It's Time for Refs to Exit Stage Right

This post is for the men on the pitch with a whistle in their hand and cards in their pockets.  Yep - I'm talking to you.  I want to make sure that you understand why we fans watch this beautiful game.  I want to remind you who the stars really are.  We watch and cheers because of our players and for our club. They are the ones who should take center stage.  Their play should decide the outcome of matches.

Not you.

I'm not one to often condemn you officials.  I usually take the view that a complaint about a ref is a cop out, an attempt at covering up poor play.  However, the past few weeks, the poor play has been on your part.  And since your name is not on the squad sheet nor the reason we pay for a ticket or a cable package, I think that you need to shape up or ship out, as my Dad would say. 

If a player played as poorly as some of you officiate, he would be cut from the squad, relegated to the reserves, or just outright sold.  I hear that one of your brothers - Mark Clattenburg- has gone on a four week hiatus to get away from the recent pressure.  Maybe that's an idea that the rest of you should consider...take a vacation, go on  a retreat, whatever it takes for you to be able to take a step back, regroup, and come back able do your job in an even-handed, logical manner.

Anthony Taylor - the ref who couldn't keep up with our Russian

I understand that honest mistakes are made especially in the EPL where the game moves so very quickly (the aforementioned  Clatttenburg recently admitting that Rooney's elbow against Wigan was in his peripheral vision only).  But if you are too slow to keep pace with the quickness of play,  and a player gets fouled in the penalty box with you too far back to make the call - I have no patience for you.

Nice bump Phil...when ya due?

If you kick a player off the pitch for grabbing an opponent by the scruff of his thuggy little neck and pushing him onto the ground, but then allow the offender's goalkeeper to be put into a headlock with no repercussions for the WWF wannabe's?  Take a trip and  ponder your future occupation because your present one should be in jeopardy. 

Nasri gets throttled

If you allow two players to be put into choke holds and do not card the perpetrators, but instead turn around and kick one of the strangled out of the game for taking a shot ONE SECOND after you call him offsides?  You don't need to go on a month's vacation.

You need to be exiled.  I hear Siberia has vacancies.

Some have called for technology to be used to help decrease the amount of your errors.  Those opposed say that it would slow down the pace of the game.  I have to admit I do not want to see futbol turned into Football - taking up to 4 hours to complete.  Your cohorts in France have their decisions reviewed by their board, correct?  I'm not a UK-er but would support that.  I bet you would like a little guidance now and again, wouldn't you?  Unless you're on the take, of course, which I seriously considered  your Swiss co-worker Busacca of last night.  Scandalous.

So step it up.  Ask for assistance, brainstorm on how to be the best that you can be.  Leave the stardom to the, err...well the stars.  Perhaps it's a wakeup call for you to realize that you are the background.  The players are the art.  Blend in by being consistent, fair, and straight.

Otherwise, Siberia will be your destination, one way or the other.