It was the first pre-season meeting of Premier League referees, and the heads of the referees were all on the scene. ｜｜｜. Just look at the seat to know everyone's status.

Philip Tang sat in the middle, expressing his prestige as chief referee. On either side are Keith Hackett and Joe Geist. Indicates that both men are the right and left hands of the chief referee.

Then the referee's seat is clear.

Neil Barry and Paul Dugin sat on either side, and below Neil Barry was Graham Babbel. And then there was Gallagher and Bol. Then there are the judges like Mike Riley, Andy Deersel, Stevie Dunn, Halsey.

Webber may also be a referee who has just arrived in the Premier League this season, but he has a lot of experience and sits in the middle. And Jack doesn't, it's the last one.

"Recently, FIFA and UEFA discussed whether to give a yellow card if they stripped to celebrate after scoring a goal. What do you think? What we should do in English football. ”

What started out was just a simple pleasantry. But the discussion soon began, and Joe Geist asked his own questions. Joe Geist, once the boss of the technical committee, is now the referee manager. In fact, the power is almost the same.

In addition to grading the major referees, the rest is to discuss the issue of referee scale, as well as to read the policy changes of FIFA and UEFA. Just like it is now.

"It should be given."

After Joe Geist, the first person to speak was Conor Gallagher. Gallagher was still more serious, and after he spoke, he continued: "Football is just sports. Nowadays, many players have introduced politics into the game, especially those who are stripping to celebrate, and often like to write controversial political things in it. I think it should be banned. ”

"I'm against it."

Gallagher had just finished when Mike Riley spoke. Mike Riley doesn't have the same business skills as Gallagher, and his qualifications can't match Gallagher's. Gallagher was a referee for 78 years, a Premier League referee in 9 years and a FIFA referee in 94.

But Mike Riley is not. Mike Riley was a referee for 80 years, a Premier League referee in '96 and just became a FIFA referee last year. Far less than Gallagher.

But Mike Riley is just as good. That is, he has a good temper, has a wide range of friends, and has a good network in the refereeing world. In this regard, Mike Riley can mix up everywhere among these referees in the Premier League.

"Why should we be such a bird? The most popular introduction of politics into football is Serie A, with occasional cases in the Bundesliga and La Liga. But this kind of thing is rare in the Premier League, and we haven't seen it in a few years. ”

Mike Riley speaks standard English very clearly. Don't be a referee, even if it's an announcer.

"There are no regulations in Serie A now, so why should we be in a hurry. And now FIFA and UEFA are only in the discussion stage, they want the league to be implemented first, but what does it matter to us in the Premier League. ”

As soon as Mike Riley's words came out, many referees agreed.

Stripped to celebrate during the game, with Nazi slogans, racial discrimination and other controversial topics, it is not common in the Premier League. The most frequent occurrence of this kind of stuffed with political topics is in Serie A.

Or in the World Series.

That's why FIFA and UEFA are currently discussing this, and even they hope that the following leagues can take the lead in a demonstration. But this has a fart relationship with the Premier League.

The Premier League has always been against FIFA and UEFA, so why listen to them.

"I think so too."

Neil Barry looked at the referee with a smile and interjected: "FIFA and UEFA have official rules, and we will abide by them. In the past, we were lagging behind in the Premier League in this regard, and even FIFA and UEFA were working against it. But now we are also strictly abiding by FIFA and UEFA regulations. But we don't have to do anything to cater to them. ”

In the past, FIFA and UEFA had regulations, and the Premier League didn't follow them very much. However, in recent years, the FA has also tried very hard to keep up with FIFA and UEFA.

But like Neil Barry, England is the birthplace of modern football. The pride in the bones cannot be erased, so the FA, including those in English football, are above all eyes. Let English football be a testing ground for FIFA and UEFA, and they won't do it.

"No other comments?"

Philippe Don frowned as he looked at the Premier League referees sitting here. According to his thoughts, Philip Don hoped so. Philip Don is very controlling, and he wants to control the game.

Philip Tang's main concern is to strengthen the power of referees. Being able to control all aspects of the game is the best way to reflect the rights of the referee. Undressing to celebrate, straight to a yellow card, is very much in line with Philippe Don's idea.

But looking at the meaning of these Premier League referees in front of them, they are all opposed. As the chief referee, Philip Don has a lot of power. But it is impossible not to give face to these Premier League referees at will.

"That's what I mean, too."

Pol saw that these people were silent, but he still spoke directly. Looking at Philip Don said: "We don't need to rush to conclusions, anyway, FIFA and UEFA are in the discussion stage, if they don't pass in the end, our side starts first, and it will not end well in the future." ”

Bol is not only a good enforcer, but also a good mouthful.

"No, I don't think so. While FIFA and UEFA are in the discussion phase, the trend is clear. That is, within a year or two, this will definitely become the new rule. Why can't we come first? ”

"You know what."

Bennett had just finished speaking when he was interrupted by Graham Babbel. Graham Babbel is also a veteran referee in English football, and like Neil Barry and Paul Dugin, he is a veteran referee who became a referee in 74.

Of course, the influence is not as great as that of Neil Barry and Paul Dugin. Mainly because his qualifications are not as good as Neil Barry's, and his temper is not as good as Neil Barry's. And in terms of business ability, he is no match for Paul Dugin.

However, Graham Babbel is a conservative representative of the English refereeing scene. The most unaccustomed are some unconventional young referees, including young referees like Jack.

"Don't think that just because you've been a referee for a few days, you really know how to be a referee. You think the head referee is the same as the assistant referee? ”

Graham Babbel was an unceremonious satire of Bennett. Among the current Premier League referees, most of them are assistant referees and referees who take turns to do this, and they slowly come to the Premier League.

But Bennett is completely different. He, like Jack, made a name for himself as an assistant referee first. Bennett worked his way up to the FIFA assistant referee position and only returned to the role of referee in the soccer league three years ago. He is a very typical case of successful assistant referee transition to head referee.

But in the eyes of veteran referees like Graham Babbel, Bennett's promotion is also abnormal. An assistant referee is an assistant referee, and what qualifications does he have compared to the referee.

"Graham, you should still pay attention to the occasion."

Paul Dugin frowned, and Gallagher, who was next to him, fired back at Graham Babbel. After all, Bennett is the referee under his cover, and Graham Babbel's unbridled criticism is completely faceless.

"Why, Dermot. Officiated a few European Championship matches, and really thought he was the No. 1 referee in the Premier League? ”

"I don't dare. I'm not that cheeky. ”

Graham Babbel insinuated that Gallagher did not understand dignity, and Gallagher immediately fired back at Graham Babbel for being disrespectful. Jack was a real eye-opener down there.

I've heard before that the relationship between the Premier League referees isn't very good, but it's really eye-opening to be in this kind of meeting for the first time today and to experience the excitement firsthand.

Whether it's Graham Babbel or Conor Gallagher, these are the best referees in English football. In the following leagues, they are all idols for those referees. I didn't expect it to be so hot at the meeting.

"Enough!"

Philip Don slapped the table angrily. Graham Babbel is too senior, and he is a stinking and hard stone in a pit. In addition, he is a referee on the conservative side, which is very appreciated by many conservative officials in the FA. And Gallagher is a Premier League referee with strong business ability. It is currently the only whistle in the Premier League refereeing industry that can be compared to Bol.

Both of them are important forces in the refereeing world of English football, so what kind of system is it to quarrel like this.

"Philip, look?"

While most of the referees were silent, several referees, Neil Barry, Graham Bol and Mike Riley, were against it.

Although Philip Don was a reformer, and a very strong reformer. Several of the referees he fancies, including Gallagher and Bennett, are also open to new things.

But in English football, after all, conservative forces prevail. The fact that so many levels of referees are against it also shows the meaning of the Premier League referees. So Keith Hackett asked Philip Don softly, in fact, to give a few of them a ladder to step down.

"Then shelve it for now."

Philip Don looked expressionless.