This piece was initially all about praise for referee Lee Tavinder going public and admitting he got a decision wrong last week.
As football fans, all we ask our officials to be is honest and transparent. We want responsibility and accountability on the part of the officials.
Mistakes happen, it’s just part of the game, but if errors are recognised then hopefully it can all be part of improving a referee’s performance moving forward.
The tackle by Ballymena United’s Josh Carson on Linfield’s Ethan McGee was high and dangerous.
In today’s game, it merited a straight red card. But according to Lee his line of vision didn’t show the magnitude of the foul and therefore he awarded a caution. He could only punish what he saw.
He admitted that in a post on social media and I commend him for doing that.
And that should have been that. Until the Belfast Telegraph broke the news on Friday that Josh had been hit with a retrospective red card for the incident and banned for three games.
In my mind, that is utter madness from the authorities.
I think it is totally misguided and where does it end?
You will have games having to be replayed.
You just can’t dish out retrospective action because a referee has changed his mind after the event following video evidence or looking at a picture.
If decisions go against a team you will have the manager trying to convince the official after the game to change his mind.
I think this decision will just force refs into keeping quiet. They will not want the hassle it brings.
And I think that’s a massive shame. No referee is ever going to come forward again.
I think it would be great if refs regularly explained controversial decisions following a match and gave their rationale.
Managers are instructed by NIFL to speak to the media following a match, so why not the officials? It doesn’t have to be every game, but it would be beneficial in terms of insight and engagement.
A precedent has been set by Lee and I was hoping referee’s chief Mike Riley would encourage other officials to follow suit. But after the decision to retrospectively punish Josh, I can’t see that happening.
Gutsy Larne can make most of Conference League chance
Larne have a wonderful opportunity to make the group stages of the Conference League after overcoming Ballkani from Kosovo on Thursday night at Inver Park.
The Inver Reds, who had lost star striker Lee Bonis earlier in the week, showed great guts, determination and spirit to see their way past Ballkani in a penalty shoot-out after the tie finished 1-1 on aggregate.
Manager Tiernan Lynch managed to keep his players completely focussed on the job in hand while he also lowered expectations amongst the fans.
As a result, Larne produced a professional performance and were unlucky to be 1-0 down in the second leg, but kept their cool magnificently to score every penalty in the shoot-out while Ronan Ferguson made some big and crucial saves.
Now it’s a tie against Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps for a place in the lucrative group stages and they should go into this match full of confidence and belief.
After a summer when Irish League clubs disappointed in Europe, I’m pleased Larne are still flying the flag for Northern Ireland club football.