Support for referee

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 34

Support for referee

In spite of mounting criticism against the leading Christchurch soccer referee, Mr Harry Videler, there is at least one band of knowledgeable men who have a high opinion of his grasp of the game.

During the Trans Tours Unite d-Blockhouse Bay Rothmans League match at Queen Elizabeth II Park 10 days ago, Mr Videler was judged by eight referee assessors, headed by Mr Leo Wilson, a refereeing instructor from F.I.F.A. Mr Wilson was making a tour of New Zealand, chiefly to talk with referees,

During the match, Mr Videler cautioned four players and in his last four matches has cautioned a

total of 21 players as well as the Newmans Nelson United manager (Mr Doug Moore). He also sent off a Manurewa player during the Air New Zealand semi-final on Saturday in Auckland. Mr Videler was consistently rated in the middle 90s out of 100, a very commendable mark.

The chairman of the Canterbury Football Association’s judicial committee (Mr Peter Donnelly) said that Mr Wilson was especially impressed* *‘He said that if hq (Mr Videler) refereed on that standard every time he would have him anywhere,” said Mr Donnelly. Mr Donnelly confirmed that there was a toughening-

1 up policy this season, referi ees being particularly stern ! on dangerous play and abuse i of the 10yd rule for a defen- ; sive wall. I He said that the cautioning of Kevin Muigrew for ■ that offence during that • match was a perfectly • correct decision and added that at least half of the cau-

tions issued last season were for dissent or for players back-chatting. .Most of the others were for dangerous play. “One point that the C.F.A'-. is not prepared to tolerate is players and their coaches stepping out of line. When dirty football goes out of the game then the crowds will want to watch,’’ Mr Donnelly said.