Promotion and Relegation of Soccer Referees

Professional soccer referees, like the players they manage, should be graded under a fair, equitable and transparent system; and promoted or relegated according to their performance. This sounds ideal and possible for adoption in any sporting code. But this idea, recently tabled by manager Tony Pulis of English Premier League club Stoke would I am sure have its critics. Not me though, I think it is a workable solution to the perception that some referees are not up to top flight work, or favour larger and more established clubs over their poorer or newly promoted cousins. Pulis was angry Stoke were denied a penalty on Saturday when Sunderland's Lee Cattermole appeared to handle Kenwyne Jones' header on the goal-line and advocated the introduction of a relegation system for referees to stop poor decisions.

This is not referee bashing, it is a practical way of lifting the standard of football across the league, with referees, players and clubs benefiting. I have refereed at fairly high level myself, albeit in a vastly different sport, and can see the advantage of being evaluated and rated according to set criteria that are open and reasonable. Not only would poorly functioning referees be sent to a lower level, they would also be properly trained and nurtured. Conversely, those referees in lower competitions could be promoted upward to match their skill level. Both the Premier League and The Championship would profit from this arrangement. A similar scheme currently exists in England, with clubs having the opportunity to comment on referee ability, but tighter regulations and promotion or relegation would spark better results.