What's the best way for Fifa to tackle the increasing amount of 'simulation' and sub-standard refereeing?

Answer 1

The first thing that FIFA has to do is to stop Sepp Blatter from influencing the referees to suit his own personal likes and dislikes. He has put far too much pressure on the referees in this World Cup. Referees have to start calling more attention to these players feigning fouls and injuries. There have been so many deliberate actions that have not been punished in this World Cup that are bringing the game into disrepute. Any dive or feigning of injuries should be automatically shown a yellow card, the same way a bad tackle is. If referees start issuing cards more consistently for these infractions you will start to see them decreasing.

With regards the sub-standard refereeing that is a much more difficult problem. Most countries now have full time referees and as a result they are much fitter and more able to keep up with the speed of the modern game. However, common sense seems to have gone out the window with a lot of the top flight referees. Perhaps referees should attend special training seminars in people handling. They must also be taught that the game is about the players and the supporters and not about them. The best referees are the ones you do not notice during a game and let the game flow.

I have played football at many levels and have been refereed by some of the beat refs in the world. The majority of them were able to control even the most highly strung players without reverting to yellow cards, and only handed out bookings for the most deliberate and viscious types of fouls. Also, they were not employed full time in those days.

I don't think that the use of cameras is the answer in football as it is in other sports. Football has never been subject to "Time-Outs" and should remain that way.

Answer 2

I think this workd cup has suffered from "sub-standard" refereeing for a number of reasons, but mainly because FIFA have put so much emphasis on punishing certain types of tackles. There have been numerous cautions for tackles that are seen week in, week out in the english leagues without any problem, but FIFA decided that they wanted referees to crack down on them.
On the Simulation front, referees can caution for "Unsporting Behaviour". I perosnally believe that because they are under pressure to caution for fouls and arms in "Unnatural positions" they have been showing a "Blind eye" to simulation, or else there would have been more matches with 18 yellow cards.

How can it be fixed?
I think that incidents in high profile fixtures (top flight domestic and international matches) should be subject to video review for instances which bring the game into disrepute. Players and managers who simulate fouls, or are seen abusing officials, players or spectators should have fines and bans issued after the match.

Take Thierry Henry for examplpy, in the QF he blatently went down feigning a foul - evryone saw how pathetic it was (and out of character), but if he was banned for the next match, would he have done this? I doubt it.

While I generally agree with FIFA that if the referee misses an incident it should go unpunished, I think that the acting and violence we have seen at the world cup (and in recent seasons) is abysmal, and that if it is stamped on HARD at the top level, it will be shown to be out of order at grass roots level.

By the way, I am a referee

Answer 3

I'd say have a video judge.

If someone dives and then demands a free kick or penalty, the ref should refer to the judge. After reviewing the tape, if the claim is valid then the free kick/penalty should be given. If the tape shows that it's a dive then that player should be severly reprimanded - ie: red card.

They really have to sort out diving in football. Portugal would have looked more at home at the side of a pool than on the pitch last night. Dreadful!

Answer 4

Well ban Portugal obviously.

Seriously, any player who continually dives throughout a match should be brought in front of a disciplinary tribunal by FIFA to explain their actions, and then subsequently banned if seen fit. Rooney was sent off and he may face an extra few matches suspension so surely if you deliberately dive you should face the same fate.
As for the refereeing, who knows what to do. Bring back the bald bloke. (Collina by the way)

Answer 5

There should be an independant committee looking at this in all International matches ( not just the World Cup) and submitting a report. A points system should then be put in place and Countries warned after so many points are accumulated. If that fails to get them to mend their ways then they should be sanctioned just like any Club team.

Answer 6

t.v. refree like in the case of cricket.