How was such a local ref allowed to ref us

[atypical_boro]

I think you're making the mistake of thinking that professional referees, who have got where they are by showing a career-long ability to make impartial decisions and remain neutral even under severe provocation, are somehow going around 'hating' particular teams on the basis of geography.

I can assure you, as a former referee even though at a fairly low level myself, that is just not the case.

In any event, in addition to declaring any team affiliation, referees also have to declare any other conflicts of interest they might have. In the unlikely event that a referee has developed some kind of irrational loathing for a team that they feel would affect their performance, they would be duty-bound to declare that also.

If they didn't do so and it came to light later (as the saying goes, "Nothing remains hidden for ever") then their career, at least as a top-level referee, would be over

Although as I say, in my experience that just isn't very likely to be the case.

Hmm ok. So you'd be totally happy with a Mackem or a Geordie refereeing our matches? I appreciate 'professionalism' etc but in the nanosecond referees get to make a decision, its virtually impossible to prevent ANY sub-conscious (or even conscious) bias seep through and for that to NEVER have any impact on outcomes, in my opinion.

 

[HolgateCorner]

Hmm ok. So you'd be totally happy with a Mackem or a Geordie refereeing our matches? I appreciate 'professionalism' etc but in the nanosecond referees get to make a decision, its virtually impossible to prevent ANY sub-conscious (or even conscious) bias seep through and for that to NEVER have any impact on outcomes, in my opinion.

Like I said above I think the refs will be professional but I think any sub-conscious bias will be more from trying to prove they are not favouring the north east team.

Whilst we are very aware of the intensity of our local rivalries I think other parts of the country see the north east as one big family.

 

[atypical_boro]

Like I said above I think the refs will be professional but I think any sub-conscious bias will be more from trying to prove they are not favouring the north east team.

Whilst we are very aware of the intensity of our local rivalries I think other parts of the country see the north east as one big family.

I think that's true of most regions probably.

 

[coluka]

In fairness, I suspect given the covid crisis, they will want officials travelling as minimally as possible too. Whilst I don’t know one way or the other on the 2 touches, I do not doubt the decision was given in any other spirit than fair play to both teams. He could have avoided giving the penalty easily enough, the players were slipping all over in the first half, perhaps stud choice by the players needs questioning too?

 

[truck]

The vast majority of Hartlepool supporters i've ever met, have a massive chip on their shoulders with regard to the Boro.

A lot of people from Hartlepool have chips on their shoulders full stop, as much as people from Boro always complain that the Government (either party) does nothing for the Boro, in Pools they feel ignored by County Durham when in that county, and when in Cleveland the forgotten part as they were over the river.
Having worked there many many years ago not an area I have any fond feelings for

 

[uncle_rico]

I think you're making the mistake of thinking that professional referees, who have got where they are by showing a career-long ability to make impartial decisions and remain neutral even under severe provocation, are somehow going around 'hating' particular teams on the basis of geography.

I can assure you, as a former referee even though at a fairly low level myself, that is just not the case.

In any event, in addition to declaring any team affiliation, referees also have to declare any other conflicts of interest they might have. In the unlikely event that a referee has developed some kind of irrational loathing for a team that they feel would affect their performance, they would be duty-bound to declare that also.

If they didn't do so and it came to light later (as the saying goes, "Nothing remains hidden for ever") then their career, at least as a top-level referee, would be over

Although as I say, in my experience that just isn't very likely to be the case.

Why don't they officiate games involving the team they support, or are local to (usually) then?