New season, new refereeing practices. We are resigning ourselves to these new developments and reinterpretations of the Rules, many of which are taken on and off, and which create confusion.
I think one thing is positive, which is nothing more than a return to things as they were and as they should never have stopped being: that only the captain can question the referee. That was specified in those old books of the Rules by Pedro Escartín, a bestseller reissued every two or three years with some new features. Very minor things, which responded to practically impossible cases, submitted to the International Board for consultation. Almost theological questions: “If in a goal kick, once the ball has left the area it returns to it due to the effect of the wind, is it in play or not?” Things that never happened and that caused discussions among lovers of the Rules, which were almost all of us fans.
But in essence there was unanimity. It had been developed over many years, starting with the first draft in 1863 and amended by trial and error, until 1938, when Stanley Rous gave it a clear, universally understood version. In the park, we all knew what a hand was, what a grab was, what was worth it and what wasn’t.
Nowadays, everything is tinkered with from time to time, and when it is for the better, it is because we are returning to what was and should never have ceased to be. For example, only the captain is authorized to address the referee. No more those rows that leave football in such a bad position. We have come to this because we have been opening up to the point of outrage. It worked in the Euro Cup, and we will see if it also works in the national championships. A Euro Cup, like a World Cup, is played with the prudence of the exceptional. Imposing the same respect in everyday life may not be so easy.
Another old novelty: you can’t grab the ball in the penalty area. Well, that’s fine. But that will be more difficult, because referees have long since fallen into the trap of “he grabs it, but not with enough force…” and there is a paralyzing fear of the penalty, just in case Medina Cantalejo throws you the curse of ‘he gives you penalties’.
And another new development that will be confusing: in 1990 it was decided to send off anyone who cut the ball with his hand on goal. It was a mess that arose, how things get messed up, due to Milan’s advanced defence. The model spread and when someone went for goal and was brought down outside the area, which began to happen more frequently, a simple free kick seemed insufficient punishment, and the idea of sending off if the opportunity was “clear and obvious” came about, which has given rise to so many discussions. Some genius then came up with the idea that a powerful and well-directed shot on goal was a clear goal-scoring opportunity, so any hand that cut it off should be sanctioned with a sending off. Penalty and sending off if it happened in the area, free kick and sending off if it happened outside the area. Now, given that a penalty plus sending off together is a lot, it is softened and hands in the area on the ball that is going to goal will only lead to sending off if they are voluntary. If they are involuntary, no. Penalty yes, but no expulsion.
So many detailed details that the Regulations include in these times, weaving and unweaving tables of possible cases, have been aimed at depriving the referee of his free will. Voluntariness was pushed aside by the idea that the referee cannot read the players’ souls. The 1925 Regulations left a wide margin for the judge’s interpretation, faithful to the style of Saxon jurisprudence. That has been eliminated with a mountain of instructions that attempt to cover the infinite variables of each play. Something impossible. Now, suddenly, the referee’s discretion is being resurrected for this case.
Problems that confuse the fan, lost in this forest of changes that accumulates illogic upon illogic.
Yes, semi-automatic offside is coming. Soon we will know in a millionth of a second whether there is or is not an offside by a micron of a nail, bangs or toe of a boot.
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