REF JUSTICE
The imposition of a three-week suspension of referee David McNamara for using a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors in place of a coin-toss last week prompted a rather mixed reaction. Many praised him for his gumption after he forgot to bring a coin (or indeed the popular fun-for-all-the-family game of Buckaroo) out on the pitch before a televised Women’s Super League match between Manchester City and Reading. Others, including the respected and eminently sensible Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes, suggested the quick-thinking ref deserved a sanction deemed “draconian” by former referee Keith Hackett. “That just about sums up the quality of refereeing involved in our game, the fact they don’t bring a coin,” she harrumphed. “The basic level of professionalism needs to be in place. I think it’s an embarrassment.”
While The Fiver is happy to concede it knows a lot less about standards of officiating in the women’s game than Hayes, we couldn’t really see the big deal about playing RPS to decide who’d get to play into what end in the first half. Then again, it’s a testament to our lack of a basic level of professionalism that we had to check that’s what option was open to the winning skipper, despite having spent more years than we care to remember following the game. Nevertheless, it seems ours is a view shared by many of McNamara’s colleagues, hundreds of whom elected to start various grassroots games around the country in an identical fashion in a show of solidarity for their benched colleague over the weekend.
“Without me saying a word, four players came up to me and said ‘are we getting on the rock-paper-scissors today?’ as they had seen coverage of the issue,” said referee Ryan Hampson, who was happy to engage in a blatant act of insubordination before a match in Lancashire. An act of insubordination that was immediately tut-tutted by Ref Support UK. “We can’t condone anyone deliberately breaking the laws of football,” said chief suit Martin Cassidy. “However, we understand hundreds took part. The level of support should send out a message that the punishment was disproportionate. This suggests people are willing to face a possible charge from the FA or their county FA as they feel so strongly about it.”
In a sport where referees at all levels are increasingly scarce, poorly paid, routinely abused and occasionally subjected to acts of violence, The Fiver can’t help but feel that starting a game in a completely fair way that neither captain finds objectionable is an extremely weird hill on which anyone should choose to die. McNamara, it should be noted, originally accepted a charge of “not acting in the best interests of the game”. Having seen the light and realised that getting any game started is very much in its best interests, he has since decided to appeal against the severity of his punishment. Whether his appeal is decided by coin-toss or some more frivolous method remains to be seen.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It was under the rostrum, but not hidden, they made a well and it was in sight, this is out of context of football and it surprised us all, we do not think they have to do with people from Ituzaingó or Merlo … it seems to me that it is a message for our fight against the bars” – the Buenos Aires security council’s Juan Manuel Lugones believes that a hand-grenade found beneath a seat at the Carlos Sacaan stadium three hours before Ituzaingó v Deportivo Merlo may be a sinister message to the police from gangsters and not linked to football.
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“Re Alex Folkes’s take on Richard Scudamore (Friday’s letters): I would have thought the proper tribute would be to set up a sofa and television in the centre circle so that he can watch a powerpoint presentation on his TV deal” – Matt Richman.
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Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And you can tweet The Fiver for a very short time, as that account is shutting down. You’ll always be able to get in touch by tweeting @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our letter o’the day is … Matt Richman, who wins a copy of Rob Smyth’s brilliant new book, Kaiser: the greatest footballer never to play football.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Paul Gascoigne has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman on board a train.
Taxpayers FC fans will be able to rip up another 9,000 seats after London Stadium landlords agreed to increase the venue’s capacity to 66,000 . “[We] are fully committed to making the London Stadium the jewel in London’s crown,” chorused Lyn Garner and Karren Brady in a move that could prove logistically tricky for Beefeaters at the Tower of London.
Gareth Southgate reckons Harry Kane is the best goalscorer in the world following his late Nations League Group § Matchday x+y=*^hh winner over Croatia. “He is so hungry,” purred Gaz, hiding a sandwich from his striker.
Bobby M says arrogance was not to blame for his Belgium side being shellacked 5-2 despite the team leading Switzerland 2-0 after 17 minutes. “We forgot to defend well” he Bobby M-ed in a rare turn of events for a Bobby M side.
Reading’s chief suit Ron Gourlay has marched himself straight through the door marked Do One with the club 20th in the Championship. “Now is the right time for change,” he yelped.
And the FA is investigating an incident in which Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore went full Cantona and jumped into the crowd to confront Boreham Wood fans who had been offering full and frank views about him during the National League 0-0 draw. “We genuinely wish to apologise to Nathan,” sorry-about-that-ed Boreham Wood.
STILL WANT MORE?
Did ‘Arry Redknapp eat an emu? Did he grab a crab? Has he been getting on with “the brainy lady off of The Chase”? Simon Burnton watched I’m A Celebrity so you don’t have to.
What has international football been missing for all these year? Peculiar Euro mini-leagues and Football’s Coming Home, reckons Barney Ronay.
Rachel Finnis-Brown has got a lot of WSL action to talk about and this feels like a good place to do it.
Does the Checkatrade Trophy do more good than harm, asks Gavin Willacy.
Oh, and if it’s your thing … you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO!
