Comments on: How respect is lost through a lack of understanding about football http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2008/09/29/how-respect-is-lost-through-a-lack-of-understanding-about-football/ Bradford City news since 1998 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:47:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Richard Pomfret http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2008/09/29/how-respect-is-lost-through-a-lack-of-understanding-about-football/comment-page-1/#comment-937 Richard Pomfret Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:52:40 +0000 http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/?p=675#comment-937 This is a superb article, and deserves (with the utmost respect to bfb!) a much wider audience. The truth that 'respect must be earned' has become interpreted in today's society as 'you don't respect anyone until they prove they deserve it'. The 'Respect' campaign is a well-meant but misguided attempt to correct this distorted view. As Paul says, it's all about style and without substance. You have only to see how most of the pre-match handshakes are undertaken to see how meaningless they are. Yes, respect must be deserved. But, not only in football, the 'default setting' should be that you respect someone until they give you a reason not to. It is a sad fact that there are too many people in football, including referees, who give you plenty of reasons not to! A good referee is one who cares about the future and the fairness of the game more than about his own ego. I'm sure there are some - but how many? And will paying them 'as professionals' address this problem, or possibly make it worse? In my experience, those with the largest salaries and the highest status have the biggest egos and the least understanding of their fellow human beings - and I find it hard to respect them. This is a superb article, and deserves (with the utmost respect to bfb!) a much wider audience. The truth that ‘respect must be earned’ has become interpreted in today’s society as ‘you don’t respect anyone until they prove they deserve it’. The ‘Respect’ campaign is a well-meant but misguided attempt to correct this distorted view. As Paul says, it’s all about style and without substance. You have only to see how most of the pre-match handshakes are undertaken to see how meaningless they are.

Yes, respect must be deserved. But, not only in football, the ‘default setting’ should be that you respect someone until they give you a reason not to. It is a sad fact that there are too many people in football, including referees, who give you plenty of reasons not to! A good referee is one who cares about the future and the fairness of the game more than about his own ego. I’m sure there are some - but how many? And will paying them ‘as professionals’ address this problem, or possibly make it worse? In my experience, those with the largest salaries and the highest status have the biggest egos and the least understanding of their fellow human beings - and I find it hard to respect them.

]]> By: Mark Williams http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2008/09/29/how-respect-is-lost-through-a-lack-of-understanding-about-football/comment-page-1/#comment-924 Mark Williams Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:42:06 +0000 http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/?p=675#comment-924 Perhaps the demands and expectations in the modern gsme are dictating that it is time to move towards the employment of professional referees (like in the Premier League I believe). It may not stop mistakes being made, but it should see the performance level of the men in black to be more consistent in line with the laws of the game. That is the only way to see true improvment of standards and an increase in respect. I for one would not want to be a ref travelling around the country to officiate for little more than a token payment plus expenses - for that effort i do applaud them - they must truly love the game.........?! Perhaps the demands and expectations in the modern gsme are dictating that it is time to move towards the employment of professional referees (like in the Premier League I believe).

It may not stop mistakes being made, but it should see the performance level of the men in black to be more consistent in line with the laws of the game.
That is the only way to see true improvment of standards and an increase in respect.

I for one would not want to be a ref travelling around the country to officiate for little more than a token payment plus expenses - for that effort i do applaud them - they must truly love the game………?!

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