FOOTBALL COLUMN: Liam Beckett talks...

However, I think it would be fairly safe to assume that there is a general consensus of opinion, and indeed agreement, amongst most of the local footballing fraternity that the current standard of refereeing falls well short of what is expected.

Such has the mood changed over recent times from that of disrespect to a mild form of hatred that I now genuinely feel concerned at times for the very safety of the man in the middle.

That’s why last week I sought the views of a long time friend and someone who I feel is one of the very best referees this country has ever produced , and that person is none other than Alan Snoddy.

The Q&A went as follows,

LB: Did you ever play the game yourself, and if so who for and at what level?

AS: As I started refereeing when I was 16 years old I didn’t play at a high level, only for my school and Boys’ Brigade teams, and I realised I would never be a top player.

LB: What possessed you to take up refereeing?

AS: At that time I was playing hockey on Saturday mornings for my school, Friends School Lisburn, and refereeing junior football in the afternoons. I knew at that time if I didn’t enjoy refereeing I could return to hockey and play at the top level, having represented Ulster at schoolboy level. I took up refereeing simply because I saw it as an alternative route in a sport I loved, and perhaps an opportunity to progress to a level that I could never dream of playing at.

LB: How long were you in the game as a ref and what would do you consider was your career highlight?

AS: I refereed for 32 years, 25 of these at Irish League level, and 20 as a FIFA referee (1980-2000). Domestically my career highlights were the four Irish Cup Finals & internationally of course the FIFA World Cup final tournaments in 1986 & 1990, plus over 100 international games throughout Europe.

LB: Personally, I feel really aggrieved by some of the rule changes to our game, and I feel many fans do likewise, so what’s your personal opinion on the current offside law, does anyone really understand it?

AS: I agree the many recent interpretations to the offside law have caused confusion but hopefully now everything is much clearer. The most important thing is to aim for a uniform interpretation, but as in other situations in football the referee’s opinion can differ and this causes the confusion. A referee should take into consideration if the player who is in an offside position clearly attempts to play the ball which is close to him when this actions affects or impacts on the opponent, or he makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of the opponent to play the ball. Theory & practice!

LB: The ball being kicked into touch when a player is supposedly down injured and then the opposition having to kick it back to their opponents to commence the game?

AS: This is not in the Laws of the Game as the opposition player is under no obligation to return the ball to his opponents. This action is one of Fair Play and sportsmanship and should be encouraged. We know what happens when the team keep possession, temperatures rise as the expected gesture of returning the ball is not respected.

LB: Injured players having to leave the field of play and then having to make their way around the pitch to the halfway line to await the referees permission to re-enter the game?

AS: This is something I would support changing. This was introduced into the Laws of the Game many years ago to prevent players feigning injury and disrupting the flow of the game for tactical reasons and to waste time when they were winning. I would prefer to allow referees more flexibility in these situations. A scenario when an attacker is clearly injured by a defender and he must go off seems unfair, even more so if he is a specialist free-kick taker and his team are deprived of his skills at a possible goal scoring opportunity. Should a player obviously be attempting to disrupt the game then the referee can then enforce his temporary removal from the field of play.

LB: The deliberate pulling and tugging of of shirts and the deliberate blocking of opponents etc inside the penalty area nowadays at all set pieces, when will refs start to award penalty kicks and issue red cards to stamp it out once and for all?

AS: Yes, this a question asked many times. It is proven that in games now with Additional Assistant Referees (AAR’s) this holding & pushing has dramatically reduced. The extra pair of eyes act as a deterrent. Defenders are as guilty as forwards so we would see as many penalties as free-kicks to the defenders, but I guess only strong refereeing can stop it and importantly a consistent approach taken.

LB: What is your honest opinion on the standard of today’s referees – have the standards dropped?

AS: Having left my position with the Irish FA in September 2013 as Referee Development Officer, I am not in a position to judge or compare standards in recent years. A lot of top referees retired recently due to age, fitness issues, or personal reasons, and also several young referees have arrived into top football so there is a transitional stage at present. This can be compared to a club set-up when success in previous years can not be maintained due to the loss of experienced players, and the gradual introduction of younger blood into the team.

LB: Have you ever known the mutual respect between players, managers, fans and referees to be so low?

AS: I know from my own experience this was always a problem. We tried many times to bring managers and referees together for an evening to discuss matters in a neutral environment, but it rarely worked. I know I always told clubs we would welcome invitations to talk with the players at their club, but we were never approached. On one occasion I went to meet a supporters’ club from one of our local teams and it was a success. But we should keep trying, of course.

LB: On a performance-related basis do you feel current referees are too highly paid?

AS: No, I don’t. In fact if comparisons are made with similar sized countries in Europe we would still be behind some of these. At the same time our referees receive more payment than some countries so I would say at present the remuneration is fair. Remember it is not just the match, it is training during the week, attending seminars, and travelling. The performance-related element would be reflected in the number of appointments.

LB: Would you fancy being back refereeing in today’s modern game?

AS: Of course I would as the support given to improve refereeing now is much better. But I cannot complain about my time in the middle and there is always a time to stop and I am confident I made the right decision at the right time. Other opportunities to stay in the game were there as an Observer and Instructor and I am now involved in these roles at home and abroad.

LB: How does Alan Snoddy now spend his Saturday?

AS: At football matches. When I am at home I am an Observer at our domestic games watching our referees in action and trying to pass on advice to help them improve. As Head of Refereeing now in Cyprus I make regular visits there for the weekend games, taking in five matches Saturday - Monday in the top leagues, mainly focusing on trying to find talented referees for the future. This role also involves leading the Referees Committee, assisting with educational seminars, the talent & mentor programme, and overall responsibility for refereeing in Cyprus. A new challenge in a different environment, but one that I am enjoying immensely. Other doors have opened with FIFA asking me to take seminars abroad, the most recent with the Polish top referees, and I have responsibility for six countries in Europe as a special advisor to the UEFA Referee Convention Panel assisting them with their referee development structures and ongoing work. So life is busy, but with 44 years in refereeing and the vast experience that I have accumulated at home and abroad, is I hope being put to good use helping others improve.