Scottish football manager Philippe Clement advocates for recurring discussions with match officials in Scotland
In the Scottish Premiership, the second round of fixtures saw a significant increase in errors made by the VAR independent review panel, with 13 decisions identified as mistakes compared to just three in the opening round. This sparked discussions about the importance of communication and understanding between referees and managers.
One such advocate for improved dialogue is Philippe Clement, the current manager of Rangers. Clement, who has previously managed Genk, Club Brugge, and Monaco, is no stranger to the challenges of top-tier football. Currently level on points with leaders Celtic, Clement and his team are striving for success in the Scottish Premiership.
However, Clement is not just focused on on-field results. He has expressed a desire for regular meetings with referees, believing that open discussions about game events, decisions, and manager behaviour can lead to fewer misunderstandings and a better product in Scottish football.
Clement is not alone in his beliefs. He proposes that both managers and referees can benefit from such discussions, suggesting that more dialogue outside of the "tension" of matches would benefit the game in general.
This weekend, Clement's team will be without Rabbi Matondo due to a small muscle injury, as they face St Johnstone. Despite this setback, Clement remains undeterred in his quest for improved communication between referees and managers.
Clement's calls for improved communication come after he received a yellow card for kicking away a bottle of water in a recent game, an action he later understood was inappropriate. This incident underscores the potential for misunderstandings between referees and managers, and the need for open dialogue to address these issues.
While there is no specific information available about the frequency or implementation of regular meetings between football referees and managers in Scottish football, such interactions could potentially enhance understanding and improve game officiating by facilitating open communication. Enhanced communication can help address issues like refereeing inconsistencies and promote mutual respect.
In other sports contexts, initiatives to improve officiating through education and training programs, which might include dialogue with coaches or managers, have been implemented. However, these programs are more focused on officiating development rather than regular meetings between referees and managers.
The use of technology like VAR and SAOT has become more prevalent in professional soccer, affecting how referees and managers interact. While there is no specific mention of regular meetings in Scottish football, fostering open communication could be beneficial for both parties.
Additionally, the idea of forming a union or representative body for referees, as seen in other contexts, could facilitate such communication and improve working conditions. Unfortunately, without specific data or reports, the exact prevalence of these meetings in Scottish football remains unclear.
Clement, however, remains optimistic about the potential for improved communication between referees and managers in Scottish football, believing it could lead to a more transparent and fair game for all involved.
- Philippe Clement, the manager of Rangers, has advocated for regular meetings with referees, believing that open discussions can lead to fewer misunderstandings and a better product in Scottish football.
- Clement suggests that both managers and referees can benefit from such discussions, as he believes that more dialogue outside of the tension of matches would benefit the game in general.
