Individual Answers

Julian Carosi, England

Why are Referees now standing in the centre of the field of play near to the penalty arc when monitoring free kicks at the end of the diagonal - taken near to the penalty area, rather than standing out of the way to the left side of the defensive wall?

We will only take this position if there is no risk of a square pass by the attacker and we could be involved in play. The reason for taking this position is the most optimal viewing angle as we can see the wall encroachment, near post pushing or pulling and also back post pulling and still keeping the assistant referee in view.

Mike Nelson, United States

Why after you guys make a call/or no call in the EPL do you guys let half of the players on the field crowd around you and argue? Amateur players here in the States see these players protesting like that and they expect us to let them do it as well. Why do you guys as a whole put up with that much dissent? If you were to start dealing with it immediately the amount of dissent in the game would greatly decrease.

As Premier League Referee's, its important to accept that we are role models for other referee's throughout the world. There is a lot of pressure attached in Premier League matches and sometimes the players can over react if things don't go there way. Its important as referee's to try and manage situations and then go to the yellow card or red card if that doesn't work. We are sometimes guilty of overhanging at times and there is sometimes a fine balance which we as a team of referee's work on.

Ryan Hibbard, England

What is the most difficult premier league game you have refereed and why?

I would have to say the Chelsea v Arsenal match this season as it had huge pressures attached as it was a part of the Grand Slam Weekend and this fixture over the course of the last couple of seasons has been difficult to referee with many yellow and red cards.

Gareth Leith, Scotland

I have noticed you have a rather distinctive whistle sound, I was wondering what type of whistle you use and how you produce that distinctive sound?

I use a Fox 40 Classic and many people have commented that it has a strange sound. I have changed my whistle on numerous occasions and still have the same noise sound. I can only guess its how I blow the whistle.