The linesman that elbowed Robertson has delivered a golden opportunity to start improving the game. PMGOL and the FA now need to come together to draw the line. Only the captain can speak to the center official. Period. Players can’t surround or confront match officials without an armband. Automatic yellows to anybody that violates it.
In my idealized version of this, referee accountability is brought forth as well. VAR conversations are available (as they were supposed to be), and referees owe explanations with media availability. Let’s air this shit out.
was away so am just catching up on Liverpool & the Fire. What a wild pair of matches.
Completely agree that this is the opportunity to address player harassment of refs. That seem possible? Unfortunately, I don’t see the rest of your sensible ideas coming about anytime soon. If feels like the it took so much to get VAR in place that the instituting of ref’ing will resist any further major changes for a decade. It’s just that conservative.
That said, I don’t much blame the linesman today. His was a competitor’s response. I know refs are supposed to be beefeaters or monks on the face of player and fan harassment, but they’re people, too. A 3 game ban similar to a red card for throwing an elbow is appropriate. And Robbo earned his yellow.
This feels like a huge missed opportunity for ‘Pool between the VVD fuck up, the missed PK, and slew of spurned chances. But fair play to Ramsdale. Outrageous stuff.
also - BOBBY! The legend continues.
