Whistleblower

Does anybody else feel uncomfortable at the growing public presence of referees chief Keith Hackett? Don't get me wrong, I think there is an increasing need for accountability amongst the games law enforcers. If one takes a look at the murky scandal that has more than muddied the waters of the Italian game it is impossible to argue against the need for increasing regulation and accountability of referees. Who can argue that corruption needs eradicating? It's also interesting to note that it was, by and large, Italy's richest clubs that were the most corrupt with AC Milan, Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina all being found guilty of match fixing. Reginna have also been charged.

I am not implying that corruption exists in the English game but it could be said that greater accountability would help prevent its occurrence in the first place. What matters most is that the final score of a match is a result of the actions of the players on the field rather than as a result of corrupt or erroneous refereeing.

Erroneous refereeing is problematic in the game the whole world over and the calls for technological assistance are getting louder. Humans make mistakes and we're by no means the pinnacle of evolution. We have not yet evolved panoramic vision and the crucial ability to concentrate intensely on more than one thing at a time; omnipotence is still as elusive as it ever was.

We could do well to remember that referees are human and, because of this, they are prone to making mistakes. Take Dermot Gallagher, he didn't show Manchester City's Ben Thatcher a red card for his cynical and disgraceful forearm smash on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes. Gallagher was removed from Premiership duty as a result. However, due to the positioning of the players, Gallagher would have found it difficult to see the incident correctly. It wasn't until the incident had been replayed on television that Thatcher's cynicism was realised. A luxury that the referee didn't have. Coincidentally, a recent article in the Sunday Times reminded us that Keith Hackett didn't show the red card to Wimbledon's John Fashanu for the horrific elbow that shattered Gary Mabbutt's eye socket. The irony of all ironies, perhaps.

In this instance, it is the rules that are the problem rather than any mistake on the part of Dermot Gallagher. Would the referee in question have been removed from duty had it been possible to retrospectively punish Ben Thatcher? How long will it be before such a rule that prevents justice from prevailing is addressed? Yes, Dermot Gallagher got it wrong by only producing a yellow card but he cannot be blamed for rules that prevent further action being taken against Ben Thatcher by the football authorities. It took Thatcher's own club to impose further punishment. Manchester City have handed the Wales international a six game ban and have fined him six weeks wages.

Uriah Rennie was also removed from refereeing duty in the Premiership last weekend. His sin was not awarding a penalty for what was a blatant foul on Everton's Andy Johnson. Other referees on the receiving end of Headmaster Hackett's cane are Rob Styles and Peter Walton. The Premiership season has been alive for little more than a fortnight. Such public and excessive condemnation of referees could prove to be counterproductive. It is important that referees are accountable for their mistakes but it is equally important that they are allowed to work in an environment that does not have unnecessary pressures.

The perils of performance anxiety are known the world over, especially to men, and Mr Hackett has to be mindful that he isn't creating an environment of distrust amongst his referees. Nobody wants to go to work with the constant stench of the boss' bad breath wafting up their nostrils as he lingers behind them watching their every move. It makes people unnecessarily jumpy and is a recipe for further mistakes. Confident and well trained people make less mistakes than those in environments working under pressure, distrust and a vote of no confidence by the management. Keith Hackett might be on his way to what is known in footballing circles as losing the dressing room. Surely it can only be a matter of time before there's a revolt by the games' senior referees.

The solution to all of these problems is television evidence. If we had a fifth official watching live television coverage of the game they would be privy to replays and they could relay the information to the match official via his earpiece. People will inevitably complain that it could hinder the fluency of the match. If it does it will be minimal and is it much of a price to pay to ensure the integrity of the world's most popular sport? People aren't talking about using it for all decisions but for ones that have a direct effect upon the outcome of the game. This has to be a better alternative than scapegoating the men in black. Mr Hackett should seek viable alternatives rather than caving into the pressures of public opinion.

Ashley Cole - towards the end of a pantomime

If Ashley Cole completes his transfer to Stamford Bridge it will bring to a close one of the most public and hostile transfers in recent history. Cole was photographed with Peter Kenyon and Jose Mourinho in a London restaurant. The photographs were published in one of Britain's 'Red Top' gutter rags and, as a result, Cole and Chelsea were fined and warned about their future conduct by the FA. Chelsea distanced themselves from Cole with Cole agreeing a one year contract extension with The Gunners.

However, at the close of the season, with millions in hand Chelsea reignited their in interest in the England fullback. A move Cole appears eager to fulfill which is easily understood given the barbed comments in his recent book. What isn't clear is why he signed the contract extension in the first place. Was it because he was given promises by Arsenal Chief-Executive David Dein that if he signed the extension Arsenal would sell him should their asking price be met? For instance, by signing the extension Cole has ensured that his value didn't plummet, further enusring that he didn't leave in a cut price deal; think the opposite of Michael Owen to Real Madrid.

Such a decision by Cole would make it difficult for him to leave to most other clubs but, in this instance, the other club is Chelsea, la nouveau riche from South West London. A team that can afford to pay inflated prices for mediocre players let alone one that is considered by many to be the best attacking full back in World football. Arsenal would like William Gallas as part of any deal, something Chelsea are resistant to as they are loathe to strengthen a team they consider to be a rival.

My opinion is that Cole will move to Chelsea - I know, hardly a prophecy Nostradamus would be proud of - but Chelsea will want to complete the deal as close to the deadline as possible. If they are to give Arsenal £25 million for a player then it would make sense, from a Chelsea perspective, to wait as long as possible to complete the move, meaning Arsenal will have no time to spend the money to strengthen their side until January. By conducting their business in this manner, Chelsea get the player they want without immediately strenghtening a rival. By the time Arsenal get the chance to spend the cash in January Chelsea might already be out of sight of the North London outfit.

Dirk Kuyt - from Katwijk to the Kop will he flop or not?

Interviewed by Sky Sports News, two days before completing his transfer from Feyenoord to Liverpool, Dirk Kuyt remained coy about his destination. However, when probed by the interviewer Kuyt found it difficult to conceal his emotions flashing wry smiles and cheeky grins to the camera in response to leading questions. Without saying so the blonde forward implied that his destination was Liverpool but he did utter the words 'Only one club is my dream club.'

Few people in Britain would have guessed that this enthusiasm was indicative of Kuyt's overall personality; when he is playing this is evident as tireless but clever running, powerful movement with the ball, intelligent vision and a dogged determination to track back when needed. It is little wonder that Kuyt was worshipped by the faithful at Feyenoord's De Kuip stadium, especially when his impressive statistics are taken into consideration. He notched 71 times in 101 appearances for the Rotterdam club and produced an equally impressive amount of assists.

It's easy to get carried away when praising the Dutchman as doubts remain over his capacity to transfer anything like that output to a league that is regarded as a sterner test of a player's skill. People will quickly point to the failings of Mateja Kezman who had an equally as impressive scoring record. Yet the same people often fail to acknowledge that Kezman lacks the all round ability and game intelligence that Kuyt possesses. It is also correct to point out that a player failing to make the grade at any one club is insufficient evidence to make future generalisations about all players that arrive from a similar destination. Kezman is not Kuyt, PSV is not Feyenoord, one is Dutch the other is Serbian, you get the pictu.....

It would be equally as ridiculous to say that Kuyt is going to be a hit because Van Nistelrooy scored as frequently in the Dutch league as it would to say that he is going to bomb because Kezman failed to make the transition across the North Sea.

To state the obvious, once again, it will take games before pundits can begin to make anything like a rational judgement about his impact on the Premier League. Nevertheless, if his debut is anything to go by he seems to be making the correct strides towards an impressive Anfield career.

Brought on as a second-half substitute for Peter Crouch, Kuyt impressed during a 40 minute period, assisting in a Craig Bellamy goal that was overruled for a marginal offside, as well as creating a few decent chances for himself; he shot wide from 25 yards with virtually his second touch of the ball. Moments later he rose heading the ball wide of Roy Carroll's opposite post. Carroll produced another save late on pushing a shot around his right hand post for a corner.

Kuyt's work ethic was also evident as he gelled quickly with his new team mates, finding passes and making runs that usually come about after a prolonged period of working with a team. Nevertheless, as the saying goes strikers are judged by how many goals they score and he will have to wait till he scores his first goal for Liverpool. One thing is for certain, if Dirk Kuyt fails to make the grade in England it won't be for a lack of effort as the Katwijker has a massive heart. Upon the blowing of the final whistle he went to each corner of the ground to applaud his new supporters as he arrived on his journey from Katwijk to the Kop.