Take a page from the rugby book

Following on from Sunday’s dismal refereeing display, something that has been pitched before but never really considered is what happens in rugby. On Sunday, monster lost his head after getting booked for his first tackle. When he tried to get an answer all he got was a “shush” from the ref and no explanation at all. When Torres tried to ask about the tackles be was receiving he got booked and then monster gets booked.

Ronaldo gets tackled, gives out and gets up. A few mins later during a free kick he gives out more about the previous non decision and doesn’t get booked - where is the consistency?

What I don’t understand is why can’t the refs talk to the captains? In rugby, the ref calls over the player in question and the captain and explains the situation. No one is left in no doubt. In football the refs treat the players like school children and don’t talk to them. Some do and I respect them for that but others, like Bennett, just don’t and see them as the all seeing, all powerful rular of the game.

If Bennett had taken Gerrard and monster to one side and explained that if monster gave out again then there would be a booking. It also would have given him a chance to explain himself. He then could have taken both captains aside and advised that talking back would result in a booking and then it’s with the players and teams to cop on. No one is left in any doubt then. Instead no one really knows what’s happening and we end up with the farce that happened.

All we really need is refs acting better and with consistency and also we need players to grow up. But Bennett has made his bed now and every dissent shown towards him will be closely scrutinised from now until the end of the season - and hopefully next.

Tags: Bennett, Liverpool, Manure, Refereeing