'Blunder ref' Stuart Attwell got this one right

By Graham Poll for the Daily Mail
Updated: 20:26 EST, 19 December 2010

Stuart Attwell was right to start the Ipswich v Leicester game, sensible to take a 15-minute break to ensure pitch markings were visible and right again to complete the fixture.

He needed self-belief to withstand massive pressure to abandon the game once the snow started. Perhaps Ipswich taking an early 3-0 lead helped.

Attwell has unfortunately struggled to shake off the ‘blunder ref’ tag after the ‘ghost goal’ at Watford in 2008. Maybe Saturday’s events will be the turning point for him.

Correct: Stuart Attwell was right to allow the game to continue

Correct: Stuart Attwell was right to allow the game to continue

When the weather is bad the police and local authorities make a decision about the safety of the area. If they are happy, the referee decides whether the game is playable.

The primary consideration is the safety of players, followed by a call on whether a credible game can be played.

The ref will check with groundsmen and the weather forecasters before his inspection.

Blizzard: Shane O'Connor and Leicester's Darius Vassell dig in

Blizzard: Shane O'Connor and Leicester's Darius Vassell dig in

Once Saturday’s game began it soon became clear that the visibility of the standard yellow ball was not good so orange ones were requested.

There were only two, both with last year’s sponsor’s logo on, but they were sensibly accepted and much easier to see, both live and on the TV.

If the weather deteriorates, referees look again at whether conditions are safe, if the ball is rolling OK or gathering snow.

Finally the lines need to be visible or correct decisions cannot be made.

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