Martin Hansson Stars In Rättskiparen (The Referee)

I also recall him refereeing the Porto-Arsenal match last season. Not my favourite ref truth be told *ahem*

Urs Meier resigned over the English accusations and people stalking his family. Webb did not after he was under fire. And Hansson isn't even as good as Webb. Hansson ain't shitty, but he sure ain't one of the best refs in Europe.

Webb always manages to ruin a major tournament. Bring back that bald Italian , Pierrlugi something. He was genius.

Long live Collina, first referee to ever feature on the cover of a video game.

This was a great video. Almost as good as Yves Hinant's “Les Arbitres” (Kill the Referee) documentary from 2009. People often forget that referees are human beings too.

Thanks for the find chris.

I don't know why anyone even wants to be a ref, you get nothing but abuse.

I remember Wenger's comments about the France-Ireland game very well. He was at the game doing commentary for French TV. He said he was sitting very close physically to the game, so he could see the ref's and the players' reactions very well. He said that it was clear to him the ref honestly did not see the handball. Wenger said that as all the Irish players swarmed all over him, and as the crowd's reactions became clear to him too, you could see it slowly dawning on the ref that he'd made a mistake and that he was struggling with how to deal with it, frustrated that he could do nothing about it because the rules wouldn't allow him to go back on his decision. He couldn't just pretend he'd seen it, and his linesmen didn't help him, they claimed not to have seen it either. The rules had him trapped. So there was nothing he could do. Wenger then said that this was one of many situations that showed how–esp. with the speed of the modern game and the cameras and replays constantly available–the refs need help, some kind of technological help. That the refs take so many hits for FIFA for their refusal to give the refs assistance in making the right calls.

The ref's aren't too much in favour of video replays, either. And most of the other stuff, that is somewhat “taking away” authority from them.

My two cents is: If you can't stand the heat, you better be a pretty darn good ref or you should quit it.

“The ref's aren't too much in favour of video replays” — WRONG. Refs disagree about video replay (many do in fact want it) but they are almost unanimous about goalline technology, they all want it. “And most of the other stuff, that is somewhat “taking away” authority from them.” – that comment stems from your kneejerk prejudice against them and not on anything you've actually read. I've heard and read too many referee blogs, articles, websites, interviews over 4 decades that totally disprove your comments.

That's why I've mentioned the video replays particularly as not being canon and your entry becoming a FAIL.

Excellent video! A different and much better take on the referee profession than I have ever seen before. Recommended!

Just finished watching Rättskiparen / The Referee and I must say it was a well spent half hour. Nice and well done documentary all of you should watch!

I totally agree!

I also liked Kill the Referee but must admit – in my opinion – this one was a bit more accessible and well structured. Lets hope people watching these films stop their bad manners in the stadia!

I forgot to mention the fact that FIFA really comes across as a lame organization…