Refereeing

Subterms

    More stories

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Former Premier League ref Phil Dowd, 61, reveals cruel Parkinson’s diagnosis as he admits ‘it hit me hard’

      by

      FORMER Premier League referee Phil Dowd has opened up about his devastating Parkinson’s diagnosis.The 61-year-old experienced an incredible career from 1997 to 2016 with 15 years spent officiating in the top flight of English football.Former Premier League referee Phil Dowd has revealed he has Parkinson’s DiseaseCredit: AFP – GettyDowd took charge of some key fixturesCredit: PA:Press AssociationHe took charge of key matches such as FA Cup and League Cup finals, coming face-to-face with some of the biggest names in football including the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.However, in an interview with the Mirror he revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease during the Coronavirus pandemic.Dowd said: “Football gets me up in the morning now. That’s what gets me going and it’s important to have that.”It started when my wife saw my left arm shaking and I got checked. I got diagnosed during Covid times and the specialist said to me: ‘You’ve got Parkinson’s.’ It hit me hard and I just thought: ’s***’.Read More on Football”I didn’t want to admit that I had it in the first two years after I was diagnosed.”At that stage, you don’t realise all the symptoms because you think you just shake a bit. But there’s so many other symptoms.”You want to hide it but football has been brilliant to me. Howard Webb has been so supportive as has Wayne Allison at the PGMOL.”Dowd is now part of the PGMOL development group, coaching six officials including Aji Ajibola, Kirsty Dowle, Tom Parsons, Declan Brown, Abi Byrne and current top-flight referee Sunny Singh Gill.Most read in FootballHe is also keen to promote the work done by Parkinson’s UK, a charity that provides support to those affected by the disease.The former referee continued: “I want to put something back into society and we’ve got some golf days, there’s a walking football tournament. I want to help highlight it in the next couple of years.”I also want to show you can lead a good life and it’s not as bad as people think. I’m still doing stuff and I’m still grateful the PGMOL want me to work in my role and that has really helped me.”It’s important to be positive and stay active. There’s no cure. It affects people differently. I can probably jog better than I can walk.” More

    • 263 Shares119 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘I don’t even know the rules’, admits Erling Haaland as Man City star reveals what annoys him most about modern football

      by

      ERLING HAALAND has called for goal-line technology to be introduced across all lines on the pitch.Currently Hawk-Eye only serves the actual goal-line, leaving corners and throw-ins up to the officials.Erling Haaland has revealed which rule he’d changeCredit: GettyHaaland also admitted his issue with throw-insCredit: APThis season there have been a number of controversial decisions relating to whether the ball had gone out in the build-up to goals.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta whinged that he felt the ball was out prior to Newcastle’s winner against his team back in November – even though another angle appeared to prove otherwise.Appearing on Manchester City’s official podcast, their star striker said of the changes he’d like to implement: “The first is to introduce goal line technology all over the pitch, so that you always know when the ball is out of play.”The Norwegian, 23, then revealed his gripes with throw-ins themselves.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe added: “But what annoys me is throw-ins.”If you throw this way or that way, it doesn’t matter. Just make sure you have two hands on the ball.”I don’t even know the rules, and if I’m going to make a throw, I’ll probably do it wrong.”But it doesn’t matter if you throw the ball straight down, straight up or whatever. I would change that.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER”And you can’t steal too many meters, there should be a limit to how far you can go and a limit to how long you can take.”I think it will be like that in the future.”Erling Haaland reveals secret talent after childhood vid goes viralHaaland is currently on international duty with Norway.On Friday he played 75 minutes as his side, who have not qualified for Euro 2024, lost 2-1 to the Czech Republic.He will be back in action on Tuesday night, when Norway host Slovakia in Oslo.City fans will be hoping that Haaland doesn’t exert himself too much in the friendly, with a huge showdown with Arsenal to come next Sunday.I don’t even know the rules, and if I’m going to make a throw, I’ll probably do it wrong.Erling HaalandThe reigning champions currently trail the Gunners by one point in the table, with Arteta’s side level with Liverpool.Despite nursing an injury earlier in the campaign, Haaland has enjoyed another prolific season.Having helped City to the Treble during his first campaign in England, he has bagged 29 goals so far this term, with 18 of them coming in 23 Prem appearances. More

    • 250 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Spurs star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg shoves ref over with brutal barge as fans call it ‘most memorable moment of his career’

      by

      PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG barged the referee over during Denmark’s clash with Switzerland last night.The two nations met in a Copenhagen friendly having both already qualified for Euro 2024.Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg barged a referee out of his wayThe official went toppling to the turfPlay was allowed to continue after the incidentCredit: GettyHaving rarely started matches for Tottenham this season, Hojbjerg did make Denmark’s XI for the match.During the contest, he let some of his frustrations come to the surface.While chasing a loose ball on the edge of his own box, the 28-year-old found whistler Allard Lindhout to be in his way.Rather than try to manoeuvre around the official, Hojbjerg decided to shove him over.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe incident did not go unnoticed, with one fan writing online: “This is the most memorable thing of his career.”While a second insisted: “That was definitely intentional!”A third joked: “I’d have done the same.”But a fourth claimed: “He was too aggressive.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERAnother added: “This was personal.”Hojbjerg did not receive any punishment for the push and the game carried on.Tottenham fans say ‘that’s just ridiculous’ as transfer deadline day signing runs rings around defenders in viral video The midfielder went on to play 84 minutes before being replaced by Brentford’s Mathias Jensen.Denmark drew 0-0 with the Swiss in a low-key affair at the Parken Stadium.Kasper Hjulmand’s side will return to action on Tuesday when they host the Faroe Islands in Brondby.Hojbjerg will then return to Tottenham, who welcome Luton Town to North London next Saturday.The midfielder has started just six Premier League games this season, but has featured from the bench in a further 21.In January he was linked with Newcastle and Juventus, but a move failed to materialise.He will have one year remaining on his Spurs deal come the summer. More

    • 250 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘Happy non-league football day’ – Fans fear for referee’s safety after SIX red cards as match abandoned after 98 minutes

      by

      ONE non-league match descended into chaos before being abandoned following SIX red cards for one team.The Southern Counties East Premier Division match was brought to a halt in the 98th minute amid reported “fears for the referee’s safety”.Snodland Town vs Tunbridge Wells was abandoned after one side received six red cardsSnodland Town were hosting Tunbridge Wells in the ninth tier of the English game when the match took a turn in additional time.With the scores tied at 0-0 in the 98th minute Snodland Town saw FOUR players and TWO members of their management team dismissed by the referee.The hosts had just SEVEN players on the pitch, but before the game could get back underway with three minutes of added time remaining, the referee abandoned the match.Snodland Town posted on X: “The game gets abandoned by the ref for reasons still to be determined.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhile Tunbridge Wells’ official X account posted: “Flurry of red cards sees Snodland Town down to seven men, game abandoned with scores level at 0-0.”Despite no confirmation of the exact reason for the abandonment, a Tunbridge Wells supporters trust suggested it was due to safety concerns.The account posted online: “The game is abandoned with 3 mins of injury time left due to believed fears over the official’s safety.”And they were quick to point out that their beloved club had not failed to score against an opposition fielding just seven players.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThey added: “Just to confirm, our boys did not play against seven men and fail to score,”Three of the four outfielders were sent off in injury time before the ref abandoned the game.”Bizarre moment Arsenal target Nico Williams gets ‘dumbest red card ever seen’ after two yellows in 12 seconds – BEIN Sports 5Fans online were in disbelief at the crazy ending to the game and made their feelings known online.One wrote: “Crikey! Sounds like in the middle of the fight a match broke out! Ouch!!”While another added: “State of that… how hard is it to behave yourselves and finish the game.”A third commented: “You can tell we are in a golden generation of Non-League.”While others noted that the hectic head-to-head had rather fittingly taken place on Non-League Day.One fan joked: “Nice to see teams embracing #NonLeagueDay. The fans will be flocking back next week. Tremendous advert for the game.”While a second wrote: “This is Non-League Day Heritage.”And a third simply posted: “Happy Non-League Day!”READ MORE SUN STORIESSnodland Town were within one sending off of being forced to forfeit the game as a 3-0 loss despite the scores being 0-0.FA rules state that any team reduced to six players must forfeit the match regardless of the scoreline. More

    • 275 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd vs Liverpool referee had no choice but to send Amad Diallo off… but that doesn’t make it the right decision

      by

      AMAD DIALLO was sent off for a second caution after taking off his shirt off following his last-gasp FA Cup winner.The Manchester United winger’s actions were silly because referee John Brooks had NO option but to show a red card for his celebration.Amad Diallo is shown a red card after celebrating his winning goal against LiverpoolCredit: APThis law came in because of players making political statements.It wasn’t the case here, so I’d like to see the law changed as fans want goals and emotional celebrations.If Brooks showed common sense, he’d have been rapped by his bosses for failing to apply the law correctly.After the game, Diallo admitted he forgot that he was on a yellow card.Read more Man. Utd newsBut he wasn’t going to let the dismissal put a dampener on his day.He told ITV: “What a game. Today I think we deserved this win. One of the best games of the season so I’m very happy. It was an important moment, I think it was the best goal of my career.”I don’t believe, but this is football so you need to believe every moment. When he (Garnacho) gave me the ball I wanted to give it to him again but I shot.”I forgot the first yellow so I’m really disappointed to get the red card but the most important for me was to get the win.Most read in Football”Everyone came to me and said I deserved it. The most important [thing] for me today was the win.”United won a thrilling contest at Old Trafford 4-3.Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag on Liverpool winThey got off to the perfect start when Scott McTominay scored after just 10 minutes.However, Liverpool turned the game on its head before half-time with a quickfire double from Alexis Mac Allister and Mo Salah.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe visitors should have put the game beyond doubt, before Antony equalised for United with just three minutes left on the clock.In extra-time, Harvey Elliot restored Liverpool’s lead, but Marcus Rashford got his side level once again.Then, in the 120th minute, Ivory Coast winger Diallo raced clear to fire home the fourth to gift his club a famous victory. More

    • 188 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      West Ham rocked by Premier League’s longest ever VAR check that left David Moyes seething

      by

      DAVID MOYES vented his frustration at West Ham’s rough luck with referees after enduring the Premier League’s longest ever VAR check.The Hammers had an injury time winner against Aston Villa ruled out by VAR, causing Moyes to confront referee Jarred Gillett at full-time having had a fourth handball decision go against them in ten days.David Moyes was seething at the latest VAR decision against his sideCredit: AlamyRef Jarred Gillett looks at a monitor as he watches a VAR Review of Jarrod Bowen’s goalCredit: GettyIn all the injury-time check took a staggering five minutes and 37 seconds, a new record beating the five minutes it took to rule out a Jay Rodriguez goal for Burnley at Bournemouth last season.Ref Gillett and VAR Tony Harrington decided that Tomas Soucek had deliberately handled the ball before Jarrod Bowen turned it in. If the handball had been deemed accidental the goal would have stood.Against Villa, the hosts had two goals ruled out for handballs following a check either side of Mohammed Kudus firing one in a second after the whistle had been blown for a foul on Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez by Antonio.That comes after a controversial call not to award West Ham a late penalty for handball against Sander Berge last Sunday, with a similar incident happening in their first leg against Freiburg.Read more football newsMoyes said: “We think they are goals but VAR are the ones who decide, not us.”Burnley last week, Freiburg last week, two today. Every one of them has gone against us on handball situations so it’s hard to take.”You’ve got VAR so if VAR thinks it’s right they’ve got a chance to look at things so they must be right.”Football people see things differently. Maybe that’s where I see some of them differently.Most read in Football”Undoubtedly you might think that some of them hit people’s arms and it does and if that’s the rule we have to go with the rule.”But we had two that hit people’s arms last week, not one of them went our way. Not one of them.”The Tap In West Ham’s Moyes Out fans should ‘be careful what they wish for’ ft. Tony CotteeMoyes, who said he will not discuss the incidents with referees boss Howard Webb, added: “You can contact Howard yourselves and get the results.”A late winner, following Michail Antonio’s opener and Nicolo Zaniolo’s equaliser, would have made it three Prem wins from four games for the Hammers and strengthened their European charge.Zaniolo has not started a Premier League game in 2024 but made a huge impact off the bench, ensuring Villa did not suffer back-to-back league defeats.Boss Unai Emery said: “I’m very happy for Nicolo, hopefully we can keep him in this mood for the rest of the season.”When they scored the plan changed and in the second half we did better than in the first half.”We dominated, scored the goal and tried to win the match. It’s a draw but the result is good for us.” More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Mike Dean lost for words live on Sky Sports after VAR mix up for ‘stonewall’ penalty during Premier League clash

      by

      FORMER Premier League referee Mike Dean was left dumbfounded by VAR confusion during Burnley’s 2-1 win over Brentford.Defender Sergio Reguilon was dismissed in the eighth minute for denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity, with Vincent Kompany’s men also awarded a penalty.Sky Sports thought the VAR monitor was not working but they were incorrectCredit: PAMike Dean was left baffled by the VAR – which turned out to be working perfectlyCredit: Sky SportsAnd Dean confirmed in Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday studio before the decision was made that it should be a red card and spot kick.As referee Darren Bond went to the pitchside monitor after originally not awarding the penalty, Dean said: “Stonewall [penalty], he has kneed him in the back of the leg and there is a push as well. Paul Tierney is the VAR and he has sent Darren [Bond] over.”It will be an interesting decision really because if the penalty stands, he [Reguilon] has made no attempt to play the ball so it could be a potential red card, too.”But Dean was then left baffled as those in the Sky Sports studio could not see anything on the VAR monitor.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDean added: “It’s plugged in but there’s no pictures right now.”It’s not the fault of the refs or the VAR, it’s actually the people running the system, so something technical went wrong somewhere.”This was actually not the case, with Sky Sports subsequently clarifying that the VAR technology was working fine.In fact, the five-minute stoppage to assess the incident was largely due to the VAR analysing an offside in the build-up.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe penalty and red card were eventually dished out, before Jacob Bruun Larsen converted the spot kick in the 10th minute.David Datro Fofana doubled Burnley’s lead shortly after the hour mark, before Kristoffer Ajer pulled one back for Brentford late on.Ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean embarrassed live on Sky Sports and told ‘get to Specsavers’ during Soccer SaturdayIt is Burnley’s first win in 12 games – a run which stretches back to December.But they are still eight points adrift of Premier League safety with just nine games remaining. More

    • 188 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      I’m an award-winning porn star… now I’m living my dream after becoming a football referee

      by

      A VETERAN porn star has told how she is training to be a football referee after quitting hardcore blue movies.Award-winning Brazilian adult star Elisa Sanches, 42, is among some porn platforms’ most-watched performers.Elisa Sanchesis swapping the film industry for refereeingCredit: InstagramElisa has admitted she is concerned about her past coming back to bite herCredit: InstagramBut now Elisa is planning to get her kit ON to learn how to be a football ref.While worried about how some fans will react to her porn past, she cannot wait to become a match official.Elisa told local media: “My biggest fear is prejudice in the field. It’s the only thing that was holding me back.”It was always my childhood dream, but life let me forget that.READ MORE IN GLAM”I’ve set a goal that this year I would sign up and finally start my course to become a football referee.”She added: “I feel ready and in good shape with my body to go to the field. I see a bright future as a referee.”I want to study hard for the tests and pass the first time.”However, Elisa fears that she could be taunted by fans and ignored by players because of her adult movies.Most read in FootballShe says: “I confess that sometimes I wonder if the players and the public would respect me.”I’m a woman and a former porn star, so I have to be prepared for anything, but I’m still very excited.Seven sports stars who started an OnlyFans including ex-footballer and British boxing icon”I’ve already taken my first step, which was choosing my school and financial organisation.”Elisa has already served as a referee in 2020 in a charity football match in Queimados, Rio de Janeiro.She explained: “I remember this special day in my life with great affection.”I was fulfilling a dream – even if unofficially, but I got a taste of what it’s like to be a referee on the field.”Elisa has starred in hundreds of raunchy adult movies, like ‘Lesbian Security Guards’ and ‘Maid Takes Boss’.Crowd pleasers like ‘Big *ss Maid’ and ‘Uber Without Panties’ have won her more than seven million views.And Elisa, who has 1.8 million Instagram followers, has previously told how rich and powerful men often try to hook up with adult stars like herself.She told local media: “It happens a lot more than people think.”Elisa added: “Politicians and public figures often seek discreet encounters with people in adult entertainment, and they often require confidentiality terms to protect their public images.READ MORE SUN STORIES”My priority is always to respect the agreements I have made, even if it means keeping certain secrets.”Transparency is important, but it is also essential to respect people’s privacy.”Elisa has 1.8 million followers on InstagramCredit: InstagramShe revealed how politicians have tried to hook up with herCredit: Instagram More