Bristol Rovers CEO Tom Gorringe wants to discuss the concept of full-time officials in the EFL after following manager Joey Barton in being aggrieved at a number of decisions that have gone against the Gas in recent weeks.
With the exception of the 0-0 draw against Ipswich Town last week, Barton has been scathing in his assessment of matchday officials, particularly in defeats at Lincoln City and Accrington Stanley, and has maintained the message that referees are hampered by their part-time status.
In his programme notes before the 2-1 defeat to Burton Albion on Saturday, Rovers' fifth defeat in their last six league games, Gorringe broached the subject at length revealing that the prospect of fully professional referees was discussed in 2017 but there has been no progress since.
As it stands, the system of grading officials in English football consists of 13 levels with only the top three - International, Select Group and Select Group 2 - professional and deployed across the Premier League, Championship and for cup competitions. An EFL-commissioned survey in 2019 among 28,000 supporters revealed that nearly 60 per cent of respondents wanted professional referees in the third and fourth tiers.
“As frustrated as we are with recent decisions, it is clear the officials have a really tough job,” Gorringe wrote. “The ones that I have spoken to this season are passionate about the game and keen to be operating at the highest possible level.
“However, that is next to impossible when they aren’t full-time. We’ve had officials come to the Mem the day before the game for pitch inspections and then sit to work throughout the day in their full-time job,
“Over recent years, the investment into all aspects of the game has increased with larger playing budgets, investment into sports science, medical and every aspect of performance to try and give the best chance of success.
“However, all that investment is then placed in the hands of part-time officials who have to balance their day jobs, travelling and the pressures of the game, whilst making decisions in an instant that have fundamental impact on the lives and careers of so many.
“When I joined the club, the first EFL meeting I attended there was a discussion about the EFL looking to professionalise the referees at our level. However, I’m not aware of any progress in this area being made over the last five-and-a-half years.
“I will be reaching out to them once again to discuss the issue and see if it can be debated further, as I believe the better the officials, the better the games for supporters to enjoy.”
Of chief frustration to Gorringe was the performance of Tom Reeves at Sincil Bank with the CEO claiming four important decisions went against the Gas in the 1-0 defeat, with Barton furious at the sending-off of Ryan Loft and the inability to spot Lewis Montsma’s elbow on James Connolly for which he was retrospectively punished for violent conduct.
Rovers unsuccessfully appealed the dismissal of Loft, with the striker having served two games of a three-match ban and no indication from the FA it has been extended, while Gorringe also highlighted the lack of free-kicks apparently awarded to forwards Aaron Collins and Josh Coburn.
As per Whoscored.com, Coburn has earned 1.6 fouls per game this season, joint 15th in the division for players who have made at least 10 appearances, while Collins has been adjudged to have been fouled 1.5 times per game, joint 23rd among his peers.
“The recent poor run of results was compounded by some poor refereeing decisions, particularly at the Lincoln game, where we felt four key decisions went against us,” Gorringe added. “The first of these was on the first goal where James Connolly was bundled to the ground at the far post and therefore unable to clear the ball as it was whipped into his defensive area.
“The first goal in any game is hugely important, so missing that decision has a huge impact on the game.
“The second area of contention was Ryan Loft’s red card. Neither the ref nor the linesman flagged for an offence in real time. It was only following the reaction from the Lincoln players that they then decided to issue a red card.
“We appealed the decision and, although it was decided that it didn’t meet the threshold to overturn the punishment, it was also indicated to us that had a yellow been given this wouldn’t have been changed after the game, due to the view that Lofty’s arm was in an unnatural position. This is despite the fact that the contact was to the body and wasn’t of any real force.
“Thirdly, we felt that Aaron was bundled over in the box in the second half and should have been awarded a penalty. Throughout the season, both Aaz and Josh Coburn seem to have been given a disproportionately low amount of free-kicks and penalties compared to the challenges they’ve faced.
“The final offence was the dangerous elbow on Beefy in the final 10 minutes of the game. The main thing we’re thankful for is that Beefy didn’t sustain any lasting damage as the velocity of the elbow could have caused serious injury.
“A subsequent punishment has been issued, however had it been seen at the time, a penalty and a red card would have undoubtedly changed the course of the end of the game.”
Gorringe also referenced the 2-0 home defeat to MK Dons in which he claims the ball was only in play for 44 minutes over the course of the game with a 10-minute period in the second half only witnessing 1 minute 37 seconds of action.
"Given all the financial pressures in the wider economy, we cannot afford to have the product and entertainment value of the sport devalued to that level," he added.
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