Referee 365

The Too Much, Too Soon award - Stuart Attwell
Much fanfare greeted the arrival of 25-year-old Stuart Attwell as a Premier League referee after just one season in the Football League. He isn't the worst referee by some distance, but when you stand out for whichever reason, you have to be extra-special to deflect criticism. Stuart Attwell isn't extra-special.

It doesn't help, of course, when you are involved in one of the most controversial decisions ever. Aside from his biggest mistake, he had several problematic games including a poor performance in an East Midlands clash between Derby and Nottingham Forest and an absolute shocker when Wigan played West Ham.

He may one day be very good, but he doesn't yet have the commanding presence that a top-level official needs.



The Worst Decision Of All Time special commendation - Stuart Attwell and Nigel Bannister
Okay, that might be a bit of a fanciful claim, but 2008-9 saw a disastrous happening of epic proportions.

The aforementioned Attwell, assisted (in the loosest possible sense of the word) by Nigel Bannister, managed to give a goal to Reading after a ball clearly went over the line - but about five yards wide.

It would have been barely excusable had the linesman been the opposite side of the goal - but he wasn't. The game would end in a 2-2 draw, and ultimately both teams would remain in the Championship. But imagine the scorn had one or both teams have had their destiny decided thanks to the extra point that Reading gained and the two that Watford lost.

This, to my mind, does not show that we need video evidence. This has happened once, ever. I can't imagine ever seeing it again.

Interestingly, a spokesman for the Professional Game Match Officials said that Mr Bannister would be given 'Operational Advice'. That sounds like being taken away for reprogramming, doesn't it?



The Welcome Return Of The Season award - Mark Clattenburg
It went almost unnoticed that on the final day of the season Mark Clattenburg took charge of Manchester City v Bolton.

Last year I stated that I thought Mr Clattenburg was the most improved referee of the season, only to find that I'd jinxed him and he got suspended for business irregularities. He is now back, having served a suspension, and I fully expect that he will be our leading referee within a couple of years.



The Ali Dia 'How Did he get there?' award - Tom Henning Ovrebo
Ali Dia, you may remember, was the chancer who rang Graeme Souness claiming to be George Weah's cousin and got a game.

Well, it seems that a fat Norwegian bloke somehow got in UEFA's ear and convinced them that Pierluigi Collina had a Scandinavian brother who had his own whistle. That's the only way I can explain Tom Henning Ovrebo appearing in the Champions League semi-final second leg game between Chelsea and Barcelona.

That's perhaps a trifle harsh, but his performance surely has to rate as one of the worst ever at this level of football. Some complained of a conspiracy as Chelsea had penalty decision after penalty decision waved away. Guus Hiddink called the referee's performance the worst he'd ever seen.

As badly as things went for Chelsea, it shouldn't be forgotten that Barcelona defenders Eric Abidal and Dani Alves were on the receiving ends of terrible decisions and missed out on the final because of them.



...and the special, one-off 'We Understand, But It's Still Hilarious' award - Didier Drogba
"Are you watching this? It's a disgrace! It's a f***ing disgrace!"

We were watching. And we were p***ing ourselves laughing, Didier.



The Spoke-Too-Soon award - Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex of Govan spake these words in December: "I complimented the referee after the match on the way he had refused to be intimidated.

"All that remains now is to get him on to the Premier League list or even better, persuade our own referees that his style is the way ahead for the good of the game and its power to excite and exhilarate."

The official who was the subject of Mr Ferguson's fulsome praise was none other than Roberto Rosetti, the Italian referee who in the Manchester United boss' eyes dealt with people that 'fouled' Cristiano Ronaldo in United European clash with Villareal.

Sadly, when the second leg of their Champions League semi-final came around, Signor Rosetti was appointed ref and duly sent off Darren Fletcher in a very harsh decision.

To Sir Alex's credit, he did rail on Rosetti, but he must have been cursing his words some five months earlier.



The Graham Poll Award For Outstayed Welcome - Rob Styles
It's true - Rob Styles has retired.

Lay out the laurels and bring out the garland, the most controversial referee in the Premier League over the last couple of years has called it a day at the young age of 45.

In short, I'll just say that this is a disappearance that will provoke few tears. Every time we've heard the name Rob Styles in the last couple of years it's been used pejoratively. It's usually a monumental cock-up.

His penalty award this season at Old Trafford in a game between Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers for a challenge which even Cristiano Ronaldo did not appeal for was one of a long line of huge errors.

Referees that feel sorry for his treatment should not complain, but rather ensure they do not become the same sort of liability.



Unsung Referees Of The Year
Now, I'm about to mention two referees who I believe had good seasons but have gone under the radar. You may have seen them have (in your opinion) nightmares when taking charge of the team you follow. That's your call; all I am saying is these individuals are refs who, when I have seen them, have had many more good games than bad.

Andre Marriner and Martin Atkinson are not household names and that could be a good thing as a lot of referees get publicity for making mistakes rather than for being good.

The duo have very good, calm demeanours, which is a much underrrated quality for a referee. I always feel that if you conduct yourself in a composed manner - but be firm where necessary - you can cut out a lot of aggro, and from there you have an easier task of making important decisions.

Marriner and Atkinson will both only be 38 when the new season begins, which is no age for a referee. I fully expect them to be leading officials in a few years' time. Atkinson has already taken charge of a couple of games of reasonable profile and has performed admirably.



Innovation Of The Year
News reached me early in the season that in down in Argentina, referees were combating that perennial problem of players sneaking forward at free-kicks by spraying a white line on the pitch and telling the wall to stay behind it.

The idea is that the ref paces out the ten yards (or 9.15 metres, if you prefer) and sprays a line on the grass, which disappears after a short time.

The idea seems terrific to me. I really hope that news comes back from testing that it's been a success, because it strikes me as an innovation that would make a referee's life much easier, and it could be workable from the pitches of the highest leagues to the grass tips in the grassroots.



Caution Of The Year
We see a lot of pathetic whining, diving and fouling which earn the referee's ire, but a game between International Manchester FC and Chorlton Villa saw a different kind of transgression punished.

The home side were awarded a penalty, but as the taker stepped up to strike, a noise pierced through the Manchester air.

A farting noise.

The referee identified the culprit, and promptly cautioned him for Unsporting Behaviour. And rightly so. It turned out that it was a Chorlton player blowing an old-fashioned raspberry.

Interestingly, during the game, Chorlton had three players sent off for arguing with the referee, including the goalkeeper, who said the referee was the worst he'd even seen.

The final word, though, should go to Chorlton boss Ian Treadwell. "Someone made the noise from their mouth," he said, but he did add that this was just his 'gut feeling'.

Le Mot Juste.



U-Turn Of The Year award - The Polish FA
The English were not represented at last year's European Championships. Well, not on the pitch, at least.

Howard Webb and his two assistants Mike Mullarkey and Darren Cann flew the flag for a while, and during their time in Austria and Switzerland, they officiated a game between the first named of the hosts, who played Poland.

Webb incurred the wrath of many Poles as he gave Austria a penalty in injury-time, which they converted to seal a 2-1 win. He later defended his decision, but that said he should not have allowed Poland's goal. These acts led to even the Polish Prime Minister admitting he "felt like killing somebody" and one blog to proclaim Webb 'the most hated man in Poland'. Remember how we all felt about Urs Maier?

Well, have a guess who the Polish FA asked to referee their cup final this year? Yup, you've got it. Howard Webbski, no less. He couldn't make it due to other commitments, but nice to know you've been forgiven, Howard.

You could probably get your extension built a bit cheaper now, too.



Worst Ref Of The Year award - Dale Winton
Did you not see Hole in the Wall on BBC1? He was rubbish. He let all kinds of diving go, sometimes there was clearly polystyrene broken off and he allowed it. And that wall was clearly not ten yards.

Utterly useless. Not as orange as Steve Bennett, though.



Rob McNichol