https://www.scmp.com/rss/133682/feed William Lai is a qualified soccer referee, instructor and assessor, and has also officiated in England and Australia. As an educator, scientist and social scientist, he is also interested in human behaviour which is why his column offers an alternative and rational commentary of what happens on and off the pitch. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com It was the year when professionalism came to Hong Kong soccer, when more money than ever was invested, and when everything would be better. So how did the inaugural 2014-15 Hong Kong Premier League play out? As with any stakeholder of a business organisation, progress is seen through publicly available results and measured by revenue or other key performance indicators. By looking at the facts and figures - available from the HKFA website - we know there were nine teams in the BOCG Life Hong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1811323/why-inaugural-hong-kong-premier-league-seems-more-same?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1811323/why-inaugural-hong-kong-premier-league-seems-more-same?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2015 14:46:25 +0000 Referees know the biggest tantrums often come, not from kids, but from pushy parents and combative coaches. Go to any youth soccer match – there are still plenty of cup finals and youth tournaments this season – and there will always be loud obnoxious parents behaving like they know what’s best for their son or daughter, and what everyone else ought to be doing. All this off-field drama takes the shine away from the kids, who are supposed to be enjoying themselves There will always be coaches... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1805575/youth-soccer-need-parental-culture-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1805575/youth-soccer-need-parental-culture-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2015 10:45:00 +0000 Some teams have all the luck, some teams have all the pain, some get all the breaks, while others do nothing but complain. The song lyrics - slightly amended - perfectly captures what happens every weekend on soccer pitches all over the world. Take the EPL last weekend, where Sunderland's two goals against Everton were the result of lucky deflections. Burnley and QPR both suffered the pain of relegation. Chelsea got all the breaks against Liverpool after Cesc Fabregas escaped a red card in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1797166/manchester-united-joey-barton-its-all-about-luck-pain-and-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1797166/manchester-united-joey-barton-its-all-about-luck-pain-and-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2015 13:00:00 +0000 Eden Hazard and Harry Kane were chosen by their fellow counterparts for the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, respectively. But just how credible are rating systems for choosing the best in soccer? To be voted as the best by one's peers is regarded by those in the field as highly prestigious. Chelsea's John Terry, who won the Professional Footballers' Association Players' honour in 2005, said it was "the ultimate accolade". Others, like managers Jose Mourinho and Arsene... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1788723/referees-should-have-say-player-year-selection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1788723/referees-should-have-say-player-year-selection?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2015 14:45:48 +0000 Goalkeepers are the oddballs because they do not have nifty footwork and any mistake will usually influence a match's outcome. As such, there has long been a sneaky suspicion that referees overly protect goalkeepers. From last weekend's English Premier League matches, Arsenal's David Ospina would wholeheartedly agree, Manchester City's Joe Hart would not, and Aston Villa's Brad Guzman would want to forget his nightmare. The goalless Arsenal-Chelsea match belied the fact that this meeting was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1782577/oddballs-they-are-goalkeepers-are-not-protected-referees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1782577/oddballs-they-are-goalkeepers-are-not-protected-referees?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2015 16:30:15 +0000 There are many funny, ironic and hypocritical incidents in soccer, which perhaps explain why the game is so engrossing. Referees observe these more than most, but anyone watching closely and from a neutral perspective can see them, too. For instance, during last weekend's English Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United, it was a pleasant surprise to see the match officials call a foul throw-in against Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic. And there were no complaints from the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1774687/cheating-and-hypocrisy-its-ironic-players-attitudes-make-soccer-so?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1774687/cheating-and-hypocrisy-its-ironic-players-attitudes-make-soccer-so?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:35:36 +0000 Penalties to players are pretty straightforward, but to referees they can be confusing conundrums because there are 30 possible outcomes from 20 different scenarios that can occur during this apparently simple act. Referees are expected to know every one. German referee Marja Kurtes, 28, discovered this recently when she messed up during a European Women's Under-19 Championship qualifying match between England and Norway. Her howler - a technical error in law - would have flown under the radar... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1767850/unprecedented-uefa-decision-replay-u-19-intenational-may-prove-costly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1767850/unprecedented-uefa-decision-replay-u-19-intenational-may-prove-costly?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2015 13:30:00 +0000 No matter how silly and infantile throwing tantrums and clumps of grass may be on the soccer pitch, they can still get you sent off. The latest example comes from the Spanish top-flight league where Celta Vigo striker Fabian Orellana lost his rag at the time-wasting antics of Barcelona's Sergio Busquets. An enraged Orellana, 29, remonstrated with the referee before ripping up a clump of grass and throwing it at the midfielder. Throwing grass at someone is lightweight when we recall Eric... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1762453/overreaction-time-waste-tantrum-shows-no-common-sense?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1762453/overreaction-time-waste-tantrum-shows-no-common-sense?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2015 13:50:15 +0000 Is having billions of pounds a blessing or a curse? The English Premier League's latest cash cow comes from its £5.1 billion (HK$60 billion) three-year domestic television revenue for 2016-17 to 2018-19, up from the £3.018 billion deal made three years ago. But even before the ink had dried on the contract, questions were asked about how this staggering amount would be divided among those fortunate enough to be related to the world's wealthiest domestic soccer league. match officials are always... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1754582/referees-are-poor-outcasts-sea-english-premier-league-wealth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1754582/referees-are-poor-outcasts-sea-english-premier-league-wealth?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2015 13:45:30 +0000 Spitting is an unsavoury act, and, by his actions, Manchester United's Jonny Evans has revealed an equally unsavoury side to his character. The Red Devils centre back denied a charge of spitting at Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse this month and, after the FA found him guilty as charged, immediately maintained his innocence. The FA, having considered the video evidence and accepted the supporting arguments, explained the deliberations of its independent three-member panel. Players like this are... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1748007/coddled-footballers-need-own-actions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1748007/coddled-footballers-need-own-actions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2015 16:12:31 +0000 In sport what is more important: playing the game or playing games? Nowhere else but in soccer is this distinction more apparent, with plenty of cheating and gamesmanship instead of genuine sportsmanship and model behaviour. Chelsea's siege on Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers during their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain last week comes as no huge surprise. It is simply the logical consequence of the ugly, unethical and underhanded approach that has been allowed to fester and flourish to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1742126/chelseas-masters-dark-arts-highlight-win-all-costs-mentality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1742126/chelseas-masters-dark-arts-highlight-win-all-costs-mentality?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2015 12:45:12 +0000 The term "Men in Black" is more likely to conjure up images of Will Smith blasting aliens into outer space rather than referees carding players off the soccer pitch. That's because the game's leading law enforcers are mostly kitted out in lemon yellow, lipstick red, sherbet blue and even fuchsia pink. Over in the rugby world, Australia's NRL referees have ditched their colourful shirts claiming their "Pretty In Pink" tops undermine their authority. Even though rugby referees command far better... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1736136/colourful-shirts-undermine-match-officials-authority-or-do-they?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1736136/colourful-shirts-undermine-match-officials-authority-or-do-they?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2015 14:45:15 +0000 Technology in soccer has always been an abhorrent matter, with many "dinosaurs" in the game regarding it as pure evil. Last week, the game's panel of prehistoric "Powers That Be" reinforced its stubborn and narrow-minded reputation by voting against authorising a live trial of video-based assistance for referees. The International Football Association Board failed to reach agreement on sanctioning an experiment that would allow refereeing decisions to either be confirmed or overturned using... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1730276/ifab-dinosaurs-rejects-trial-run-video-technology-assist-soccer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1730276/ifab-dinosaurs-rejects-trial-run-video-technology-assist-soccer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:30:30 +0000 What's the best way to stop Eden from passing you by? Hazard a guess? Several kicks ought to do it. Hazard is the most fouled player in the English Premier League this season. The Chelsea star was on the receiving end of some "special" treatment in last week's Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain, when he was fouled nine times in a match where the referee issued only two cautions. Everyone knows a team's best attacking player is both a godsend and a liability. Such a player can... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1724350/where-do-we-draw-line-persistent-fouling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1724350/where-do-we-draw-line-persistent-fouling?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:27:54 +0000 This year's Asian Cup and the African Cup of Nations had strong narratives, and plenty of drama and contrasts. Hosts Australia and Equatorial Guinea lit up their tournaments in unexpected ways. Who would have predicted that the Asian Cup would have been an overwhelming success Down Under? Before the tournament, none of the 16 Asian teams were in the top 50 of the Fifa world rankings and the four Asian teams at the World Cup - Australia, Japan, South Korea and Iran - were woeful. Who would have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1711254/mixed-fortunes-hosts-regional-showpieces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1711254/mixed-fortunes-hosts-regional-showpieces?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2015 14:11:18 +0000 The idea of introducing a rugby-style "sin bin" in football was raised again. Superficially, the sin-bin system appears reasonable. The justification behind it is that instead of referees sending players off the field permanently, it is better to give players another chance using a "white card". In this way, teams are only disadvantaged by a player spending a period away from the action rather than ordered off for the remainder of the match and any future suspension. Obviously, players and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1703723/sin-bins-mark-red-cards-are-correct-penalties-unfair-play?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1703723/sin-bins-mark-red-cards-are-correct-penalties-unfair-play?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2015 16:56:34 +0000 Not all refereeing mistakes are equal; some are more equal than others. So can soccer lovers distinguish between honest mistakes and the inexcusable? Many howlers such as incorrect handballs, offsides and penalties occur naturally as a consequence of human error, but unfortunately they obtain huge media exposure when in the English Premier League. If we cut through all the noise, vitriol and bias, many of these decisions are forgivable and only a handful are indefensible. The unacceptable was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1694999/genuine-refereeing-howlers-are-unforgivable-its-important-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1694999/genuine-refereeing-howlers-are-unforgivable-its-important-know?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2015 14:45:30 +0000 Give them an inch and players will always take a mile, especially where free kicks are concerned. Strangely, referees can sometimes be lax about where play restarts, but will also demand absolute precision in other areas of the pitch. At face value, this lack of consistency appears to be a problem, but here's the real truth why referees may or may not stick to precision on where free kicks should be taken. Whenever there is a foul against the defending team near their goal line, referees permit... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1689299/referees-can-exercise-discretion-free-kick-ball-placement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1689299/referees-can-exercise-discretion-free-kick-ball-placement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:15:00 +0000 Grown men behaving badly have only themselves to blame. Players and coaches can have no complaints if referees treat them like naughty children. Pundit Martin Keown recently revealed his true feelings about referees, and in particular Premiership referee Phil Dowd, when saying: "Whenever he booked me he would flash the card so quickly it felt he was about to punch me. Dowd treats players like little boys and can inflame and aggravate situations. He really used to wind me up." The former Arsenal... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1680211/spare-rod-and-you-will-spoil-players?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1680211/spare-rod-and-you-will-spoil-players?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2015 14:54:46 +0000 When is handball not handball? When the referee says so. On New Year's Day, there were enough handball incidents in the English Premier League to help everyone understand the definition. If only players, coaches, fans and commentators would pay attention. For a start, it does not just involve the hand but the whole arm. The arm - the area uncovered as if players were wearing sleeveless shirts - is the only part of the body that can be penalised for contacting the ball. This demonstrates how... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1677426/getting-handball-calls-right-no-easy-matter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1677426/getting-handball-calls-right-no-easy-matter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:55:24 +0000 Everyone loves giving out cards during the festive season and referees are no different. They dished out seven red cards in 30 matches in the English Premier League over the Christmas period and there could have been more. This is a 20 per cent increase compared with the 31 reds meted out in 160 matches earlier this season. Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud can have no complaints about his Christmas present. In a moment of madness, he butted Nedum Onuoha in the face. Referee Martin Atkinson saw the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1672720/rational-ref-referees-active-practice-handing-out-cards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1672720/rational-ref-referees-active-practice-handing-out-cards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:15:00 +0000 It doesn't take a genius to run down the clock. Even ball boys do it with aplomb. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho complained about the time-wasting tactics of ball boys during his team's first defeat of the season away to Newcastle United. It is a certainty ball boys are told how to run down the clock depending on how their team are doing In defeat, people always look for excuses and Mourinho is no special exception. "We wanted to play more football but it was not possible because a few things I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/664725/rational-ref-lets-call-time-those-who-run-down-clock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/664725/rational-ref-lets-call-time-those-who-run-down-clock?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2014 13:46:58 +0000 Forget Flash, Spider-Man and Wolverine. Referees are the real superheroes in the world of soccer. And like these superhumans who do good deeds and fight for justice, referees are treated as freaks and mutants because they are seen to be different from normal human beings. Referees are superhuman because there are certain expectations and high standards that they are held to. By the same token, they are also considered to be subhuman. There is no middle ground. First, referees must have amazing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1661208/rational-ref-beyond-perfection-referees-are-real-superheroes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1661208/rational-ref-beyond-perfection-referees-are-real-superheroes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:57:25 +0000 Soccer is far more successful in promoting the idea of handbags to the world than either Louis Vuitton or Prada. This fashionable colloquialism describes spiky confrontations where the rowdy participants are not really serious about inflicting actual bodily harm on each other. We see handbags all the time, where players scuffle with one another, call each other names, put their hands on necks and faces, and flick rude gestures. Essentially, these asinine actions are non-threatening but each... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1655667/rational-ref-why-football-players-need-leave-their-handbags-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1655667/rational-ref-why-football-players-need-leave-their-handbags-home?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:22:13 +0000 Dave and Malky are a right pair of Charlies. This statement is not offensive, whereas these two individuals have been offensive by insisting it is acceptable to call Chinese "Chinks" and to say Jews "chase money". However, being offensive these days is no longer absolutely black and white with the zeitgeist in many different societies continually changing and at very different rates. What is fascinating is the wide spectrum of views from everybody who has an opinion. Whenever this column... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1650144/whelan-should-be-given-red-card-racism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1650144/whelan-should-be-given-red-card-racism?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:30:15 +0000 Win bonuses are an anathema. Soccer professionals on contracts are already paid to perform, and yet are also offered performance bonuses as incentives. This motivational practice is morally corrupt and casts doubt about the commitment of players and coaches. In principle, there is little difference between incentivising someone to perform well and to perform poorly. Offering financial rewards can lead individuals down the slippery slope of bribery and match fixing. As soon as incentives are... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1644797/rational-ref-win-bonuses-pointless-incentives-professionals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1644797/rational-ref-win-bonuses-pointless-incentives-professionals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:56:50 +0000 Bright shiny yellow balls abound in the English Premier League after replacing the standard white ones, which will not be seen again until spring. The official reason is to combat the dark, gloomy conditions of the cold, wintery months in Britain. This rationale appears odd and pear-shaped. The newly introduced yellow and purple Nike Ordem Hi-Vis ball, rather than white, maximises its visibility in darker conditions, according to Rafael Ortega, the company's global product manager. If this is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1639166/bickering-over-colour-just-trivial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1639166/bickering-over-colour-just-trivial?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:06:44 +0000 Hong Kong soccer clubs take note - dreams can come true. Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia's youngest club and winners of the Asian Champions League, are the latest embodiment of the expression. The Wanderers' calm, composed and professional manner during the second leg against Al Hilal at the hostile King Fahd stadium last Saturday might have won them more fans. The way they managed the intense pressure and provocation is a great lesson to all players, coaches and clubs who face overwhelming... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1633636/western-wanderers-show-money-isnt-everything-after-conquering-al?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1633636/western-wanderers-show-money-isnt-everything-after-conquering-al?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2014 13:37:00 +0000 The truth? No one can handle it. Not coaches, players, supporters and referees, it would seem. The modern professional game has come to a head whereby victory corrupts - and absolute victory corrupts absolutely. This overriding win-at-all-costs mentality breeds a soccer culture of cheating, contempt and criticism that makes anyone in the game think twice about being sincerely honest and truthful. This culture of cheating at all costs can be seen developing at grass-roots and youth... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1628417/rational-ref-culture-cheating-means-no-honesty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1628417/rational-ref-culture-cheating-means-no-honesty?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2014 13:14:44 +0000 There's nothing too difficult about the economics of getting bums on seats. If there is a ready market to exploit, soccer fans will come in droves. This helps us understand why Hong Kong fans generally stay away from our stadiums. In England, doomsayers have jumped on the bandwagon of the BBC's recent survey that reveals fans being exploited by their favourite clubs into overpaying for goods and services. These cynics, according to Oscar Wilde, know the price of everything and the value of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1623135/epl-has-basics-down-pat-hong-kong-misses-mark-yet-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1623135/epl-has-basics-down-pat-hong-kong-misses-mark-yet-again?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2014 13:30:30 +0000 Some goals are more meaningful than others. None of the seven goals scored by Argentina against Hong Kong this week was considered worthy enough for any of the esteemed players to celebrate with verve. But when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his record-breaking 50th goal for Sweden last month, he promptly removed his shirt to reveal "50+" on the back and "it's you who made this possible" written in Swedish on the front. What messages would Wayne Rooney conjure up when he reaches his 50th goal for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1617868/too-much-burden-referees-rule-hidden-messages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1617868/too-much-burden-referees-rule-hidden-messages?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:45:30 +0000 Sport reflects society and society can mirror sport. The recent clashes between police, student protesters and anti-Occupy demonstrators in Hong Kong reminded me of how referees officiate matches involving unruly teams. During heated confrontations, the public perception is that the police - and the government who employs them - do not enforce the law impartially. Right or wrong, the police are being accused of bias because of apparently inconsistent application of the law. They used tear gas... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1613025/video-key-resolving-accusations-unfairness-aimed-police-referees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1613025/video-key-resolving-accusations-unfairness-aimed-police-referees?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2014 14:45:30 +0000 By any other name, a kick is a kick and not a trip. It is these differences of severity referees are trained to spot that truly sets them apart from players, coaches, commentators and fans. Wayne Rooney's blatant kick at West Ham's Stewart Downing last weekend was correctly punished with a red card. The kick was high and landed on Downing's thigh and knee area. Referee Lee Mason considered this kick to be a challenge of excessive force, which is why he sent off Manchester United's captain for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1608217/referees-must-decide-kick-or-trip-producing-red-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1608217/referees-must-decide-kick-or-trip-producing-red-card?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:30:00 +0000 Luxury designer watches are ticking time bombs. Just ask the Fifa executives and soccer association chiefs who received watches as gifts during their swanky tournament get-togethers, and which are now just waiting to blow up in their faces. The revelation that the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) gave Parmigiani watches, each valued at £16,400 (HK$205,000), to 32 association chiefs, 28 Fifa executive committee members and five other members of South American associations is further... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1600408/receiving-goodies-ugly-scourge-fifa-executives-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1600408/receiving-goodies-ugly-scourge-fifa-executives-game?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:45:45 +0000 Last weekend many players wilted, fried and underperformed in the scorching heat of the afternoon sun. What a pity that when it comes to applying common sense at HKFA-sanctioned matches, referees have their hands - and minds - firmly tied. Referees are taught to consider the safety of players as a priority, but rather worryingly are told to apply common sense when evaluating safety. If there is a thunderstorm or heavy downpour, referees will quite happily suspend the match until weather... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1595457/rational-ref-common-sense-needed-officials-deal-heat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1595457/rational-ref-common-sense-needed-officials-deal-heat?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2014 14:00:45 +0000 Uefa chief Michel Platini has thrown the book at Franck Ribery, threatening the Bayern Munich winger with a three-match ban should he refuse to play for France if selected by national coach Didier Deschamps. This despite the 31-year-old Ribery - who since 2006 gained 80 caps and 16 goals for his country - having officially announced his international retirement in August because he is battling injury and has decided to make way for younger players. Platini claims the Fifa statutes make it clear... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1590275/loyalty-depends-nature-paymaster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1590275/loyalty-depends-nature-paymaster?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:12:36 +0000 This summer, English Premier League clubs collectively spent a staggering £858 million (HK$1.09 billion) in player transfer fees, which beat last year's record haul of £630 million by over 33 per cent - but what do these numbers really mean? Over the past two decades since the EPL began, players' salaries, transfer fees, sponsorship deals, and club finances have generally shot up. Much of this "inflation" has to do with the incredible TV deals that the EPL generates with every three-year... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1585296/were-signings-really-pricey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1585296/were-signings-really-pricey?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2014 14:45:15 +0000 The sweeper role is apparently also effective whenever there is a carpet nearby. Keeping offensive actions and attitudes - like racism, sexism and homophobia - under wraps is what keeps soccer in the dark ages and traditionalists in power. Revelations regarding racist phone texts, with 42-year-old Malky Mackay calling Cardiff City's Chinese Malaysian owner Vincent Tan a "chink" and South Korea midfielder Kim Bo-kyung and his representatives "fkn chinkys", show just how offensive attitudes are... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1581482/taking-soft-stance-zero-tolerance-wrong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/1581482/taking-soft-stance-zero-tolerance-wrong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:29:27 +0000 Loathed a lot more than he was liked, the surprise retirement of England's most successful referee, Howard Webb, has thrown up some interesting social commentary about the perceived state of officiating among fans. Despite refereeing with distinction for a quarter of a century, being a professional full-time referee in the English Premier League for 11 years and still at the top of his game, twitter was awash with sarcastic comments and sardonic photos of the 43-year-old Yorkshireman. If the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1578634/referee-howard-webb-will-be-remembered-his-mistakes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1578634/referee-howard-webb-will-be-remembered-his-mistakes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2014 13:45:30 +0000 Referees are often the butt of jokes through no fault of their own, but in Thailand they have only themselves to blame after spending their preseason swearing oaths to the Emerald Buddha to help clear match-fixing allegations. Apparently the powerful green giant will keep referees on the straight and narrow. In case this fails, the Football Association of Thailand has also forced referees to take lie-detector tests. Would similar measures work for Hong Kong soccer? Could paying homage to the Big... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1573706/its-not-just-referees-who-need-guidance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1573706/its-not-just-referees-who-need-guidance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:45:45 +0000 For all its exquisite entertainment, excitement and excellence, the World Cup has also shown some ugly facets of the beautiful game. The cause arises from a culture of denial that has spread malignantly throughout the game where most of the stakeholders, including as referees and Fifa executive members, are incapable of accepting the facts and telling the whole truth. The ultimate manifestation of this is the fallout over Luis Suarez's Jaws moment on Giorgio Chiellini. Fifa's disciplinary... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1550527/game-marred-culture-denial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1550527/game-marred-culture-denial?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2014 14:27:47 +0000 As if by magic, the sudden appearance of vanishing spray at the World Cup has instantly dispelled the myth it is difficult to introduce new and innovative changes to the game. For decades, traditionalists and technophobes helped create the impression it was a lengthy procedure to get approval from the game's chief guardians, the International Football Association Board. The official body oversees the laws of the game and every year produces a new edition of the rules that is taken as the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1537839/vanishing-spray-bit-magic-applied-dash-common-sense?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1537839/vanishing-spray-bit-magic-applied-dash-common-sense?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Jun 2014 15:30:30 +0000 Referees get excited about the World Cup just like other fans, although in addition to scrutinising players and teams they also tend closely to watch the performances of match officials. Here are some expected scenarios. It is likely England and Manchester United player Wayne Rooney will be cautioned for his incessant foul-mouthed exchanges with referees. Rooney and others may get away with swearing at officials in the English Premier League, but at the World Cup players will come across many... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1526062/world-cup-also-represents-pinnacle-match-officials-careers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1526062/world-cup-also-represents-pinnacle-match-officials-careers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2014 13:15:15 +0000 It is easy for players, coaches and fans to judge and vilify referees but funnily enough none of these armchair critics ever dream of picking up the whistle. Even attempts to teach players, coaches and fans the basics of officiating usually fail because many individuals - who proudly claim to have decades of experience playing, coaching and watching the game - are too set in their ways to cast aside their bias and accept the neutral perspective. A common misperception is that having plenty of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1518051/give-young-whistlers-chance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1518051/give-young-whistlers-chance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 May 2014 14:33:00 +0000 Adnan Januzaj, Manchester United's 19-year-old winger, has chosen Belgium as his home nation to pursue his international soccer career. At one stage, the Brussels-born Balkan, who this season emerged from "promising prospect" to "genuine talent", could have represented Albania, Croatia, England, Kosovo, Serbia, or Turkey. But Belgium appears to offer the best platform for young players because it is now bearing the fruits of a successfully implemented national blueprint that was launched in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1512867/hong-kong-must-follow-best-practice-other-countries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1512867/hong-kong-must-follow-best-practice-other-countries?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 May 2014 13:45:00 +0000 It is painfully obvious that competition organisers like the FA have no clue whatsoever in punishing offenders. The feeble fines and suspensions meted out in soccer make a mockery of the whole disciplinary system. They also offer a glimpse of our societal values that help shape what is considered unacceptable behaviour. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Newcastle United coach Alan Pardew are two examples of serial offenders who abuse match officials. Although the disciplinary sanctions handed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1507570/why-pointless-fines-fa-send-message-abusing-refs-ok?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1507570/why-pointless-fines-fa-send-message-abusing-refs-ok?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2014 14:15:00 +0000 What is Hong Kong's preferred style of soccer? Considering the huge popularity and influences from high-profile leagues like the English Premiership and La Liga, it could be assumed players and coaches prefer to emulate the styles of their heroes and favourite teams. However, this is entirely wrong. Generally speaking, teams in Hong Kong, consisting mainly of local Chinese players, do not play in the entertaining and attractive style seen in England and Spain. Instead, they are more likely to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1501751/serie-wrong-style-emulate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1501751/serie-wrong-style-emulate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 May 2014 13:45:45 +0000 When something unpleasant happens to match officials fans go wild with delight and reporters have a field day writing about the misfortune inflicted on the man in the middle. This happened last weekend when EPL referee Chris Foy was knocked out for a few seconds by a ball hitting him flush in the face in the first minute of the Newcastle and Swansea match. After the Newcastle medic checked him, he continued for 30 minutes, but something was not right, so stand-in referee Anthony Taylor replaced... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1496046/horrid-acts-are-no-laughing-matter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1496046/horrid-acts-are-no-laughing-matter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:32:49 +0000 Players, coaches and owners be warned: frivolous complaining about match officials could bring repercussions. In Hong Kong, it appears clubs lodging complaints and appeals are wasting time and resources, as well as inconveniencing those involved. Whenever teams cannot accept the reality of losing or having decisions go against them, it has become common to lodge official complaints against match officials, claiming poor performance or some procedural anomaly. Rational Ref reckons match... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1486149/transparency-all-tiers-essential-hong-kongs-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1486149/transparency-all-tiers-essential-hong-kongs-future?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Apr 2014 14:54:22 +0000 Obi-Wan Kenobi, of Star Wars renown, showed he would have been an out-of-this-world referee master when he calmly and knowingly said: "Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. What I told you was the truth from a certain point of view." Although Luke Skywalker felt incredulous, after having initially been told that Darth Vader had killed his father then later discovered they were in fact the same person, he reluctantly accepted wise... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1474094/truth-told-obi-wan-kenobi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1474094/truth-told-obi-wan-kenobi?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Apr 2014 12:51:20 +0000