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A letter has been sent to the FA requesting a meeting on the following
proposed agenda: -
1) Explanation of the recent changes of the structure of the FA and their
    potential effect.
2) Recruitment and Retention of   Referees.
3) Assaults on match Officials.
4) Disciplinary procedures.
5) Media communication.
6) Sponsorship / grants

The FA has agreed to this meeting.

If any member would like to attend this year's conference please let me know and I will give you an application form. You will recall that conference is 16th & 17th June in Manchester. Bed and Breakfast will cost £30 per night.

I started this report with congratulations to Peter Watson and end the report with congratulations to John Kasey.  In football parlance 'The boy done good' - John has been appointed to referee the Surrey County Football Association Senior Cup Final.  This is indeed a much-deserved honor for John and we as a society can reflect in his glory. Well done - have a good un.

John Brown

Punishments

Following the incident at West Ham where the referee inadvertently allowed 11 players on the field for Tranmere after a dismissal of one of their players, the referee accepted his responsibility for the error.  The Football Association Referees Committee, until their hearing on the 29th February, immediately suspended him. In effect this was a suspension of some 7 games and a fine of £4,200. 
Steve Double, spokesman for the FA said, "Many times this season we have heard managers say that referees aren't accountable - this case proves they are." 

Did this punishment fit the crime? Was there even a crime committed?
The referee clearly made a mistake, but what about the team who put the extra player on the field. Did they also make a mistake, or were they cheating? 
A player who plays a lose pass, or fails to clear a ball from his defence or misses an open goal makes a mistake BUT is not punished in such a severe fashion.  Since when is making a mistake, and a rather technical one at that, a crime worthy of such extreme punishment.

John Brown