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#Post#: 108783--------------------------------------------------
Live referee communications
DIR By: HChip
Date: July 9, 2026, 2:22 pm
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I’ve seen a post from Andy Davies on X, calling for live referee
communications to be available during matches in the PL to
provide better transparency and understanding.
I am all for this, I think not only would it put fans that think
they know it all in their place, but also help those developing
as referees in regards to decision making and communication.
The only slight issue they may encounter is, what if an incident
such as racism, or a security incident occurs, they’re wouldn’t
be a way to keep it confidential unless you have someone in
production muting it during those times, maybe with an automated
message prepared.
What do we all think of this? Agree? Disagree?
I think it would’ve been great for the World Cup as well.
#Post#: 108784--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: ben
Date: July 9, 2026, 2:38 pm
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I don’t think there’s a chance of this happening with the
language on the pitch.
#Post#: 108790--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: RCG
Date: July 9, 2026, 3:16 pm
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Strange how one sport put the emphasis back to the players and
expects them to adapt where as football won't expect the little
darlings not to swear.
I know rugby players do swear and apologies have to be made; in
general though they are very cooperative and courteous
As a fan watching you are much more aware of what is going on.
Plus, if a referee does take a stand against back chat or
language, chance is everyone's heard it anyway
Ex rugby players will not defend the indefensible where as both
football players and ex referees seem incapable (generalisation)
of telling it how it is
#Post#: 108831--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: bmb
Date: July 10, 2026, 10:52 am
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--- Quote from: Ben link ---
>
> I don’t think there’s a chance of this happening with the
language on the pitch.
>
--- End Quote ---
I seem to recall many years ago they did do a test match, and it
was stopped because of the language. Maybe Chris Foy was the
referee? I'm sure someone will remember far better than me!
Personally I'd let it play out and let people see what vile,
disrespectful potty mouths their "heroes" can be! Of course the
downside to that is the attitude that could occur of well my
hero said to him coughing winker so that means I can...
#Post#: 108846--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: Lanyardhater
Date: July 10, 2026, 3:49 pm
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Don’t remember that one, but there was one (not live though)
with David Elleray on a Millwall v Arsenal game. Tony Adams
called Mr. Elleray a (bleep) cheat - and was not sent off or
even booked, merely spoken to. From memory, Mr. Elleray said
something like “Ok, you’re frustrated but there is a variation
in what language you use and cheat is not one of them.”
I was disappointed in Mr. Elleray over this, as I had myself
only recently sent off a player for calling me a cheat, and if
he had sent off Adams when everyone watching the recording had
heard it loud and clear, it would have shown players and
spectators at every level that such language is unacceptable.
An opportunity missed.
#Post#: 108851--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: JCFC
Date: July 10, 2026, 4:09 pm
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The version I recall was "... cheating ****" to which he replied
" I may be a ****, but I don't cheat" thereby disproving his own
statement.
#Post#: 108852--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: Lanyardhater
Date: July 10, 2026, 4:18 pm
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Sort of. I think he said “We may be useless but we don’t
cheat”, which brought forth a braying laugh from Tony Adams, and
a satisfied smile from Mr. Elleray that he had therefore
‘managed’ the situation well. I disagreed then and still do.
#Post#: 108863--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: Leggy
Date: July 11, 2026, 6:30 am
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Which helps to prove that "managing the game" was always valued
highly among those who assess and promote referees. Its not a
recent thing.
#Post#: 108864--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: July 11, 2026, 7:00 am
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--- Quote from: Lanyardhater link ---
>
> Sort of. I think he said “We may be useless but we don’t
cheat”, which brought forth a braying laugh from Tony Adams, and
a satisfied smile from Mr. Elleray that he had therefore
‘managed’ the situation well. I disagreed then and still do.
>
--- End Quote ---
One of course couldn’t speculate, but had Lord Elleray dismissed
him with what would have been such a publicly available
OFFINABUS offence, I wonder whether this live comms availability
to the public would be in place already, and the appalling and
fruity language officials experience today would have been
drastically reduced or even nullified, like in rugby.
#Post#: 108875--------------------------------------------------
Re: Live referee communications
DIR By: Lanyardhater
Date: July 11, 2026, 1:41 pm
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An interesting aspect to that Millwall v Arsenal game is that
both clubs had been notified that David Elleray would be mic’d
up. Millwall’s players were on their best behaviour. However,
Arsenal forgot to tell their players or the manager George
Graham, none of whom had a clue that their words were being
recorded for later broadcast! They therefore behaved “as
normal”, and their blatant disrespect to the match officials,
not just in the Adams incident, was there for all to see - and
hear.
Such a shame that the normally hard-line Elleray did not set
down a marker here - especially as he presumably didn’t know the
Arsenal players hadn’t been told he was wearing a mike, which
should have told him they didn’t give a monkey’s about who heard
their language to him.
As I said, a missed opportunity, and, as TTFL rightly implies,
we are still suffering for it today.
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