I was watching on Bein, the studio guys are Gray and Keys.

At half time Keys said they'd had a reply from the officials (not the match ones, but the people who control(?) them) regarding the off side for the second goal.

It said that Famino had not made a "significant move towards the ball".
Keys said that was the first time he had ever heard that expression, and he thought that they were just covering themselves.

This post has been merged from a topic called 'Kevin Friend - Dropped' by becky

As usual, the Ref's body with the FA have disguised this 'demotion' by saying there is regular rotation down to lower leagues and this is not a criticism of a ref's performance....

I imagine the assessor in the stands must have been pretty damning in his report of Mr Friend but I am not sure if he is free to comment on the VAR official.

It all boils down to an apparent 'lack of accountability' for refs which ought to be rectified.

Trouble is there is a shortage of top class refs coming through the leagues and this not helped by attacks on refs at grass roots levels.

Be interesting to see how Craig Pawson refs the Burnley v. Waford game on Saturday.

Man and boy Palace since my first game in 1948 sitting on my dad's shoulders

This post has been merged from a topic called 'Kevin Friend - Dropped' by becky

Allowing the offside "goal" to stand was down to sheer incompetence, and nobody can legislate for that.

But I do wonder whether, in view of the unusual degree of criticism and controversy that the penalty decision has stirred up, the authorities will issue a directive to referees that they should not feel under any pressure to change an on-field decision when advised to review an incident.

I think it would help - for which reason I imagine it'll never happen.

This post has been merged from a topic called 'Kevin Friend - Dropped' by becky

Friend will not officiate in the next round of Premier League games. His next refereeing job will be next Wednesday at Cardiff who host Peterborough in the Championship.

Pawson will not be on VAR duty, but will referee Burnley v Watford on Saturday.

Having been effectively disciplined, it would be good to receive an apology. But I guess they're forbidden to make any comment.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

This post has been merged from a topic called 'Kevin Friend - Dropped' by becky

Thing is POG, they haven't been disciplined as you put it, we will never get an apology & you're right, they are forbidden to comment.

EPL refs are rotated regularly, from being in the middle, to 4th official, to VAR & to lower leagues. Some refs(not many), if after being assessed, are deemed to be in need of 'taking out of the firing line' so to speak, are dropped down a league or 2/3/4 to build their confidence/ability etc back up to acceptable levels.

None of this excuses what happened against LiVARpool & that's the thing, we are just supposed to 'suck it up', until the FA change, there will never be any accountability for officials. As an aside, what's the chance of both Friend & Pawson being involved in the League Cup & FA Cup Finals. God help us.

Edited by eagleman13 (02 Feb 2022 1.47pm)

I'm a blind man, i'm a blind man, now my room is cold,
When a blind man cries, Lord, he feels it from his soul.
[Link]

This post has been merged from a topic called 'Kevin Friend - Dropped' by becky

Nobody gets everything 100% correct all the time. What is frustrating is the attitude of the premier league referee’s association. it’s run like a private gentlemen’s club and no outsider is welcome. They never issue any statement or make any announcement it’s all very hush hush.

I would love to be party to the telephone conversation on the Monday morning when they ring the ref, “what were you thinking Kev with that decision you really ballsed that one up, but never mind we won’t say anything”