Letters
Write to: The Sports Desk, Sport Hear All Sides, The Northern Echo, PO Box 14, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF
Fax: 01325-380539
Email: echosport@nne.co.uk
REFEREES
WE ARE accustomed to
managers of the top Premier
League clubs squaring up to
one another, as well as referees.
The likes of Sir Alex Ferguson
and Arsene Wenger believe they
have licence to criticise
refereeing decisions openly,
sometimes quite aggressively
and with little restraint.
It is characteristic of the high
level of competition and what is
at stake. Every manager wants
success and points are precious,
regardless as to whether your
team is at the top of the league
challenging for the Champions
League or fighting for survival.
What we know Roy Keane is
competitive and determined.
His fierce attitude as a player
has been tempered and as a
manager he is measured in his
criticism of referees. Receiving
an apology from Referees Chief,
Keith Hackett was probably the
last call he expected.
Of course, it is little
consolation as Hackett is
unable to reverse the decisions
of referees and as we know
Sunderland have been hard hit
by decisions that should have
been to their benefit.
Football is an increasingly
difficult game to referee and for
the managers a highly stressful
business. The role of the referee
is so important but can one
person be responsible for seeing
everything on a pitch in a field
of play?
Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe
THIS letter is to congratulate
the officials of the Wearside
Football League, especially the
gentleman or woman who
appoints the officials for each
game.
It has been widely reported
that there is a shortage of
referees in the lower level of the
game but on attending a midweek
fixtures in the Wearside
League, I was informed that the
official in charge had travelled
from Carlisle.
I was also informed that the
referee for Coxhoe Athletic's
fixture on Wednesday, April 23
was once again to be the same
gentleman from Carlisle.
I have heard the League has
accepted the resignation of
Cleadon from their league. It
was reported that the
resignation was due to being
unable to continue solely due to
lack of finances.
This was a club who were well
placed in the league, had no
ground worries or shortage of
players but no money.
My guess is that the club
officials found that their own
pockets were not a bottomless
pit and could not continue
putting their own money in as I
bet they have done previously
in trying to keep the club afloat.
Surely the Wearside League
and all other leagues could try
and help all clubs in keeping
cost of a match down by
looking at how they allocate
officials, ie, travelling expenses
for match officials.
Mr S Williamson, Durham
I AM 83 years of age and,
having been born there, have
been a Sunderland supporter all
my life.
But I have never seen referees
so anti-Sunderland. Week after
week a penalty is awarded
against us or a player is sent off,
in lots of cases by dodgy
decisions. Sunday's derby
match penalty awarded, four
yellow cards, typical example. I
am hoping that next season we
may see some new referees not
so biased.
Paul Smith,
Lanchester, Durham
9:56am Monday 28th April 2008
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