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Whistle blown on 'unfit' Premier League referee Dowd
Topic Started: May 23 2012, 12:53 AM (485 Views)
Homer
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I am the King
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Phil Dowd, one of England’s top referees, is facing a sudden fight to save his career after it emerged on Tuesday night that he has failed a fitness test to continue next season.

The news hit the 49-year-old Staffordshire official within three weeks of his proudest achievement of taking charge of the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Dowd, who became a Football League referee in 1997, has just completed his 12th season in the Premier League. He must work to regain the rigorous fitness standards required of elite referees if he is to make a 13th campaign.

Referees are regularly tested on a series of timed runs in order to meet the strict criteria. Dowd’s bosses want him to continue and there is no question of his age being an issue since the relaxation of automatic retirement rules.

He has always had a naturally stocky build but has never previously struggled to hit the fitness mark. The fact that referees have to take the test in May, immediately on the back of a long and strenuous season, may now be called into question.

Instead of having a chance to recharge his batteries ahead of the test, Dowd will go on holiday knowing his future is under threat more than three months ahead of the start of next season.
Race against time: Dowd intervenes as Nani confronts Jamie Carragher in 2011
In the 2011-12 season Dowd presided over 38 games at all levels, including 28 in the Premier League. Only three select group referees took charge of more games.

The Stoke-on-Trent based official enjoyed a trouble-free Cup final despite the initial controversy over whether an Andy Carroll header had crossed the line as Liverpool looked for a late equaliser in their 2-1 defeat by Chelsea. Assistant referee Andrew Garratt was shown to have been correct in refusing to award a goal.

By contrast, Dowd’s other appearance in a domestic final - Manchester United’s 2-1 League Cup triumph over Aston Villa in 2010 - was marred by an early misjudgement.

Refereeing experts agreed with most pundits that United’s Nemanja Vidic should have been sent off after bringing down Gabby Agbonlahor and denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Villa were given a penalty but Vidic escaped punishment.


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Scholes
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Nothing's as it seems
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He's such a boss.
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Seriously, Frank Lampard is an absolute legend of the game. He needs to be recognised in some way eg. Frank Lampard OBE, Sir Frank Lampard or some kind of lifetime achievement award.

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Greatest ownage machine: Scholes. Absolute animal when he was a regular poster, I always knew I was in the right when he was backing me up, and I couldn't wait to read a topic that he was posting in because I knew he'd be tearing someone apart
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elcule
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Dowd is a class ref, I love it when he shouts at players, always looks pissed off. Get on that treadmill mate. :thumbsup:
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Winner.

"If I go to Anfield and someone puts the ball into the box and Carragher hammers it out of play the fans applaud. At Camp Nou you would never be applauded for that." - Xavi
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Clancy
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honest abe never lied
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Nobody can touch Uriah Rennie :D

Dowd was always a decent ref to be honest. Not in Webb's class, but still kept it together for the most part.
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Homer
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After the superb midweek International friendly it is a low key return to the Premier League as none of the top four, nor any of the bottom four, play each other.


That gives officials outside of the top rated list the opportunity to referee televised games and it is two of the oldest who take charge on Saturday, with Phil Dowd at Tottenham and Mark Halsey at Old Trafford on Sunday.


Dowd, celebrated his 50th birthday two weeks ago to join 51-year-old Chris Foy and Halsey, 51, in the over-fifties gang who are defying the years to continue refereeing at the very top level.

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Select few: Phil Dowd (right) has turned 50-years-old, one of just three Premier League referees who are over-50

There used to be a sensible retirement age of 48 but European law was cited to end the enforced retirement under the national retirement age.

Now, as long as they pass the fitness test and achieve high enough marks from the assessors each game they can continue.


This weekend will give us all the chance to compare Dowd and Halsey with, despite his experience, one of the youngest referees in Mark Clattenburg, who's still only 37.

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DaG
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:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2383646/Referee-Phil-Dowd-shows-weight-loss.html
https://twitter.com/mediocentroEN
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elcule
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:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

What a legend. See you in Brazil mate. Can't think of any ref in the world that comes close to the English batch, Webb and Dowd especially are different class.
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Winner.

"If I go to Anfield and someone puts the ball into the box and Carragher hammers it out of play the fans applaud. At Camp Nou you would never be applauded for that." - Xavi
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DaG
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Quite like Mike Jones, always gives us the dodgiest decisions.
https://twitter.com/mediocentroEN
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AntMcfc
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Ahhhhh what a turn around, immense.
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Lusitania
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Wow that really is a turn around judging by the pictures, he's a nice guy too, my Dad knows him well. Had a pint with him a year or so back after a friendly at a place called Newcastle Town, top lad & good to see him doing well.
Edited by Lusitania, Aug 4 2013, 10:25 PM.
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