Berdos on refereeing differences
French clubs in the Heineken Cup have complained of the severity of English referees and there is even a perception of bias. The website Le Site spoke to top French referee, Christophe Berdos, about this.
Recent incidents which added to the French complaint have been the red card shown Jamie Cudmore, the lack of a card for Harry Ellis after his tackle on Dan Carter, several decisions against Stade Français and then the drop by Biarritz which was turned down despite video evidence to the contrary.
Berdos says that there is a difference between the way English and French referees apply the laws. He says English referees are stricter. The possibility of such differences from country to country exists which is why the ERC (European Cup – organisers of the Heineken Cup) and the IRB arrange meetings of referees top get to a uniform application.
Asked if French referees are more lenient, Berdos said that French referees try to manage the game more to find a way somewhere between the laws and the spirit of the laws while the English referees stick closer to the laws. The English believe the players are professionals and should know the laws, and so if there is an infringement there is a sanction. We tend to look more to the spirit of the law and question whether an act is voluntary or not. French referees, like their players, a more Latin in temperament which makes it possible to have greater flow in the game. The referees allow a bit more latitude.
Berdos believed that it was important to return to “the essence of the law”.
At the same time he stressed that there was no ill feeling on the part of English referees. There may two differing outlooks but they are getting closer.
