League Addresses Late Postponement Issues
Sun 13th April 2014 | Announcements | By Ian Templeman
The League Management Committee is consulting with both the FA and Lancashire FA, following a number of recent instances where games have been postponed shortly before kick off by the match referee.
The League has received several reports from clubs where a match referee has postponed a game on arrival at the ground, after the pitch had passed an earlier inspection by a qualified local referee.
League Secretary John Deal said: “We fully appreciate that the match referee has the final say in whether or not a game goes ahead or not, and that the safety of players has to be taken into account.
“However, we are concerned that in a number of recent instances, referees have not been following the correct guidelines and protocol when taking the decision to postpone a game. In some cases, both teams have indicated to the referee that they believed the pitch was playable and wanted to play the game, and their request was ignored.
“Instructions have been issued by the FA to referees that if both teams want to play, the game should be played, and since it appears that some referees are not following the agreed procedures, the Management Committee is taking this issue up with the relevant bodies on behalf of the clubs.
“In the case of Premier Division games, the match officials are appointed by the FA, and in fairness they have been very keen to investigate and take action where necessary, if referees have not followed the laid down instructions.
“For Division One games, the appointing authority is the Lancashire FA, and we have arranged a meeting with the Lancashire FA Referees Development Officer to discuss the issue.
“The Management Committee is very well aware of the cost and inconvenience involved to clubs when a game is postponed at short notice, be it travelling expenses for the away team and their supporters, and for the home club the cost of catering, bar staff, and match programmes.
“Clubs can be assured that this is being addressed on their behalf, and hopefully as a result, we will see a reduction in the number of instances where games are postponed at short notice”.
League Addresses Late Postponement Issues
Sun 13th April 2014 | Announcements
By Ian Templeman
The League Management Committee is consulting with both the FA and Lancashire FA, following a number of recent instances where games have been postponed shortly before kick off by the match referee.
The League has received several reports from clubs where a match referee has postponed a game on arrival at the ground, after the pitch had passed an earlier inspection by a qualified local referee.
League Secretary John Deal said: “We fully appreciate that the match referee has the final say in whether or not a game goes ahead or not, and that the safety of players has to be taken into account.
“However, we are concerned that in a number of recent instances, referees have not been following the correct guidelines and protocol when taking the decision to postpone a game. In some cases, both teams have indicated to the referee that they believed the pitch was playable and wanted to play the game, and their request was ignored.
“Instructions have been issued by the FA to referees that if both teams want to play, the game should be played, and since it appears that some referees are not following the agreed procedures, the Management Committee is taking this issue up with the relevant bodies on behalf of the clubs.
“In the case of Premier Division games, the match officials are appointed by the FA, and in fairness they have been very keen to investigate and take action where necessary, if referees have not followed the laid down instructions.
“For Division One games, the appointing authority is the Lancashire FA, and we have arranged a meeting with the Lancashire FA Referees Development Officer to discuss the issue.
“The Management Committee is very well aware of the cost and inconvenience involved to clubs when a game is postponed at short notice, be it travelling expenses for the away team and their supporters, and for the home club the cost of catering, bar staff, and match programmes.
“Clubs can be assured that this is being addressed on their behalf, and hopefully as a result, we will see a reduction in the number of instances where games are postponed at short notice”.
