Articles on Referees

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English referee Wayne Barnes is taking French lessons. Mike Egerton/PA Wire

March 9, 2017

Six Nations: why more rugby referees should be bilingual

Caleb Keown, Queen's University Belfast

English-speaking rugby referees are aiming to improve their foreign language skills – but how will this affect the game?

September 7, 2016

Mark Halsey incident suggests football referee system in England needs reforming

Tom Webb, University of Portsmouth

There are deep issues with the structure in which elite referees in England operate.

Referee Jared Maxwell gestures during this year’s Round 5 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Brisbane Broncos. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

April 20, 2016

Split-second decisions with little praise: so what does it take to ref a game of NRL

Kath O'Brien, The University of Queensland

The data shows NRL referees get it right most of the time. So why do they still cop criticism?

A decision is referred to the video referee in this year’s game between Melbourne Storm and the Eels, at AAMI Stadium in Melbourne, June 15. AAP Image/Julian Smith

December 13, 2015

NRL video refs can still make the call even if they’re not at the game

Kath O'Brien, The University of Queensland

A centralised video ref for next year's NRL season aims to reduce the dramas surrounding refereeing decisions in the game. But how often do the on-field refs get it wrong?

October 15, 2015

Is it time for rugby to ditch the scrum?

Carwyn Jones, Cardiff Metropolitan University

It's impossible to police a scrum properly, and the consequences of the wrong decision are simply too great.

Webb at the 2010 World Cup final. Just don’t mention Nigel de Jong… EPA

August 8, 2014

Howard Webb’s new job is to train a generation of super-refs

Tom Webb, University of Portsmouth

Howard Webb, one of modern football’s most successful referees, has announced his retirement. Webb achieved much in his career, most notably in 2010 taking charge of the finals of both the World Cup and…

July 11, 2014

Cut referees some slack, most have done a good job

Tom Webb, University of Portsmouth

In a tournament of 64 games, there were bound to be issues of contention, especially in a competition that carries so many national hopes with it. But the general standard of refereeing has been good throughout…

Refereeing could do with the benefit of technology, as long as it doesn’t lose the human element. Nic Bothma/EPA

June 24, 2014

Drawing the line between video evidence and the ‘spirit of sport’

Keith Lyons, University of Canberra

Sporting referees are worthy of our admiration. Every time they officiate they are required to make split second real-time decisions. Sometimes they get it right – and sometimes they don’t. They are what…

Croatia players argue with referee Yuichi Nishimura of Japan after the match between Brazil and Croatia. EPA/Diego Azubel

June 18, 2014

Technology vs discretion: how to save World Cup refereeing dignity

Dan Jerker B. Svantesson

From the perspective of fairness, the 2014 World Cup has been off to a remarkably bad start. The opening game included at least two highly questionable decisions by the referee. First, the very generous…

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Tom Webb
Senior Lecturer in Sports Management and Development, University of Portsmouth
Kath O'Brien
PhD Candidate - School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland
Keith Lyons
Adjunct Professor of Sport Studies, UC-RISE, University of Canberra
Dan Jerker B. Svantesson
Co-Director Centre for Commercial Law, Bond University
Carwyn Jones
Professor in Sports Ethics, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Caleb Keown
PhD researcher in Translation Studies, Queen's University Belfast