It was ever thus: complaints about referees in 1920

Incidents on the field of play and the quality of referees continued to be the subject of considerable discussion one hundred years ago in 1920.  The Coventry Evening Telegraph reported, ‘Unusual enthusiasm seems to have been infused into some of the games in the past few weeks, and in one or two cases there were regrettable outbursts of temper on the field of play.  The Coventry Football Association has heard an exceedingly large number of cases, even a special meeting being necessary for the purpose.' 

'In a number of cases, sudden temper seems to be the plea, while in others some go far as to plead justification.   In most of these cases referee’s decisions were put as the start of the trouble, in other words, another referee had failed to please everybody.  Generally speaking there are three main difficulties in refereeing:

• 1.       The putting into practice what is learnt in theory.

1. 2.       The acquisition of that rare quality – the genius of controlling others.

1. 3.       The knack of doing the right thing at the right moment, and of keeping cool under all circumstances.

The first is clearly a matter of experience, quick wits and an agile body.  The ability to control others is a natural gift, and no amount of apprenticeship will develop the real article.  Few men are born to govern and that is why, to my mind, a number of referees never go beyond a certain stage.  

The third difficulty is the particular trouble to the young referees.   Anxious to please, he frequently loses his head.  In fact, the perfect referee is yet to be born.   Meanwhile, we want less talking and more thinking.’