[christheref]

Put in the 'As Seen On TV' section, but wasn't made very apparent on MOTD on Saturday.

I was at the Sunderland v Wigan game on Saturday. It's the second time I've seen Mr. Attwell referee with my own eyes, and the second time I've been very disappointed.

The first was Wigan vs West Ham last season. If you take a look at his Wiki page, there's a section about it. Saturday's game once again demonstrated Attwell's sheer lack of man management skills.

Sunderland v Wigan probably wasn't the most aggressive fixture this weekend with no less than 3 derbies going on, yet Attwell managed to produce NINE yellow cards!

I know we don't do 'referee bashing' on here, but as someone who aspires and actually has half a shot at becoming a Select Group referee, it infuriates me that he's still allowed to do so.

[IanWMids]

I haven't seen the Sunderland game you refer to however I did watch the wigan game last season and to be honest I felt he didn't really have much choice with any of the decisions he had to make in that game and it was the players who lost their heads and let themselves down not himself.

[IanWMids]

I've also seen him a few times this year and I must say I was very impressed with him.

[martin]

You have half a shot of becoming a SG referee?

[EssexRef1992]

Hi Christheref,
your profiel says you are a level 7, either you havent updated it or you are a LONG way off being an SG official,
since I am also a level 7, I don't go around telling people I have half a shot.

[TimeRef]

Put in the 'As Seen On TV' section, but wasn't made very apparent on MOTD on Saturday.

I was at the Sunderland v Wigan game on Saturday. It's the second time I've seen Mr. Attwell referee with my own eyes, and the second time I've been very disappointed.

The first was Wigan vs West Ham last season. If you take a look at his Wiki page, there's a section about it. Saturday's game once again demonstrated Attwell's sheer lack of man management skills.

Sunderland v Wigan probably wasn't the most aggressive fixture this weekend with no less than 3 derbies going on, yet Attwell managed to produce NINE yellow cards!

I know we don't do 'referee bashing' on here, but as someone who aspires and actually has half a shot at becoming a Select Group referee, it infuriates me that he's still allowed to do so.

I read this, ignored it, then read that you have 'half a shot'.

Are you one of two current FL referee's that has been told there is a postion on the SG list next season, and that it will go to you or the other referee? - that's half a shot. If you're a Level 7, you have as much chance as me. I'll be there next year though, i'll see you at the PGMO meeting?

And, as for man-management, each game is different - i would have thought it unwise to caution for everything in a derby because it will only infuriate players more, and will cause a bit of a scene in the crowds - ok, nothing to do with the referee, but i bet that plays in his mind. Each referee has their own style, we don't know what was being said between Atwell and the players, and Atwell and the captains, maybe they wern't listening to him - after all, he's probably younger than some of them!

[RustyRef]

but as someone who aspires and actually has half a shot at becoming a Select Group referee

Now, I may have got a U at A level maths and statistics, but this was because I spent class time in the pub and betting office instead of the classroom, so I do still know something about stats and probability. If you are a level 7 you first have to get to level 4, which is the easiest bit. You are then battling against 1100 other level 4's for at most 100 promotion places to level 3. Assuming you get that you will be competing with around 400 level 3s for at most 10 level 2 places. Then you have to get from level 2 to level 1, and probably about 5-10 people a season do that, and finally be nominated to the Select Group.

You think you have ahalf a chance, I would argue it is more like a 1 in a 10,000 chance, and certainly no better than 1 in a 1,000. Remember that Stuart Attwell has successfully gone through all of that ...

[Ben S]

I too have seen Stuart Attwell this season and thought he gave ver accomplished performance, especially for someone so young. I must admit i completely missed his appointment to the Fifa list until i saw him sporting the badge last Saturday. Does Fifa choose referees each season or does the Premier league nominate certain officials? If so can Fifa reject any nominations?

[The Shining Star]

I too have seen Stuart Attwell this season and thought he gave ver accomplished performance, especially for someone so young. I must admit i completely missed his appointment to the Fifa list until i saw him sporting the badge last Saturday. Does Fifa choose referees each season or does the Premier league nominate certain officials? If so can Fifa reject any nominations?

Stuart was appointed to the FIFA last in January 2009.

The National Association nominates the referees for each year when then has to be ratified by FIFA. And yes FIFA can reject nominations.

[jacquesy]

Stuart Attwell refereed at Bury FC on Tuesday and I thought that he had a very good game. Dealt with everything that need to be done but tried to let the game flow as much as possible.

Was very impressed and on that type of performance can see why he is making the move to FIFA List