Hackett: Referees are the worst we have seen

Some of the decisions in the Hammers game had me totally bewildered.

The best referred games I have seen this year have been by Marvin Atkinson. He has made mistakes but he doesn't slow the game down, allows tackling, plays an advantage and seems unbiased. Oliver is way to easily intimidated and friggin Phil Dowd is the worst as he thinks he can do no wrong.

As a group they are terrible in the box refusing to call the tough game changing calls from the penalty kick and the tug of war BS on corners and free kicks.

Get rid of the lot and bring in the best referee's from the lower leagues.

It's not the refs it's the bosses. Although it may help if they where allowed to come out after a bad game and admit mistakes. How they get some of these offsides correct when players are running out as others are running in should be commended. Not saying that some don't bow down to pressure at certain grounds but I beloeve that 99% of them try thier best but human error will always be with us. Certain rule changes have also not helped like offside(interfering with play or not and deliberate handball) there's to much open to interpretation involved here and one refs call may not be the same as another. Also whether a foul was a goal scoring opportunity and should be red or yellow. Change them all back to how it used to be, handball in the box is a penalty whether deliberate or not. Offside is offside and last defender tackles should be dealt with in respect of the rashness of the challenge and nowt to do with scoring opportunity.

Keith Hackett saying referees are the worst we've seen is a bit like Dr.Harold Shipman saying Dr. Crippen was a shit Doctor...

It's no coincidence that referees suddenly seemed to get worse when there was an infinite number cameras showing replays from all angles. How often have TV viewers seen the same incident multiple times in slow motion before deciding the referee is crap.

But, with that said performances like Marriner's at City are a disgrace and need to be stamped out.

Haha Colin #5, I once emailed Mr. Hackett, I think after the Clattenburg fiasco a few years ago. To soften him up, I mentioned I thought he'd been a good ref in his day, although he blew it in a FA cup tie at Anfield when Pat Nevin was scythed down in the box by Gary Ablett (RIP), and it finished 0-0. At least he'd had the balls to admit in the Daily Mirror after the first game he'd cocked it up, and we should've had a pen (and he'd have to face us at Goodison). but we then got the 4-4 after, Kenny resigned, and we won the 2nd replay (Watson).

Anyway, the erstwhile Mr. Hackett thanked me for my compliments but questioned my recollection, pointing out the referee for those ties was Neil Midgeley.

Never did answer the Clattenburg question though.