Krishnan Sreekumar
Referees to train with Premier League clubs from next season to improve relationships with players thanks to Ralf Rangnick proposal
According to the Daily Mail, Premier League referees could be set to train with clubs from next season in a bid to improve relationships with players, due to a proposal put forward by Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
For long, PL clubs have been at it with referees and officials, with managers often being critical of the decisions that have gone against them in games, which prove crucial in the long run to determine where they end up in the league table.
Given the intense competition in the English top-flight, every small decision given by referees could snowball into a major impact on the clubs as every point earned during games goes a long way in determining whether a team ends up as champions or are relegated to the Championship at the end of the season.
A recent meeting was held between Premier League managers and PGMOL boss Mike Riley regarding the state of affairs in refereeing decisions taken in games. The PGMOL is the official referees’ body in English professional football.
Rangnick puts forward proposal
While varied topics were discussed at the summit, a majority of the head coaches raised concerns over the performance of officials in matches. There is an idea that referees have negative preconceptions about players, which may be the root cause of the disharmony between footballers and match officials.
In a bid to counter this problem, Rangnick suggested that referees should train with PL clubs to allow players to get to know them, rather than only seeing them during matches. This proposal was backed by the rest of those attending the meeting, agreeing that officials should be given access to the elite-level facilities at clubs.
If such a decision is approved and accepted by everyone involved with this move, it would see officials allowed to use the facilities at Premier League clubs. In addition, they could referee training-ground matches as part of an attempt to build a better understanding of the role and improve relationships with players.
With the decision getting the approval from other managers, hopefully, we see Riley implement this proposal from next term to improve refereeing standards in the English top-flight. Given the stature of the competition, referees cannot be allowed to bring down the level of the game with poor decisions.
Quite often this season, we have seen managers and players look frustrated with some decisions taken by officials in games. VAR, offside calls, and sending-offs have been inconsistent in their applicability, which is the biggest cause of concern among head coaches. There seems to be no uniformity in the kind of decisions taken at times.
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Rangnick’s vast experience in the game seems to have come to the fore in this situation, in a move that could potentially solve a long-standing problem that the game has faced. His tactical know-how is now needed at United, in order for us to finish the season strongly and secure Champions League football next term.
Hopefully, this allows refs to get to know players on a more personal basis- see their behaviour in training, and form a holistic understanding of their playing style and tendencies. This could lead to favouritism regarding certain players but given the standards referees are subjected to in a league like the PL, we would hope that is not the case.
