14 Sep 2018 14:31:13
Not really allowed to discuss the full details at the moment, but I will be officiating a very high level tournament, that includes Liverpool.
It's u15s, but in my second season refereeing, I am completely over the moon to be selected for an amazing event, with other premier league clubs and big names from Europe coming over.
Thought I'd share the news with my lfc rumours family :)

1.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 14:54:30
Congratulations mate, hope you are in for a lot of warranted abuse ;)

2.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 14:56:31
Benny, curious to get a clearly qualified referees opinion on a couple of things. What do you think of VAR? What can be done with the simulation (neymar) problem in world football?

3.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 14:56:46
Think I forget to mention, congrats!

4.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 15:35:11
Excellent news mate.

5.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 15:40:26
Fantastic news Benny, congratulations mate!

6.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 15:44:23
Sorry, forgot to answer your second question.
I personally think a lot of referees start too young, an I am grateful I played at a good level for 20 years before going into refereeing. What it allows you to see is when people are trying to con a referee. There’s ways to fall naturally, unaturally, creating contact etc. Last week I had the same guy throw himself to the floor twice in the box, there was the slightest contact both times, but he was so dramatic and tried to make it out as it were a foul “ remember, football is a contact sport, not every touch is a foul”
I waived both away. I didn’t book him though, as I believe there was contact. I think a lot of people in the game say “well if it’s not a penalty, it is a yellow card for diving “ in which I disagree. I only book when I’m 100% there’s no contact.
The player came up to me and my team for the after game handshake, with a massive grin and laugh, telling me I was spot on both times. We shared a laugh and that was the end of it for me.
There is a vast amount of players with quick feet who purposely make the contact into the defender, ali, Kane, Zaha, young to name a few, and buying into it is just down to poor refereeing.
Neymar is a different kettle of fish, because he is so quick, and skilful, he actually is fouled A LOT, the problem is, he rolls around like he has been shot, whether there is zero, minimal, or full contact ( a foul) which must make it so hard for some referees.
My god what a waffle that was. Sorry if I bore, I guess the short answer is better, stronger and more seasoned referees.

7.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 15:31:14
Thanks guys :)
Mana, I think VAR is wonderful. The problem with it, and will always exist, is the referees using it. Still making wrong decisions. 4 guys watching the tv? Just creates madness and panic. It needs one guy watching, who, if he thinks, the referee missed something, comes on the radio “ alright mate, might want to stop play an have a look at that tackle again, but your call bro”
“ I think that was a handball and didn’t come off his thigh buddy, might want to disallow the goal before you restart play, but have a look and it’s your call, bro “.

8.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 16:46:43
Good luck benny.

9.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 17:29:05
Congrats Benny!

{Ed025's Note - well done benny...just dont be biased towards liverpool like all the refs in the prem mate.. :)

10.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 17:41:16
Well done Benny. Now we will have 13th men too ;) . Ed025, Benny is our own Howard Webb.

{Ed025's Note - except benny is not a cheat stg, well as far as i know.. :)

11.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 17:45:41
You are right though Ed.

12.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 18:05:42
Well done mate, really pleased for you!

Remember, even at that level, you need to take care of your nutritional needs.

Steer clear of Tibet water and ensure you always have a few slices of cattoast to hand in case you are peckish 😀.

13.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 19:47:16
Well done Baller.

Alisson was fouled 👍.

14.) 14 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 20:55:45
Brilliant Benny Boy, remember all Mancs (especially Ken) are divers 😝 so please remind the ref from our charity game that his decision was sent to VAR and our live Facebook commentary teams’ laughter confirmed the Irish Wilf Zaha had been cleared for landing on runway 3.
Obviously the second “tackle” I made on Ken made sure that if the ref was going to give him a foul anyway, it might as well be worth my while 😱
On the bright side Ken I’ll never be able to catch you next year, following my new dietition “The Colonels” advice 🍔🍟🐷.

15.) 15 Sep 2018
14 Sep 2018 23:01:20
Great news Benny! Congratulations. You'll be GREAT!

16.) 15 Sep 2018
15 Sep 2018 00:09:15
Nice one Benny well done mate.
On the VAR subject I think it should be used for black and white decisions only. Is it offside? Was the ball out of play? Did he put the ball in with his hand, did he dive without contact etc.
When you start using it for fouls there’s just too much room for human opinion. We’ve already seen that even with VAR refs are coming to what many would say is the wrong decision. That for me, puts the refs under even more pressure to explain their decisions having seen it on a screen or been told it’s a foul in their ear after the event and still getting it wrong in many people’s eyes.
I think we have to accept that some decisions will always be a matter of opinion, it’s what makes our game so compelling.
As a former player you just have to accept the ref’s decision and move on whether you agree with it or not. VAR doesn’t change that it just confuses it.

17.) 15 Sep 2018
15 Sep 2018 05:44:43
Congratulations and best of luck!