s take into account every person involved in football – officials, managers, players and referees.
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      “Thirty to forty per cent of them are homosexual or bisexual, or have done something at one time with another man.
      “You would be surprised at just who is homosexual in this industry.”
      Benevenuto, who has been a referee for 24 years, said he has experienced prejudice in his home country.
      He added: “In Brazil homosexuality is seen as an illness similar to alcoholism, which can be overcome.
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      “I believed that for years. I suffered from depression and went through dark times.
      “I used to pray to God to free me from this illness.
      “Sadly there is still prejudice.
      “I don’t expect the situation to completely alter during my lifetime.
      “But I can still be a drop in the ocean of change.” More

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      Mark Halsey slams ‘staggering’ loss of veteran referees and fears for ‘poorest set of officials in many a year’

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      FANS will notice a changing of the guard among match officials in the early months of the new Premier League season.Experienced quartet Mike Dean, Martin Atkinson, Jon Moss and Kevin Friend will no longer be on the pitch while Tom Bramall is the sole new referee in the Prem.
      Ex-referee says it’s sink or swim for new Premier League officialsCredit: PA
      And with the imminent departure of refs’ boss Mike Riley, a shake-up will continue to take place ahead of Howard Webb’s expected arrival in the winter.
      Promoted Bramall is young at 32 but is viewed as a promising prospect following his rapid rise through the leagues.
      My own refereeing journey was similar to Sheffield-based Bramall’s pathway as we both spent two seasons in the National League before moving up to the Football League.
      After four seasons in the EFL where I’ve heard Championship managers rated him highly, Bramall is in the big time as the fifth ref to be promoted by the PGMOL in the last year.
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      The other four refs who moved up last season – Jarred Gillett, Michael Salisbury, Tony Harrington and John Brooks – were selected for just 19 games between them.
      They are all still learning their trade at the highest level so why were they not trusted in more games last season to prepare?
      For new refs, it’s like a Championship club being promoted into the Prem, you face a sink or swim scenario.
      I believe the succession planning from Riley has been poor and I hope that will improve when Webb arrives because it is staggering to lose the experience of 1,570 Prem games from Dean, Atkinson, Moss and Friend in one summer.
      The Prem has gone from 22 refs to 19 and, of the remaining number, only 12 have taken charge of 100 or more matches.
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      As a result the pressure on the rookies to step up and deliver will increase and leaves the league with the poorest set of officials in many a year.
      Despite my fears, I believe fresh blood should always be welcomed but there is no hiding place in the Premier League.
      A lack of experience among the new officials could make for a lively start where we will have five subs, multiball and a tweak to the offside rule over the use of a ‘deliberate play’ by a defender. More

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      Premier League ‘plan to release in-match conversations between referees and VAR officials’ to fans this season

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      PREMIER LEAGUE fans will finally be able to hear the conversations between referees and VARs, according to reports.The League wants to have a more transparent approach and believes releasing the chats will help.
      Referees’ chats with their VARs will be released after matches this seasonCredit: Getty
      Supporters have so far been left in the dark regarding how officials reached their conclusions, relying on replays and pundit analysis.
      According to The Times, the idea is that the public would get to listen in and get a clearer understanding and explanation on how decisions are made this season.
      However, the recordings would only be released after full-time due to rules on live broadcasts.
      The suggestion is widely supported, claims Premier League chief Richard Masters.
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      He said: “There is a general view that [releasing the audio] is a good thing.
      “There is a desire to be more open with fans about referees’ decision-making and how we do that precisely we need to work out.”
      The Premier League introduced VAR for the 2019-20 season.
      Similar talks between refs and their VARs are available in the MLS in the United States.
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      The audios are posted on YouTube, giving supporters the chance to hear the process of how the referees made the calls.
      In rugby and cricket, fans can already hear the conversations in real time during TV and radio broadcasts of matches.
      Former Fifa ref Howard Webb, who took charge of the 2010 World Cup final, is currently head of refereeing for the MLS.
      But he looks set to return to the Premier League as the new refs’ chief.
      It has been a summer of turnover for Mike Riley’s top officials.
      Kevin Friend became the latest to hang up his whistle, following fellow veterans Mike Dean, Jon Moss and Martin Atkinson into retirement.
      PGMOL had already announced Tom Bramall, who has only been a referee for three seasons, was being promoted to Select Group One and on to the Prem panel.
      Fans were previously left in the dark regarding how officials reached their conclusionsCredit: Reuters More

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      Euro 2022 final’s Ukrainian referee Kateryna Monzul spent five days living in bunker in Kharkiv after Russia’s invasion

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      TODAY’S Euro 2022 final referee is Ukrainian – and spent five days living in an underground bunker after the Russian invasion. Kateryna Monzul will step out at a sold-out Wembley this afternoon to oversee England vs Germany.
      Kateryna Monzul will referee the Euro 2022 final at Wembley todayCredit: Reuters
      But just months ago, she was in hiding with her family in her hometown of Kharkiv as Russian forces raided the country.
      Monzul headed to her parents’ home and took shelter before fleeing Ukraine with her two sisters and their three children, eventually settling in Italy.
      They drove through Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic before arriving in Germany and then Italy, continuing her refereeing.
      Reflecting on the journey from Ukraine to Italy and then to the Euros in England, Monzul said: “When the war started, nobody could believe it.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}ENGLAND VS GERMANY .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Lionesses preparing for huge Euro 2022 final against Germans at Wembley
      “My family went to my parents’ home. We were [living] underground – a special place in the house.
      “It was stressful and difficult.
      “When we left Ukraine, we didn’t have any ideas what the next step was for us.”
      Monzul is a trailblazer for her country and for refereeing.
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      The 41-year-old was the first female ref to take charge of an England senior men’s match and a Ukraine Premier League match,
      An international official since 2004, she has also reffed in the Europa League, Europa Conference League, Nations League and three Women’s World Cups.
      Monzul will become the first official from Ukraine to referee a Women’s Euro final – and revealed the pride at calling home to tell her family about the landmark appointment which will see Sarina Wiegman’s side attempting to write history.
      She said she realised “how important it was for them as well as for myself” when she “hear their happy and positive reaction”.
      ‘HEART BEATING FAST’
      Monzul added: “This is a really emotional moment for me, and I’m enjoying it.
      “My heart is already beating fast. It’s the moment when a dream you have comes true.
      “But I must say that it’s also a moment where I feel responsibility because I’ll be refereeing an important football game.” More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Kevin Friend latest experienced ref to hang up whistle with Prem now relying on new school in the middle next season

      by

      KEVIN FRIEND has become the latest Premier League referee to hang up his whistle – and add to the scrutiny on the new generation of top-flight officials.Friend, 50, who has been on the Prem list since the 2009-10 season, will move to a new job with PGMOL.
      Kevin Friend is retiring from his role as a Premier League referee – leaving the top flight with few experienced refsCredit: Getty
      He will fulfil the newly-created role as manager of the Select Group Two referees, who look after Championship matches and can be the fourth official in the Premier League.
      The Leicestershire-based official’s career highlight came in 2019 when he was the man in the middle for the FA Cup final as Manchester City thumped Watford 6-0.
      Friend, who hilariously booked the crowd in a pre-season friendly, also oversaw the League Cup final in 2013 and the Community Shield the year before and was ref when Luis Suarez bit Branislav Ivanovic.
      This season he showed just two red cards in 18 top-tier matches – both for second yellow cards.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}PAR FOR THE COURSE .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Dean soaks up sun on holiday, plays golf and sinks pints in retirement
      He follows fellow veterans Mike Dean, Jon Moss and Martin Atkinson into retirement, leaving a potential dearth of experienced refs for the start of next season.
      PGMOL had already announced Tom Bramall, who has only been a referee for three seasons, was being promoted to Select Group One and on to the Prem panel.
      His arrival followed on from last season’s elevation of Aussie Jarred Gillett, John Brooks, Tony Harrington and Michael Salisbury.
      The quartet took charge of just 19 Prem games between them.
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      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
      Moss, Dean and Atkinson were three of just seven refs to control more than 20 Prem games last term.
      And two of those – World Cup refs Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor – will be unavailable for some weekends next term because of their Uefa commitments.
      With 16 match rounds squeezed in before the mid-season World Cup break, it means a number of the relatively less experienced referees will be handed key early-season appointments by refs’ chief Mike Riley.
      Friend joined the Premier League list of referees in 2009Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      He was in charge when Branislav Ivanovic was bitten by Luis Suarez in 2013Credit: EPA More

    • 238 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Watch astonishing moment female star Shirley Caicedo kicks male referee in BALLS after being sent off in brutal attack

      by

      WOMEN’S football star Shirley Caicedo has been sent off… for kicking a referee in the NUTS.The midfielder plays for Leonas del Norte in Ecuador’s Women’s Super League.
      Shirley Caicedo was sent off for kicking a referee in the PRIVATES
      Caicedo boots the unlucky official right where it hurts
      The official doubles over as Caicedo’s Leonas del Norte team-mates get involved
      Caicedo, 19, helped her side take the lead in a recent home clash with Club Nanas.
      But tempers flared as the visitors went 2-1 in front in added time.
      Bleached-blonde Caicedo first picked up the ball and booted it at the hapless official, narrowly missing his head.
      She then joined a posse of angry Leonas players confronting the ref – and kicked him in the groin before shocked team-mates could usher her away.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The 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      The official bravely stayed on his feet despite the agonising pain.
      But Ecuador’s FA has opened an inquiry, and hot-tempered No11 Caicedo could face a lengthy ban.
      Images of the incident have since gone around the world.
      One observer wrote: “That ref must have balls of steel. He barely reacts!”
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      This wasn’t the only worrying incident involving a referee to have happened in the last week.
      Over in Brazil, a match descended into chaos when a red carded men’s player ran after a female referee.
      Nautico player Jean Carlos took issue with the referee’s decision during his side’s clash with Retro – having to be held back by his team-mates. More

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      Retiring referee Martin Atkinson reveals ex-Arsenal star Tomas Rosicky was his favourite player to deal with

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      PREMIER LEAGUE referee Martin Atkinson revealed Tomas Rosicky was his favourite player to deal with – after the former Arsenal star invited him to ref his testimonial in the Czech Republic. And Atkinson said Alan Stubbs was the toughest player he has officiated, with the Everton hard man “scaring me to death”. 
      Atkinson is a big fan of the former Arsenal favourite after the former midfielder invited him to ref his testimonialCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Atkinson will hang up his whistle at the end of this season, after 17 years in the Premier League.
      He has many fond memories. But speaking at a Q&A in aid of North East mental health charity If U Care Share, the Prem whistler was asked who he enjoyed reffing most. His answer was Arsenal’s former Czech playmaker.
      Rosicky arrived in North London from Borussia Dortmund in 2006. 
      His 10 year spell with the Gunners was hampered by a series of long-term injuries but he won two FA Cups before leaving for Sparta Prague in 2016 and retiring the next year aged 37.
      And Leeds-fan Atkinson, 51, said: “I’ve been lucky that I’ve got on with the vast majority of players but one that stands out is Tomas Rosicky.
      “I always got on really well with him. We just pleasantly got on, not best mates or owt like that but he was always really respectful. 
      “And when he left Arsenal, when he retired eventually, an unknown email came through and it was from Sparta Prague asking if I will go out and referee his retirement game. 
      “You just never expect that and it was just a nice thing.” 
      Atkinson, a former police officer, made his top-flight bow in the 2004/05 season.  
      And he named burly centre-back Stubbs as the toughest player to try and keep under control. 
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Ronaldo, but now sell luxury watches in Mayfair shop
      Asked who he least enjoyed reffing, Atkinson said: “Alan Stubbs at Everton.
      “He would kick anything that moved, was hard as nails and scared me to death when I first got on.
      “He was just so tough to referee that it was, like, impossible. I learned a lot from that – you learn how to manage players.”
      No-nonsense Everton defender making a beeline for Atkinson in 2007Credit: Alamy More