Referees and (in particular) Jack Grealish

[Drummond]

Grealish is targetted all of the time and similar things happen to other players that teams feel are a real threat.

I'm concerned it could result in a serious injury but also that the game becomes unfair. We've seen Grealish fouled so many times (the most fouled in the league) and injured too as result.

So, I propose that football adopts a similar system to that used in rugby, where continual and persistent infringements of the same kind result in penalties (and potentially cards) for the last player to commit the foul.

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not. I also think a sin-bin idea would would work for the same sort of situation.

This wouldn't relate for just fouls against a particular player but for other issues like persistent timewasting and dissent.

[Somniloquism]

The thing is refs don't seems to process the multi fouls by one person so I doubt they would do it for mutli fouls by multi people.

[danno]

The persistent fouling will be punished more regularly as his profile gets bigger. I think the England cap is most definitely a when and not if situation now. As soon as that happens Lineker and co will scream loud and often about how he is being targeted.

[Sleeuwenhoek]

I used to think Willie Anderson didn't get much protection, don't think much has changed since.

[Risso]

Grealish is targetted all of the time and similar things happen to other players that teams feel are a real threat.

I'm concerned it could result in a serious injury but also that the game becomes unfair. We've seen Grealish fouled so many times (the most fouled in the league) and injured too as result.

So, I propose that football adopts a similar system to that used in rugby, where continual and persistent infringements of the same kind result in penalties (and potentially cards) for the last player to commit the foul.

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not. I also think a sin-bin idea would would work for the same sort of situation.

This wouldn't relate for just fouls against a particular player but for other issues like persistent timewasting and dissent.

It's a fair point, and it really is galling to see Jack being constantly pole-axed.  However, the problem you'll get with bookings for repeat fouls is that some people who aren't Jack will constantly be on the dive in order to unfairly get people booked.

[hilts_coolerking]

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not.

Isn't that what happened with Maguire in the first half?  It was his first offence but the ref had had enough of it overall by then.  I thought the ref had a pretty good game.

[Drummond]

Grealish is targetted all of the time and similar things happen to other players that teams feel are a real threat.

I'm concerned it could result in a serious injury but also that the game becomes unfair. We've seen Grealish fouled so many times (the most fouled in the league) and injured too as result.

So, I propose that football adopts a similar system to that used in rugby, where continual and persistent infringements of the same kind result in penalties (and potentially cards) for the last player to commit the foul.

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not. I also think a sin-bin idea would would work for the same sort of situation.

This wouldn't relate for just fouls against a particular player but for other issues like persistent timewasting and dissent.

It's a fair point, and it really is galling to see Jack being constantly pole-axed.  However, the problem you'll get with bookings for repeat fouls is that some people who aren't Jack will constantly be on the dive in order to unfairly get people booked.

The diving thing happens anyway, and surely that's what VAR can be used for.

[Drummond]

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not.

Isn't that what happened with Maguire in the first half?  It was his first offence but the ref had had enough of it overall by then.  I thought the ref had a pretty good game.

I'm not sure it is, and I don't think there is anything in the rules about the issue either...

Whether this ref has a good game or not, it's been happening to Grealish for a couple of seasons.

[PeterWithesShin]

In his last 40 odd league games he's been fouled over 210 times.

[Mister E]

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not.

Isn't that what happened with Maguire in the first half?  It was his first offence but the ref had had enough of it overall by then.  I thought the ref had a pretty good game.

I saw it that way.

I was a ref in local leagues for a few years, and I adopted the view that if a team persistenyly fouled, I'd either book the next player to do it following a warning, or I'd book the team captain. Amazing how effective it was, particularly if the captain got it.

[LeeB]

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not.

Isn't that what happened with Maguire in the first half?  It was his first offence but the ref had had enough of it overall by then.  I thought the ref had a pretty good game.

Maguire was a booking in itself though, and so it should be. Mistiming a tackle can at least be mitigated with attempting to win the ball, pulling someone back is just outright cheating.

[Risso]

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not.

Isn't that what happened with Maguire in the first half?  It was his first offence but the ref had had enough of it overall by then.  I thought the ref had a pretty good game.

Maguire was a booking in itself though, and so it should be. Mistiming a tackle can at least be mitigated with attempting to win the ball, pulling someone back is just outright cheating.

Yep, absolute clear as day yellow card, totting up didn't come into it.

[BlackCountryVilla]

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not.

Isn't that what happened with Maguire in the first half?  It was his first offence but the ref had had enough of it overall by then.  I thought the ref had a pretty good game.

Not sure I agree with that. Pereira clobbered him inside the first minute and again not long after. If memory serves he did it again later in the game. All 3 could have been bookings yet he wasn't. If SJM had made these challenges he would have been given a yellow at least.

Freddie got booked for an accidental coming together.

[BlackCountryVilla]

For example, if Grealish had been fouled by three different players, the referee should then book the next player to commit a foul against him regardless of whether it's a (usual) bookable offence or not.

Isn't that what happened with Maguire in the first half?  It was his first offence but the ref had had enough of it overall by then.  I thought the ref had a pretty good game.

Maguire was a booking in itself though, and so it should be. Mistiming a tackle can at least be mitigated with attempting to win the ball, pulling someone back is just outright cheating.

Agreed. Williams did the same thing. Automatic yellow.

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

As soon as Grealish picks up his england cap he won't need protection from the ref anymore. He'll be playing in a bubble just like Rooney, Scholes and Gerrard used to. With no one allowed to go near them.