Should referees be allowed to use guns

[Ombudsam]

With the lack of respect for officials from players at an all time low is it now time that we should restore the power of the referee. If a player knew that shouting at an official meant that he could be shot in the head then he would surely think twice before questioning the referee's judgement.

 

Of course there would be an outcry when the first player was killed for debating being called offside and the chattering classes would have a field day discussing the rights and wrongs of murdering someone who put their arm up claiming a throw in when they knew they were the one kicked it out, however that would pretty much die down when everyone realised that games were much cleaner.

 

My only concern about this idea is the practicality of it. Most guns only have 6 chambers and once the first 6 players had been killed (maybe less than six as the referee may just fire the bullets at a players feet in a "Dance for me boy" kind of way) then the remaining players would know that they were in the clear to continue abusing the spirit of the beautiful game. Maybe the ref should be allowed to carry a holster but this creates the problem of maybe having too much firepower and the ref possibly becoming blase with his weaponary knowing that he had more to spare. Either way it's time to discuss this in an adult fashion.

[nvdm]

With the lack of respect for officials from players at an all time low is it now time that we should restore the power of the referee. If a player knew that shouting at an official meant that he could be shot in the head then he would surely think twice before questioning the referee's judgement.

 

Of course there would be an outcry when the first player was killed for debating being called offside and the chattering classes would have a field day discussing the rights and wrongs of murdering someone who put their arm up claiming a throw in when they knew they were the one kicked it out, however that would pretty much die down when everyone realised that games were much cleaner.

 

My only concern about this idea is the practicality of it. Most guns only have 6 chambers and once the first 6 players had been killed (maybe less than six as the referee may just fire the bullets at a players feet in a "Dance for me boy" kind of way) then the remaining players would know that they were in the clear to continue abusing the spirit of the beautiful game. Maybe the ref should be allowed to carry a holster but this creates the problem of maybe having too much firepower and the ref possibly becoming blase with his weaponary knowing that he had more to spare. Either way it's time to discuss this in an adult fashion.

 

Not guns, but nunchucks, defintitely.

[smithdown]

Not guns, but nunchucks, defintitely.

 

 

And throwing stars.

 

Alternatively, a lethal injection, slyly administered to the offending player at the next corner. Or a whistle filled wth anthrax.

[stressederic]

I think the bigger concern would be stopping the referee from firing all of their bullets into Gary Neville or El Hadji Diouf.

 

Of course that problem is solved by ensuring I don't become a referee.

[Euphrates]

You're on to something sammya, but I think the fourth official should have a rifle as well, he's got a better view of the pitch.

 

I also think the ref should have a shotgun, we could empty out the shells and fill them with peas. If a player dives, take out his knees.

[DonRafa]

On themselves?

 

Oh yes. Definately

[wacko]

Indeed. Ninjas for referees and snipers in the stands. Give them all lashings of PCP before the game.

[ion]

You see, this is why I so vehemently oppose the death penalty. With the abundance of foreign players in the league, what's to say the referee won't mistake a player's polite and sincere inquiry for a barrage of abuse, due to the welcome person of inferior nationality using perhaps more vigorous gestures than those to which we are accustomed? And while the noble law enforcer is emptying his magazine into the wronged sportsman before him, staining the pristine lawn with his, albeit foreign, blood, the fans in the stands will be passing round Chinese whispers as to what was said, and the polyglot lip-reading experts (deaf Mancunians need not apply) on Sky will be telling the millions at home what was really said.

Where's the justice? How will what was done be then undone? Will they allow a replacement susbtitute? Will they later compensate the club to the value of the demised member of playing staff? I doubt it. And it's us fans who will have to suffer, as usual...

And what if the St John's have laid out the offender on the changing room floor, and the multi-denominational spiritual representative has administered the final necessities, only to discover that the referee, as so often occurs, has not carried out the sentence efficiently? Is the player allowed back on to the field of play? Is the responsibility for his complete extermination passed on to a less exalted official?

Too many variables, as always, with capital punishment.

The solution, of course, as with so many of football's current problems, lies in technology. Players wear recording equipment, and if there are claims that they've uttered something unmentionable, the information will be passed on, after the game, to a review committee. If the committee finds the player absolutely guilty, with no shadow of a doubt, then, and only then, can he be shot.

So I vigorously disagree with the original, and frankly, irresponsible, poster. Some people are just too gung-ho these days, with little thought for the consequences...

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I see your point, ion. Rather than letting them recording equipment however, I suggest equpping them with small bombs that will blow right through the chest, ensuring instant death. The ref will have a remote where he can trigger it on any of the players, including subs.

 

This is a safe and I think also more entertaining way of administering rightful justice in the beautiful game.

[Armin_Tamzarian]

With the lack of respect for officials from players at an all time low is it now time that we should restore the power of the referee. If a player knew that shouting at an official meant that he could be shot in the head then he would surely think twice before questioning the referee's judgement.

 

I could never support this ill thought out proposal. All reasonable observers of the game know that offending players should be shot in the face. I also think this should take place off the field of play to reduce the potential for damage to the playing surface. Perhaps offences committed in the first 45 minutes could be dealt with at half time and likewise at full time. This would add drama to the traditional lull in proceedings and revenues may be boosted by people staying on in the stadium at the end of the game to see justice being done. An appeals panel could also be established which could offer retrospective apologies for any hasty decisions.

[smithdown]

Many well thought out points here, although I still favour the lethal injection system. An offending player can be given a near-fatal dose, just enough to ensure he reaches the end of the game when he can be given an antidote if, and here's the rub, he has seen through the rest of the game without committing any more despicable acts of foul play and has actually had some decent touches on the ball. If he commits another offence, no matter how slight, he knows and everyone watching knows that his number is up - no special pleading - just a captain's appeal at the end but if unsuccesful there's no blood, no fuss.

 

This could have the additional benefit of a player really giving his all as if his life depends on it on behalf of his team in order to ensure the captain is extremely vigorous in his appeal.

[Paul B]

I see your point, ion. Rather than letting them recording equipment however, I suggest equpping them with small bombs that will blow right through the chest, ensuring instant death. The ref will have a remote where he can trigger it on any of the players, including subs.

 

This is a safe and I think also more entertaining way of administering rightful justice in the beautiful game.

 

 

Now this I like. If the ref could also use his discretion to randomly select one player on the pitch to mete out this punishment to in the event a game finishes 0-0....end of dour goal-less draws.

[drdooom]

Waving an imaginary yellow card = five to the noggin. Sounds fair.

It might also be good to put a bullet in the body part that seems to hurt when it's not sure if a player is feigning injury or not. That way at least we can be certain that the player is really injured.

[smithdown]

 

It might also be good to put a bullet in the body part that seems to hurt when it's not sure if a player is feigning injury or not. That way at least we can be certain that the player is really injured.

 

 

Thats extreme, in the extreme.

 

Simple psychology should be used in these instances, like you do with kids. If they are rolling about clutching a body part and the ref suspects he is feigning injury he should call for his big saw from the shed and shout loudly for all to hear "oh dear, it'll have to come off" til the playr gets up and says it doesn't hurt that much after all.

[John am Rhein]

On-field polygraph tests!

[ion]

All good points, to be sure, and food for thought to boot. Nice to see a thread at last where contentious issues can be openly discussed, without resorting to insults. Whilst I like the "small bombs" suggestion, I must confess to an inclination to the "shot in the face" method. If only to see how a player goes down when such a thing really happens to him...

On a side note - would YNWA's esteemed posters be happy to see the same rules apply to women's football? Most cultures traditionally reserve different, and more often than not, more severe, sentences for the "fairer sex". Or would that be "unfair"?

[Armin_Tamzarian]

All good points, to be sure, and food for thought to boot. Nice to see a thread at last where contentious issues can be openly discussed, without resorting to insults. Whilst I like the "small bombs" suggestion, I must confess to an inclination to the "shot in the face" method. If only to see how a player goes down when such a thing really happens to him...

On a side note - would YNWA's esteemed posters be happy to see the same rules apply to women's football? Most cultures traditionally reserve different, and more often than not, more severe, sentences for the "fairer sex". Or would that be "unfair"?

 

We live in chilly climes. Perhaps the confiscation of kit would be a sensible way forward? Yellow Card top 2nd Yellow Shorts and so on. Forget about sending them off, would ruin the game.

[Paul B]

Women! Playing football! As if!

[Ombudsam]

You see, this is why I so vehemently oppose the death penalty. With the abundance of foreign players in the league, what's to say the referee won't mistake a player's polite and sincere inquiry for a barrage of abuse, due to the welcome person of inferior nationality using perhaps more vigorous gestures than those to which we are accustomed? And while the noble law enforcer is emptying his magazine into the wronged sportsman before him, staining the pristine lawn with his, albeit foreign, blood, the fans in the stands will be passing round Chinese whispers as to what was said, and the polyglot lip-reading experts (deaf Mancunians need not apply) on Sky will be telling the millions at home what was really said.

Where's the justice? How will what was done be then undone? Will they allow a replacement susbtitute? Will they later compensate the club to the value of the demised member of playing staff? I doubt it. And it's us fans who will have to suffer, as usual...

And what if the St John's have laid out the offender on the changing room floor, and the multi-denominational spiritual representative has administered the final necessities, only to discover that the referee, as so often occurs, has not carried out the sentence efficiently? Is the player allowed back on to the field of play? Is the responsibility for his complete extermination passed on to a less exalted official?

Too many variables, as always, with capital punishment.

The solution, of course, as with so many of football's current problems, lies in technology. Players wear recording equipment, and if there are claims that they've uttered something unmentionable, the information will be passed on, after the game, to a review committee. If the committee finds the player absolutely guilty, with no shadow of a doubt, then, and only then, can he be shot.

So I vigorously disagree with the original, and frankly, irresponsible, poster. Some people are just too gung-ho these days, with little thought for the consequences...

 

But if the referee has any doubt whatsoever that the player has cheated then he shouldn't be emptying his barrel into the player's temple, that is sheer common-sense. We shouldn't be in a situation where we are shooting players on a whim that would be unjust

 

 

This is a safe and I think also more entertaining way of administering rightful justice in the beautiful game.

 

 

I could never support this ill thought out proposal. All reasonable observers of the game know that offending players should be shot in the face. I also think this should take place off the field of play to reduce the potential for damage to the playing surface. Perhaps offences committed in the first 45 minutes could be dealt with at half time and likewise at full time. This would add drama to the traditional lull in proceedings and revenues may be boosted by people staying on in the stadium at the end of the game to see justice being done. An appeals panel could also be established which could offer retrospective apologies for any hasty decisions.

 

but it shouldn't be done for entertainment. It should be done for moral rigour. Otherwise there are some out there who will claim that murdering footballers for making glasses signs to assistant referees is too extreme.

[Armin_Tamzarian]

 

but it shouldn't be done for entertainment. It should be done for moral rigour. Otherwise there are some out there who will claim that murdering footballers for making glasses signs to assistant referees is too extreme.

 

Justice must be seen to be done at all times. Think of the impressionable youngsters in the crowd. What an example to set them, perhaps their minds will wander to their own school matches and the advisability of showing dissent when the local ref has been equipped with an FA sponsored Glock? If Justice also happens to offer a splendid finale to the days football, which can be enhanced by the purchase of reasonably priced beverages and snacks then so much the better.

[R A Softlad]

And throwing stars.

 

Alternatively, a lethal injection, slyly administered to the offending player at the next corner. Or a whistle filled wth anthrax.

 

No Grahame Poll would get eaven more confused with more than two things in his pocket...