TOPIC:

There is already evidence this new PC gone mad zero tolerance approach towards umpires is way over the top and going to destroy our game because society has become too thin skinned and sensitive about everything.

50 metre penalty for waiving your arms and showing disagreement with an umpire's decision? 

Soccer is often seen as having a strict way of dealing with player's by issuing a yellow or red card. Red card and you are off the ground for the rest of the game and you cannot be replaced. Same if you receive two yellows in the same game.

Yet their referees will tolerate a number of players remonstrating with them about a decision or non decision.

Our umpires are fairies and too precious. I'm all for umpires being protected and there needs to be a line somewhere but this seems to be out of hand. Basically if you open your mouth and remonstrate in any way either verbally or physically then it's 50 metres. 

This is going to destroy our game and turn fans away. 

6000 umpires down on numbers across Australia according to Gil due to the abuse they cop at lower levels, probably a bigger problem than a few 50’s in an afl game

Of all the irrational and illogical posts you have put on ozfooty DD this one takes the cake!

Custodian wrote:

Of all the irrational and illogical posts you have put on ozfooty DD this one takes the cake!

Did I hurt your feelings somewhere did I princess? Of all your pointless posts you have posted on ozfooty Custodian this one takes the cake! Just watching an A League game between Western Sydney and Sydney. One of the most respected and talented imports to the A League Milos Ninkovic and a former Johnny Warren medalist and multiple A League champion winner, didn’t like a referee’s decision and ran straight up to the referee’s face and pleaded his case.

No yellow card, the decision stood and no further penalty was given. In our game it would be a 50metre penalty, possibly resulting in a goal and the player possibly on report. If that’s not going to ruin the game I don’t know what is.

MO, I’d say it’s more of a problem at junior, lower amateur and country levels due to idiot parents and bogan spectators full of piss. Umpires at those levels probably have little to no security. Umpires at AFL and WAFL level are well protected although I know they cop a fair bit of abuse. I’ll put my hand up like anyone here and admit I’m guilty but if umpires can’t cope with a player displaying his or her disappointment in a decision, then fair dinkum they should give it away and go and play tiddlywinks.

 

Unfortunately umpires at lower levels are doing what you are saying and walking away so where will the umpires come from to replace the ones that you suggest should walk away at higher levels ?

I don’t see how giving out 10 x 50m penalties at league level is going to attract more umpires. It might have the opposite effect when they see how irate the fans get and in fact I think the net result will be it turns fans away from the game.

I know you can’t see it but that doesn’t mean it’s not the right move

We wont have a game if we don't have umpires and it's majorly to do with the other comps, ammo's, country footy and juniors where there are little if no video coverage and the abuse is often driven by spectators, particularly family members. At all 3 WAFL levels and at AFL I dont see it as major problem coming from the players, again it's the spectators. The 50m penalty will work at these other levels/comps but I dont think it's necessary for WAFL and AFL games, we already have enough soft 50's being paid and they do affect the game, umpires can already award a free kick or 50 for player dissent, so it's left up to the ump to make that decision if it's bad enough. I dont think players are overly abusive to umpires, it's an emotional game and there are rules to protect the umpires from physical contact. The umps that do survive their early careers and get to WAFL colts and above, have been through the mill of the lower grades but clearly not enough are surviving that process, so there needs to be more penalties in place in the other comps re abuse, more scope for frees, 50's, loss of points or in the extreme, team deregistration otherwise we wont have umpires coming through, therefore we wont have a game.

MarkOlsen wrote:

I know you can’t see it but that doesn’t mean it’s not the right move

All I can see is umpires having too much of a say in the result of games. Let's see how you feel  if one of your players gives away a 50 for saying you've got to be joking ump, resulting in Cory Byrne kicking the winner after the siren from point blank range to win game.

Your supporters are one of the most vocal when it comes to umpiring.

Rules are clear so as long as they are applied consistently then I don’t have an issue, if a player gives a spray knowing the rules then he is letting his team down.
The same people abusing umpires at wafl or afl games can’t be surprised that there is a lack of umpires at community level, it has a flow on effect