https://www.playersvoice.com.au/ben-...wt55RgxQZVY.97
The second incident was at the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. I was appointed referee for a quarter-final in Canberra between two huge rivals – Iran and Iraq.
We had known this was a potential match-up since the draw had been released, and that my team may be a chance of being appointed. With that in mind, I worked with my two assistant referees, Matthew Cream and Paul Centrangolo, on our analysis before the tournament so we could be fully prepared.
I was excited about the prospect of being tested in such a big match, in my hometown, in front of my family and friends.
It was a match that certainly lived up to the hype!
With Iran up 1-0 just before half-time, I had to caution one of their players for simulation in the penalty area. He was attempting to deceive me into awarding a penalty.
I ran over and told him there was no foul and that he needed to get up. He refused to follow my requests and stayed down, insisting there had been a foul. After calmly asking a few times, I said again that there was no foul and that he needed to get on with the game or face a caution.
He continued to delay, so he received a yellow card as he sat on the ground with his number obscured.
As I ran back to halfway, the Iraqi players pointed out that it was his second yellow. I checked and saw it was indeed a player that had already been booked. The Laws of the Game are clear, so I showed the red card and he was sent off.
In such a big match, the delay between the yellow and the red card caused the ‘controversy’. It wasn’t ideal, but it was the right thing to do for that player’s behaviour. I had to act.
The match got even more crazy after that. It was 1-1 after regular time, then 3-3 after extra time before Iraq won on penalties. It was one of the most intense games I’d ever been involved with as a referee and walking off the field I was confident in all the decisions my team had made.
But once again, the Australian media castigated me and the way they attacked me framed how the match was reported on internationally by the world media.
Thankfully, I’ve never been on social media. The Iranian fans went crazy and flooded the Facebook page of some other unsuspecting Ben Williams.
I didn’t read any of the media or comments after the match, but my wife did. She saw all the death threats being made against us and our baby.
As you can imagine, my wife didn’t feel safe staying in our own home that night.
An Australian Federal Police officer had been assigned to each team of referees for the whole tournament. The officer looking after us said my family would be protected, but for me the line had already been crossed.
Members of the Aussie media had fuelled the hatred, in turn jeopardising the safety of my family. All over a decision that had been correct, albeit delayed.
The Aussie commentators had made out like I was the worst person to ever take up the whistle. On the other hand, the AFC stood by my decision and backed me up, and when my performance was assessed, I received extremely high marks.
In fact, the match had so many challenging moments that it became an example used by referee coaches throughout Asia.
My wife saw all the death threats being made against us and our baby. As you can imagine, she didn’t feel safe staying in our own home that night.
Unfortunately, in my career there were many other times where I felt misrepresented in the Australian media.
In fact, it got to the point where I considered legal action for defamation because I have no doubt that there were refereeing appointments I missed out on because of what was said about me in the media and how I was portrayed. I see this as a problem for many officials.
The greatest currency for a referee is credibility, and when that credibility is eroded by uninformed voices it diminishes a referee’s capacity to control a match and make the hard but fair calls.
I know I was a referee that stuck to his guns and some people didn’t like that. If I’d not had any success outside of Australia maybe I could understand my critics saying, ‘You know what, mate, you weren’t that good,’ but I won’t cop that, because I did achieve a lot internationally.
With the help of my team, I managed to get into the top 10 referees in the world and was voted best in the AFC. I refereed at FIFA tournaments, the Olympics and even the Asian Champions League Final.
I didn’t stop and think much about all that at the time. It’s only since my career ended that I’ve been able to sit back, reflect, and feel a great sense of pride at what I achieved.
There’s one thing I never got the chance to do, though.
I never got to referee an A-League Grand Final.
That kind of says it all really. Mind you, I wouldn’t trade my experiences internationally for that A-League GF!
The second incident was at the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. I was appointed referee for a quarter-final in Canberra between two huge rivals – Iran and Iraq.
We had known this was a potential match-up since the draw had been released, and that my team may be a chance of being appointed. With that in mind, I worked with my two assistant referees, Matthew Cream and Paul Centrangolo, on our analysis before the tournament so we could be fully prepared.
I was excited about the prospect of being tested in such a big match, in my hometown, in front of my family and friends.
It was a match that certainly lived up to the hype!
With Iran up 1-0 just before half-time, I had to caution one of their players for simulation in the penalty area. He was attempting to deceive me into awarding a penalty.
I ran over and told him there was no foul and that he needed to get up. He refused to follow my requests and stayed down, insisting there had been a foul. After calmly asking a few times, I said again that there was no foul and that he needed to get on with the game or face a caution.
He continued to delay, so he received a yellow card as he sat on the ground with his number obscured.
As I ran back to halfway, the Iraqi players pointed out that it was his second yellow. I checked and saw it was indeed a player that had already been booked. The Laws of the Game are clear, so I showed the red card and he was sent off.
In such a big match, the delay between the yellow and the red card caused the ‘controversy’. It wasn’t ideal, but it was the right thing to do for that player’s behaviour. I had to act.
The match got even more crazy after that. It was 1-1 after regular time, then 3-3 after extra time before Iraq won on penalties. It was one of the most intense games I’d ever been involved with as a referee and walking off the field I was confident in all the decisions my team had made.
But once again, the Australian media castigated me and the way they attacked me framed how the match was reported on internationally by the world media.
Thankfully, I’ve never been on social media. The Iranian fans went crazy and flooded the Facebook page of some other unsuspecting Ben Williams.
I didn’t read any of the media or comments after the match, but my wife did. She saw all the death threats being made against us and our baby.
As you can imagine, my wife didn’t feel safe staying in our own home that night.
An Australian Federal Police officer had been assigned to each team of referees for the whole tournament. The officer looking after us said my family would be protected, but for me the line had already been crossed.
Members of the Aussie media had fuelled the hatred, in turn jeopardising the safety of my family. All over a decision that had been correct, albeit delayed.
The Aussie commentators had made out like I was the worst person to ever take up the whistle. On the other hand, the AFC stood by my decision and backed me up, and when my performance was assessed, I received extremely high marks.
In fact, the match had so many challenging moments that it became an example used by referee coaches throughout Asia.
My wife saw all the death threats being made against us and our baby. As you can imagine, she didn’t feel safe staying in our own home that night.
Unfortunately, in my career there were many other times where I felt misrepresented in the Australian media.
In fact, it got to the point where I considered legal action for defamation because I have no doubt that there were refereeing appointments I missed out on because of what was said about me in the media and how I was portrayed. I see this as a problem for many officials.
The greatest currency for a referee is credibility, and when that credibility is eroded by uninformed voices it diminishes a referee’s capacity to control a match and make the hard but fair calls.
I know I was a referee that stuck to his guns and some people didn’t like that. If I’d not had any success outside of Australia maybe I could understand my critics saying, ‘You know what, mate, you weren’t that good,’ but I won’t cop that, because I did achieve a lot internationally.
With the help of my team, I managed to get into the top 10 referees in the world and was voted best in the AFC. I refereed at FIFA tournaments, the Olympics and even the Asian Champions League Final.
I didn’t stop and think much about all that at the time. It’s only since my career ended that I’ve been able to sit back, reflect, and feel a great sense of pride at what I achieved.
There’s one thing I never got the chance to do, though.
I never got to referee an A-League Grand Final.
That kind of says it all really. Mind you, I wouldn’t trade my experiences internationally for that A-League GF!
Comment