How good would YOU be as a referee?

Representatives of the referees, the players, the managers and the football authorities have been meeting to talk about the perceived problem of refereeing standards.
They agreed an eight-point plan to improve the relationship between the referees and their main detractors, the players and managers.
One of the major points is to introduce an education programme about the laws of football for young players.
But a few others could probably do with going on the course too. Of course, if you are a football fan, you probably think all this stuff about not knowing the laws doesn't apply to you. You already know them don't you? After all, you've played the game and watched it for years.
Go to any top football match this season and you will hear the crowd chant: "You don't know what you're doing."
The refrain aimed at the referee, is the most popular of the season. It has taken over from those old favourites: "The referee's a w*****" and "Who's the b****** in the black?"
It's part of the culture of the game to yell at the referee, just as it is taken for granted that a beaten manager will usually have some grievance against the man in black. Then the TV pundits and the newspaper experts will deliver their verdicts about the referee and they are seldom complimentary. Yet how many of the fans shouting that abuse really know the laws of football?
How many of the reporters and broadcasters who pillory referees base their criticisms on a full understanding of the laws? Come to that, how many established footballers, coaches and managers really know the details of the laws?
Anyone who has taken the trouble to learn them will tell you that, week in, week out, remarks are made by players, managers, pundits and fans which show a sketchy knowledge or a complete misunderstanding of the laws.

So, Mick Dennis, Sunday morning referee in Hertfordshire, has set a little quiz for you.
There are 15 statements, and all you have to do is decide whether each one is true or false. If you get them all right, and are sure you would get them correct under the pressure of a match, then you really do know what you're doing. And you are probably already a referee.

Here are 15 statements about the laws of football. Look at each one and answer, TRUE, or FALSE?
1) An assistant referee (linesman) should signal if he sees a foul.
2) There should be corner flags and flags at the half-way line.
3) At the start of a match, the team who win the toss decides which way to kick or can opt to take the kick-off.
4) A player can be offside from his own team's goal-kick.
5) When a corner is taken, the ball must be placed completely inside the arced line.
6) If a player tackles an opponent and makes contact with the ball, it is not a foul.
7) A goalkeeper cannot drop the ball and then pick it up again, but if he parries a shot he can dribble the ball to the edge of the area and then pick it up.
8) A goalkeeper who handles the ball outside his area must be booked or sent off.
9) You can be booked for spitting.
10) If you take a direct free-kick and the wind blows the ball into your own goal, it's a goal.
11) If a dog runs onto the pitch and stops a penalty, you just play on.
12) It's a foul throw if the thrower stands with part of his foot on the pitch.
13) You're not offside if there is a defender on the goal-line.
14) A player who has a blood wound should leave the field immediately.
15) A striker runs from an on-side position and takes the ball on his chest with his back to goal. Before he can turn to shoot, the goalkeeper knocks him over from behind. The keeper should be sent off for stopping a goal-scoring chance.

Click here for the answers

Wednesday, February 2, 3:56pm 2002 London Time ESPN