Lack of consultation affecting domestic game

ONE of the underlying flaws in the administration of the domestic game is a lack of consultation. In one corner are the managers, in another the players, in another the club representatives and the administrators, in another the referees, in another the supporters and so on. Rarely if ever do two or more of the above come together for their mutual benefit or that of the National League.

The supporters are arguably the most disenfranchised of the lot.

The Shamrock Rovers survey amongst 100 of their fans which we referred to here last week may not have been particularly representative of the wider picture. But then again may be it was. The point is we don't know.

The FAI and/or the National League should employ a marketing company on a regular basis to ascertain the views of National League fans, some time supporters and even those football people not inclined to attend domestic games. They might learn something.

Then take the referees and the managers. Never the twain shall meet. Except that was until September 1995, when the then St James's Gate manager, Pat Byrne, organised a meeting/seminar between the two fraternities. A surprisingly numerous turn out from the majority of managers precipitated a discussion which was widely hailed by all and sundry present as extremely positive and harmonious.

The managers were surprised to learn from Brendan Shorte that National League referees on the UEFA panel approached domestic games differently from their occasional matches in Europe when, for example, they were far more severe in punishing the tackle from behind.

Paddy Daly, the chief referees' inspector, and Shorte, were perhaps equally surprised to learn that the managers would favour a similar approach from referees for domestic games - even if this meant an initial wave of yellow and red cards.

Even the managers were probably surprised to find themselves in so much agreement. Everyone concurred that it had been a promising meeting, in the light of which further discussions between the two fraternities would be conducted, and missives would eventually be despatched to all clubs outlining a new, and crucially, uniform approach to refereeing at NL games.

So what's happened since? Nothing, it would appear. Diddleysquat. Has there been a noticeable change in approach, or a uniform one?

Hardly. Has the old sense of polarisation, a them and us attitude between managers (along with players) and referees even been strengthened? You betcha.

It's hardly surprising given the only time they have consulted officially since has been during the course of games. Were there regular meetings between managers and referees (at least once a year) this sense of polarisation would not be so acute.

Another key message conveyed to the referees by the managers via the forum of that meeting in St James's Gate was that overt familiarisation between referees and teams would be avoided. Yet, ridiculously, Dennis McArdle was appointed to referee three successive Shelbourne games inside 12 days last month. Two league games sandwiched a Cup tie in this instance, which would suggest that this problem has been compounded by a lack of consultation between those who appoint referees for FAI Cup ties and those who appoint referees for National League games.

This is particularly unfair on referees themselves. Nor is it confined to a crossover between League and Cup. Last weekend alone, Paul McKeown was appointed to his second successive Dundalk match and John Feighery to his second Home Farm match in a row, while, next Friday in the Cup Aidan O'Regan does his, second Bohemians game running. This is just, rank bad administration and surely wouldn't happen anywhere else. Which begs the question who appoints the referees?

The likes of Mick Tomney (widely respected amongst players and managers alike) and Tommy Traynor appear to be on the outside looking in. Pat Byrne was decidedly puzzled to come across Traynor refereeing an under 16 international last Sunday morning, whereas two of the three officials for a Dublin derby at Belfield Park travelled from Cork.

Tomey is now back in the fold after twice resigning from the National League panel since the court case against the FAI faked by himself and Traynor. Referee chiefs deny there is any ensuing vendetta or grudge, but many within the game wonder differently. As one manager says: "I don't know what goes on in the referees' society."

There are also a few aspects of refereeing that the National League could copy from, say, their English counterparts. Pat Byrne recalls that in his days across the water, the referee outlined his approach in each dressing room before a game (with the opposing captain in attendance to ensure that the same message was conveyed both times).

Managers in the English Premiership are also entitled to file reports assessing a referee's handling of a game - in addition to the reports of the referees' inspector. Applied here this would probably reduce some of the inconsistencies applied to various aspects of the game - the tackle from behind, challenges on goalkeepers, and so forth.

But the bottom line is that there needs to be more consultation, and prevailing standards now demand initiatives from within the Referees' Society and Merrion Square.