In The Opinion Of The Referee

Category: Case Studies

Case Study: Investing and Dividends

At 28 years old, Michael Oliver is the youngest referee in the Barclays Premier League, and likely one of the youngest to hold a FIFA badge. His match management skills belie his young age.

August 16, 2013
Case Study: Not A Slave To The Diagonal

Premier League Referee Phil Dowd demonstrates how moving off of the strict diagonal line improves positioning and decision making.

August 14, 2013
Case Study: Alternative Corner Kick Positioning

BPL Referee Mike Dean takes up a position along the goal line for a corner kick. Might this be a position for us all to consider using?

August 12, 2013
Case Study: The Advantage of Advantage

There might be no better feeling for a soccer referee than to recognize an advantage, signal it, and have the team in possession exploit it by scoring a goal. It isn’t from wanting one team or another to score that this pleasure derives, but rather from a sense that justice has been served.

August 10, 2013
Case Study: Referee Pedersen And The Six Second Rule

Referee Christiana Pedersen’s decision to penalize the Canadian GK for violating the “six-second rule” causes a media furor

August 8, 2013
Case Study: A Case of Violent Conduct

Our review of the CAN-USA Women’s Olympic football semi-final continues with a look at an off-the-ball incident. In the 54th minute of the match, Canada is awarded a free kick in the USA half. The CAN attackers line up on the penalty area line (aka 18-yard line) and prepare for the kick to be delivered.…

August 6, 2013
Case Study: A Difficult Offside Decision

Freeze frame analysis of a goal scored in a UCL match between Celtic and Helsingborgs shows the scorer was in an offside position when the ball was played to him; getting the call right would be difficult.

August 6, 2013
Case Study: What's Wrong With This Picture?, Vol. 1

Today iTOOTR shares the first installment in an occasional series titled “What’s Wrong With This Picture?”.

August 6, 2013
Case Study: How Much Contact Is Too Much?

The referee allows a lot of heavy contact in this match. Was he out of touch or simply responding to what the players appeared to accept?

July 29, 2013
Case Study: Illegal GK Touch Infraction Leads to Goal

A decision to penalize a goalkeeper for an illegal touch in an MLS match is reviewed.

July 22, 2013