In Serie A, there are 32 referees on the roster. In the Bundesliga, there are 40 referees. In the Premiership, there are merely 17. In fact in season 06/07, over 71% of the games in the top English league have been refereed by just 10 officials and over a third of the games to date by just 4 officials (Poll, Bennett, Wiley and Webb). Think about that for a moment, more than 1 in 3 games in the Premiership have been officiated by this small cell of individuals.
I have no desire to suggest that these officials are doing anything untoward. I am more concerned about the potential cultures that this structure allows.
If criminal elements were able to infiltrate such a small group, it would have an abominable effect on the beautiful game. If an individual club were able to buy out such an intimate little group, championships would be decided.
When you look solely at televised games, the statistics are even more damning. I'm totally bored of seeing Mr Poll. I have my own private views on what the man is about but he is no better nor worse than many others - I'm just sick of the sight of him and I don't like his refereeing style.
So lets see 38 referees in the Premiership. 19 men and 19 women. Lets have technology determine the legality or otherwise of penalties, goals and sending offs. All officials will only referee any given team once per season. All microphones that are worn by officials to be on an open communication line. No sponsorship of individual teams by bookmakers. No insider trading.
You never know, real people might actually start going to watch football again. Because now wherever you look, it is just half-empty grounds with sub-standard theatre. You might as well go and watch the dogs...
© Football Is Fixed/Dietrological
