Refereeing past and future

Stanley Lover's latest book strives for creating a better game

By Mike Woitalla, Soccer America

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Why not make soccer players pass a test on the rules before allowing them to play?

What's so appalling about letting referees use the TV replays that the whole world sees when making a crucial decision?

Does it make sense that millionaire players are officiated by amateur referees?

Is there a difference between gamesmanship and cheating?

Stanley Lover, who has written eloquently about soccer officiating for decades, has answers in his latest book, Masterclass for Soccer Officials: Learn how historic events have shaped today's game and how the role of officials has changed (Referee Books).

He also takes famous incidents and follows their effect on the game. Yellow and red cards came about after the 1966 World Cup because of the confusion caused by referee Rudy Kreitlein, who sent off Argentine captain Antonio Rattin by pointing to the locker room and cautioned England's Charlton brothers without them - or 90,584 fans - knowing it.

Ken Aston, head of FIFA's referee committee, came up with the idea:

"As he drove home after an arduous spell of World Cup duty it seemed that every traffic light was against him. Yellow - caution. Red - stop. Yellow - caution. Red - stop. 'That's it!' decided Aston. 'We'll try colored cards for cautions and dismissals.'"

Lover offers plenty of tips for referees. He uses Laurent Blanc's red card against Croatia, which kept him out of France's World Cup '98 final win over Brazil, as a launching pad to discuss how referees should monitor pre-corner kick battles: "holding, pushing, blocking, shirt-tugging, any action to get an advantage."

This was especially common at the 1998 World Cup: "So much aggravation was tolerated and seen by millions of players who believe it a normal part of the game. They copy the top pros in the games you officiate, adding to your task."

Lover holds referees, players, coaches and the media responsible for a state of the game in which 272 yellow cards and 17 red cards are shown at the 2002 World Cup. His proposal to force players to pass an exam on the game's rules before becoming eligible seems like such an obviously good idea it's a wonder that it hasn't already been universally implemented.

Five or six results at the 2002 World Cup, Lover says, may have been different if referees had video support. "Every pro game is stopped for over 100 in-play and out-of-play events," he writes. "To check a major incident - referred by a qualified observer - would take no more time than a corner kick, goal kick, substitution, etc."

The prospect of replay use is one of many issues addressed in "Masterclass" that should be considered with an open mind by referees - and everyone involved in soccer.

Mike Woitalla is executive editor at Soccer America magazine.