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      VAR to use ‘thicker lines’ in Premier League in bid to give advantage back to attackers after offside controversies

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      VAR officials will use ‘thicker lines’ to rebalance Prem VAR calls in favour of attackers from next term.The decision to change the way Stockley Park operates offside calls was agreed by the 20 Prem clubs at their AGM in Harrogate.

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      Clubs chiefs heard a presentation from refs’ boss Mike Riley following the survey of clubs, players, managers and fans.
      And while a working party will be set up to draft guideline principles for what should be determined as penalty offences, Riley and his officials will implement the new system on offside calls.
      It means that the ‘defensive line’ will be drawn thicker than the one pixel width of the attacking line, intended to cover around 10cm of real space.
      Riley and Prem chiefs believe this will give more margin of error for attackers, who will effectively be allowed to be marginally in front – by up to 10cm – of the last defender and still be deemed onside.
      Fifa and law-makers Ifab are understood to have given their approval after world chief Gianni Infantino admitted some correct calls were now too tight and not necessarily in the spirit of the game.
      The decision is likely to be a two-season sticking plaster aimed at making VAR more acceptable to fans and is expected to speed up decisions.
      But the Prem, which is already trialling the semi-automatic ‘robo-ref’ offside calls, would be likely to adopt that technology, which uses computerised skeletal framing of players, from the 2023-24 season.
      Meanwhile, following a series of contentious spot-kick calls last term, the working party will be constituted as soon as possible to put together the penalty guidelines.

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      Club bosses agreed the ‘bar’ for what is deemed a spot-kick offence needs to be raised after fans and players alike complained of too many ‘soft’ penalties being awarded last term.
      The meeting was said to have been ‘polite’ despite the underlying tensions caused by the failed Big Six breakaway attempts.
      But those issues have not gone away and will continue to play a role going forwards.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Karren Brady: Refereeing in the Premier League is worse than ever as West Ham have ANOTHER red card rescinded

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      FOR THE second time this season a West Ham player has been cleared after being sent off.First in February it was Tomas Soucek who was relieved to be told the referee had made a wrong decision and then this week it was Fabian Balbuena.
      Fabian Balbuena was shown a shock red card last weekend which has now been rescindedCredit: Rex
      Each time after the referee had consulted a touchline screen link with VAR.
      Cynical refereeing judgment perhaps played a part. But it is the current system of pressurising refs by implication that warrants the equivalent of a red card.
      The Stockley Park mob, blinking in front of an array of screens, may get more offsides right although, goodness knows, they often do so to the fury of people who don’t see any sense in arms or shirt sleeves being involved.
      The refereeing itself has been poor this season, possibly the worst I have seen in the Premier League.
      No doubt there will be statistics that prove me wrong but, subjectively, I can remember no time when the whistle was so out of tune with the game.
      VAR was sold to us as a way of perfecting decisions.
      These two red cards alone proved the opposite: not until the refs were requested to look at the screen did sendings off seem even a possibility.
      Especially since both the incidents took place right in front of the ref’s own eyes.
      Mike Dean wrongly sent off Tomas Soucek in FebruaryCredit: Reuters
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      But despite that, both took the VERY broad hint from Stockley Park — and thrust out red cards to the amazement of the players and disgust of millions  of viewers.
      Of the Balbuena incident against Chelsea, manager David Moyes said the decision was ‘rank, rotten’, adding: ‘I think it’s been made by somebody who has never played the game.’
      And, yes, he’s absolutely right. VAR never played a game and never will.
      Anger at London Stadium or in any other quarter in no way excuses the death threat to Mike Dean, who has sent off seven players so far this season, or anyone else. Such stupidity only redirects sympathy.
      Referees are bound to make mistakes, most of us are grown-up enough to understand that, and VAR was intended to take some of the weight of responsibility from their shoulders.
      It has, a little, but its replacement is fury at some of the rubbish meant to be impartial judgment.
      Crazy offside rulings are one thing, unwarranted sending off of players is quite another.
      To Soucek, it was defamation. Our midfielder had not previously been sent off in more than 200 games and there he was walking off the pitch after a pure accident. It was Dean who sent him to the stands at Fulham.
      David Moyes was fuming at the decisionCredit: PA
      Sofiane Feghouli was red carded in 2017… another that was chalked offCredit: Getty – Contributor
      His career is studded with such incidents, including another involving my club in 2017 when his dismissal of Sofiane Feghouli was rescinded.
      Six out of the seven of our more recent appeals have been accepted, although four of those were pre-VAR, facts which imply that things are no  better and no worse than they were.
      Refs spurred by VAR seem more willing to show yellow cards, many for tackles that once were taken for granted.
      So far this season in the Premier League no fewer than 955 have been flourished, many justified but some laughable.
      Paul Tierney is averaging no less than four in 20 games, and here’s a stat if you like, Martin Atkinson has awarded an average 0.09 penalties a game to Anthony Taylor’s 0.48.
      Penalties, obviously cannot be rescinded.
      VAR’s influence is now so great that 108 have been awarded and the record number for a season is going to be burst wide open. West Ham have had only a measly three.
      Football isn’t about justice, we know. But neither is trial by television.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      David Moyes says the red card in West Ham’s game against Chelsea was a rank and rotten decision More

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      Brave referee Sapir Berman comes out as transgender and set to undergo gender reassignment surgery

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      BRAVE referee Sapir Berman has come out as transgender and is set to undergo gender reassignment surgery.The Israeli official, 26, is in her second season as a top-flight official, having worked her way up her country’s pyramid.
      Brave Sapir Berman addressed the media at a press conferenceCredit: AP
      Berman, 26, will now begin gender reassignment surgeryCredit: AP
      But Berman, whose birth name was ‘Sagi’, will now start officiating games as a woman.
      And in a press conference this week, she revealed that she has gratefully received large support from the Israeli football comminuty.
      Having begun living publicly as a woman three months ago, Berman told reporters: “I always saw myself as a woman, from a young age.
      “I realised society will not accept me, will not be on my side, so I continued like this for nearly 26 years.
      “I decided to come out and to show who I am, first of all to myself, for my soul.”
      Players have been receptive and respectful, addressing her by the correct pronouns even when moaning about decisions on the field.
      And she is grateful for their response, adding: “It shows me there’s change in society.”
      The Israeli FA have also done their bit to make Berman feel accepted, taking to social media to release a supportive message.
      Berman has refereed in the Israeli top flight for two seasonsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/sapir_berman/?hl=en

      Their tweet read: “We have a new Referee, Sapir Berman. The first Referee to be transgender. We are so proud!”
      Berman has now been given separate dressing rooms to her male counterparts.
      And managing director of Israel’s referees association Jair Teper added: “The gender identity is of no importance to us, what counts is only the skills on the football field.”
      Berman isn’t the world’s first transgender referee, with British official Lucy Clark having come out back in 2018.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Rebecca Welch was DELIGHTED to get grief while making ref history in League Two clash between Harrogate and Port Vale

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      REBECCA WELCH revealed players ‘chewed her ear off’ when she made ref history earlier this month.She became the first woman to officiate an EFL match from the start in the League Two clash between Harrogate and Port Vale.
      Rebecca Welch says she was delighted when Harrogate and Port Vale players started ‘chewing her ear off’Credit: Rex
      She became the first woman to officiate an EFL match from the start in the League TwoCredit: Reuters
      And despite the constant clicking of cameras to capture the momentous day, she was delighted when the players started giving her grief.
      Welch, 37, said: “The players didn’t treat me any differently – they were still chewing my ear off as they went past.
      “That was nice because I was a bit afraid of them not being like that.
      “You want players to go, ‘You got that one wrong, ref,’ or ‘It’s gone so well in the last 10 minutes’.
      “You need that and when I got it I felt normal and that I could just referee the game.
      “I was sick of hearing the camera clicking, but it’s the nature of the beast.
      “People say it went really well but, for me, it was just a normal game.”
      A whirlwind week has left the Washington, County Durham-born whistler’s mum asking why she isn’t on the telly anymore.
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      Speaking in a Q&A in aid of North East mental health charity If U Care Share, Welch added: “In 50 years I’ll be in the history books – it’s really nice but, yeah, it’s a game of football.
      “But I understand the bigger picture that it’s not about one game, it’s about inspiring the next generation to come through.
      “The next step is definitely the Football League (permanently).”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Referee Rebecca Welch impresses on EFL debut as Port Vale win at Harrogate More

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      Prem ref 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
      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. 
      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, 50, 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 scottish centre back Stubbs as the toughest player to try and keep under control. 

      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

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      Ex-Prem referee Howard Webb marries German VAR Bibiana Steinhaus in secret but continues long-distance relationship

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      FORMER Premier League referee Howard Webb has married his long-term girlfriend Bibiana Steinhaus.The 49-year-old split with his ex-wife Kay back in 2016, but found love again in German ref Bibiana.
      Howard Webb has web long-term girlfriend Bibiana SteinhausCredit: Jurgen Wegner
      After years of dating, Webb and Steinhaus tied the knot in secret during last month’s international break.
      For now, however, the couple maintain a long-distance relationship – with Webb living in New York, while Steinhaus still works as a VAR official in Germany.
      Having wed Webb, Steinhaus recently told Bild: “Yes, it’s true.
      “We got married during the last international break and are very happy.
      “Unfortunately, due to the Corona regulation, Howard and I could only take this important step as a pair. Not even witnesses were allowed.
      “Of course there was no honeymoon either.”
      She also revealed that, come her next match, viewers would be seeing a different name on screen: “As of now, Ms. Steinhaus-Webb is sitting in the Video-Assist-Center in Cologne.”
      Webb refereed in the Premier League between 2003 and 2014, rising up the ranks to become one of the most revered officials in the game.
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      Webb, 49, has been dating Steinhaus for a number of yearsCredit: Social media

      He most famously took charge of the 2010 World Cup final, but hung up his whistle after the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
      The Yorkshireman split from ex-wife and mother of his three kids Kay five years ago, and alluded to the reasons why in his autobiography, The Man in the Middle.
      He wrote: “We worked hard and played hard. If a match had gone well, we’d reward ourselves by piling back to someone’s room, cracking open the beers and chatting until the early hours.
      “It was a charmed life, a self-centred life and I’d often experience a huge sense of anti-climax when I returned home.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Steinhaus, 42, refereed in Germany until last seasonCredit: EPA
      Webb took charge of the 2010 World Cup finalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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      Incredibly buff ref Anderson Daronco leaves fans stunned as they joke players are terrified to argue with his decisions

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      HENCH referee Anderson Daronco has left fans stunned on social media.The Brazilian officiates in his home country’s top-flight.
      Fans were stunned as this picture went viral of referee Anderson DaroncoCredit: Twitter
      The Brazilian also officiates international matchesCredit: Getty
      And pictures have circulated online of Daronco, 40, taking charge of games, with his rippling biceps on display.
      Players petulantly arguing with officials is a common sight in football.
      But Twitter users have joked that they wouldn’t dare remonstrate with Daronco.
      One wrote: “If he gave me a red card, I would say to him ‘sorry’ and offer to put it back in his pocket for him.”
      Another added: “I don’t think any player ll challenge his decision”.
      A third quipped: “Meet Brazilian referee Anderson Daronco. If he gave me a red card I’d say thank you.
      “Look at the size of them arms”.
      Daronco also seems to be making a positive impact in other ways.
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      The South American is a commanding man in the middleCredit: Getty

      In August last year, he became the first referee in Brazil to halt a match because of homophobic chanting.
      The incident, not new in Brazilian football, took place in a game between Vasco de Gama and Sao Paulo.
      And Daronco intervened, stopping play and instructing home manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo to address the crowd.
      Fans joked that they would not dare to mess with Daronco due to his bulging bicepsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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      Rebecca Welch’s rise from Sunday League ref to become the EFL’s first female referee

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      REBECCA WELCH picked up a referee’s whistle 11 years ago at 27 after being dared to do so by a friend.And now the Sunderland-based former NHS worker is set to enter the history books as the first woman to take charge of a men’s English Football League fixture. 
      Rebecca Welch will make history as the first woman to referee an EFL game when Harrogate Town play Port ValeCredit: PA
      Harrogate Town’s League Two Easter Monday clash with Port Vale will see Welch take on one of her most significant match officiating challenges yet. 
      Welch, 37, jokingly told Sky Sports: “A good game on Monday is, by 10 to five (o’clock), they’re talking about the game and not about the ref.
      “I like] the games when nobody remembers who the ref is.”
      Who is Rebecca Welch and how she did become a referee? 
      Welch, who is originally from the town of Washington, took up match officiating while still working in the health service. 
      She earned her qualifications as an official through Durham County FA
      The former NHS admin officer, who has played football since childhood, started her life as a ref in university football clashes and Sunday League games. 
      And while the college football encounters involving teams of female students was a “doddle” her experience of refereeing men’s Sunday division fixtures was less straightforward. 
      Welch, 37, began her life as a referee in university matches and Sunday League clashesCredit: Prime Media

      Welch told the FA’s web site: “I played football and didn’t even think about refereeing until one of my really good friends, who is a referee, refereed us.
      “I spent the whole game telling her how to do her job!
      “Her response was, ‘If you think it’s that easy, give it a go. That’s how it happened and years later here I am.
      “The first couple (of matches) I did were women’s university games and the players weren’t really that bothered about so it was a doddle. 
      “Then the third game I did was Sunderland Sunday league football and it was a completely different kettle of fish. 
      “That took some getting used to but I am so grateful for the grassroots football experience because I never would have got to where I am now without it.
      “Sometimes I used to go home and chuck my bag down and I’d tell myself I’m never doing it again but you soon realise that not every day is going to be a good day in the office – it’s just like anything else. 
      “I had to analyse my performances and work out what I could do to improve and that’s something I really enjoy. 
      “I’ve been doing this for more than ten years now and I guarantee that the good days will far outweigh the bad ones in the long run.”
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      Welch’s match officiating performances have led to her being added to Fifa’s international list of refereesCredit: Getty
      Rise to the top 
      Welch eventually worked her way into the higher echelons of match officiating, becoming part of an elite group on Fifa’s international list. 
      The Sunderland-based administrator also made her mark on the women’s game covering domestic and international encounters. 
      In addition to refereeing the Women’s FA Cup final twice, in 2017 and 2020, Welch has officiated in the men’s National League for three seasons and taken charge of WSL, Women’s Champions League and international clashes. 
      And she has been selected to oversee Harrogate’s clash with Port Vale following an ongoing review of her performances this season and official approval from referee chiefs Mike Riley and Mike Jones.
      The Washington-based ref is reported to be among the individuals included within the Professional Game Match Officials top group of referees. 
      Welch added: “I’ve always said, through all my promotions, I want to be appointed because I am in the top 10 match officials on that list. 
      “I never want to be appointed based on anything else. I’ve got faith in the system, and I’ve been rewarded.”
      Welch took charge of Fiorentina’s Women’s Champions League clash against Slavia PragueCredit: Zuma Press
      What next for Welch 
      Welch, who took charge of the 2020 Women’s Community Shield duel which saw Chelsea beat Man City, wants to be considered for selection for the 2022 Euros and 2023 World Cup. 
      The football official, who describes Sian Massey’s efforts as a Prem assistant referee as “amazing”, hopes to one day see a woman take charge of a Premier League fixture.
      And Welch remains open-minded on the challenge falling to her or another breaking through the glass ceiling. 
      I’ve been very lucky that I turn up and they don’t see me as a female referee, they just say, ‘Rebecca’s here and she’s the ref today’ so that’s quite nice.Rebecca Welch
      And she counts herself lucky not to have encountered any abuse or sexist behaviour so far in her career.
      Welch told Sky Sports: “I’ve got no doubt, in the next ten to 15 years, we will see a female referee in the Premier League. 
      “I don’t really try to focus too much on the future, I always take one game at a time. 
      “If I finish in the top one or two per cent at the end of the season, I put myself in a position to be selected. I’ve got to keep on performing, achieving those marks, to get those rewards. 
      Welch regards Sian Massey as a trailblazer for women refereesCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group
      “I’ve received criticism for my refereeing, and that’s part of football. 
      “But I’ve gone through the men’s pathway and I’ve never experienced anything like that (abuse) because I’m a female referee.
      “I’m aware that not everybody is as fortunate as me and I’m aware it does happen. 
      “We need to keep on educating people, about how it makes that person feel. 
      “I’ve been very lucky that I turn up and they don’t see me as a female referee, they just say, ‘Rebecca’s here and she’s the ref today’ so that’s quite nice.”
      Welch believes a woman taking charge of match officiating in the Premier League could happen in ten to 15 yearsCredit: Getty
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