Welcome folks to another session of opinion. This week we wll finish the two-part series on the new FFA rules/laws/ideas to improve the game. Before we get going just an apology that the final word is not quite A-League related, yet.

Let's check the video

Yes folks; the referee's word on the field of play is no longer sacrosanct; it can now be reviewed. Further, players can challenge send offs and the accumulation of cautions increases before a suspension.

Under the new disciplinary process, a separate match review panel will be available to view all games and make recommendations to the Disciplinary Committee for further sanctions. The decision to take this step will be made when the FFA believes the referee 'has made an "obvious error" and the matter is contrary to the good image of football.'

Um, er, whoa! Yes the referees make errors. Hey, we all do in our normal day. What defines an obvious error? What if an assistant referee incorrectly does not call an off-side that leads to a goal. Yes, the assistant is a referee and yes an obvious error has been made. So does the FFA change the ruling and take away the goal?

What about with the situation in the Perth game on the weekend, when Djulbic definitely made initial contact with Joel Griffiths outside the box and not inside? Does the FFA rescind the penalty decision, the goal, and perhaps even the caution handed out, one that appears mandatory to referees with a foul leading to a penalty?

Yes, there is just too much controversy possible. I just can't wait until the first 'obvious error' is discussed and Pandora's Box is opened. Will the FFA take action in the above example, or is the wording such that 'good image of football' allows the FFA to get out of any tricky situations?

We then ask about the challenging of red cards. What about yellow cards as well. While nearly all are deserved, no matter what rubbish expounds from certain television commentator's mouths, there is one situation where a caution could be rescinded, that being a case of mistaken identity, yet the note from the FFA specifically states challenging send offs and not cautions.

Then we come to the .. 'I did not touch him' scenario. For example, a tackle where a player is considered by the referee to have made contact in such a way that would be considered a send off offence, could now be challenged if the player, and the club believe that there was no contact. Yet, what is interesting here is the 'you are guilty unless proven innocent', which goes against the process in Australian courts. I just wonder if that could actually be legally challenged?

One past referee has stated that the FIFA regulations indicate that (a) appeals against send offs by video can only be made in the case of alleged mistaken identity and (b) in other leagues, like the English Premier League, a red card can only be rescinded by the referee if that referee agrees that an error occured, something that the referee must do through that person's own will and judgement.

Finally, we should not forget the other idea to keep the players on the park, that being the extension to the number of cautions before a player is suspended. My mind is not made up about this idea, but certainly it does have some merit.

The FFA has opened a can of worms with some of these decisions and one can only hope that they do not backfire and explode in their faces.

Another round, another story:

What a fascinating round of matches we have just seen. Only 19 goals, certainly gets the average for the season up. Speaking of things going up, or for that matter down, where are the crowds? Okay, Wellington had only just over 6,000, but then the weather was only suited to ducks and footballers. But the Mariners, Roar and Perth, the figures must be of some concern to the FFA.

Anyway, best match was the contrasting styles of Perth and Jets. It has been a long time since I have seen such exquisite crossing that we witnessed from Perth and this was matched by the way the Jets went through the middle and took advantage of a defence that was hopefully only a memory of those on the other side of the Tasman last season.

Many picks for my player of the week, including Miller, Allsopp, Corica and even Cole, but I'd like to give it to Amaral from Perth who was everywhere. Best coaching move goes to Vidmar for adjusting his side 15' into the second half to neutralise the Roar attack, but a mention to McKinna for closing the gate after the horse had bolted by interchanging Boogaard and Bojic to close the hole down the Mariner's left side.

Last Word:

"Due to copyright I am unable to publish fixtures on this site!" This was the message that greeted me on my favourite fans web site for a team I follow in England. Are we serious? How stupid can it be to prohibit any web site from promoting the game? I guess this is the way of entrepreneurship where the appropriate organisation sells the rights just to display the fixtures. Obviously this governing body does not care about the game, only how much money they can make. I can only hope that we do not see this here.

Report in:

This open for those who may read this weekly opinion piece. Thanks to those who have emailed so far. If you are interested in making a comment or asking a question worthy of an answer, send the Monday Morning Manager an e-mail at: botn.mmm@gmail.com

25 August 2008