Mark Rivlin on Newell the Cool . . .

Mike Newell is surely the bravest man in football - or should I say person after his outburst concerning assistant referee or linesman or lineswoman Amy Rayner.

After Ms Rayner failed to award his side a penalty in the 3-2 home loss to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, Newell fumed: "She shouldn't be here. I know that sounds sexist but I am sexist. This is not park football, so what are women doing here?
''It is tokenism - for the politically-correct idiots.’’
There you have it in eight beautifully-crafted words. The feminist movement and all it has achieved, torn to shreds by the philosophical outburst of a Liverpudlian football manager. Newell may not be the most sensitive bunny in football (although let’s not forget that he brought to our attention the unscrupulous nature of agents in football), but he’s brought up an issue worth debating. In response, it may be that had Ms Rayner been Mr Rayner then Newell would have just shrugged off the decision as one 'of those things'.

Now I have to be very careful what I say here, in case the missus reads this missive. I was one of those fans who felt uncomfortable when the Football League’s first lineslady Wendy Toms was flapping her flag along the touchline, her ears reverberating to the fans’ ditty: “Get your t**s out for the lads.” I’m one of those rather old-fashioned types that believes women’s sport is well, er, women’s sport. Tennis, lacrosse, netball and gymnastics are sports which have benefited from women’s contribution and I have to say that I am a great admirer of the technical skills of the Swedish and Brazilian women’s beach volleyball teams, revelling in their skills.

Football and cricket, however, are different. I have no objection to women playing these sports, but I do think there is a difference in skill level (although it would be interesting to see how the male Leeds United would get on against the Arsenal women’s team). But officiating in games is another matter. One of the enduring qualities of football is its laddish culture – the place where blokes can go to get away from work and the weekend visit by the mother in law. My MIL was over the other week and I overheard her talking with the wife: “Don’t you think I would look good in something long and flowing?” she said. “Yes, the river,” I interrupted. Three hours in casualty ensued.

To be serious, Newell has a point. After all, isn’t it just political correctness gone mad? There is a thriving women’s game in the UK and surely that is the place for ladies in black, not the Premiership or Championship, where so much is at stake. And how can you expect men who are under enormous stress to temper their language and not use the ‘f’ word in order not to offend a woman official. If fairer-sex officials have no problem with the banter on and off the pitch, and if they are confident of sticking by decisions, whatever wrath from players and the likes of Jose and Sir Alex, then that is fine. But I think that the pressure may be a tad too much for them.

I’m not one of those sexist creatures who would worry that instead of producing a yellow or red card, the lady referee might bring out her mascara kit or walk off the pitch in a strop because one of the players says the back part of her anatomy looks a tad large. I’m saying welcome ladies to the world of football. If you have the right qualifications and feel comfortable, then come on in and enjoy the view. But please don’t expect fans and players to change their habits to accommodate you. After all, we wouldn’t expect you to come for a weekend to Prague to get drunk and do the conga in a strip club.

Donna Gee on Newell the Fool . . .

So women officials aren’t up to officiating at professional matches, are they, Mr Newell?
Your remarks were blatantly sexist - and you admitted as much. But logical? No, nonsensical - because you seem to be suggesting through your male-coloured spectacles that a woman’s eyes are in some way inferior to those of a man.

The reality of life is that gender has absolutely no bearing on a person’s ability to become a football referee. The only relevant detail is one’s knowledge of the game and the ability to pass the relevant exams to make the league list. In other words, there is no reason why a woman cannot become as efficient an official as any man.

When I started working in sports journalism, women writers were almost unheard of. Today, there are hundreds - and they are every bit as capable and knowledgeable as their male counterparts. At least I think so - but then I would say that, wouldn’t I?

There’s another aspect to Newell’s comments, of course. Would he have dared to make such a generalisation had Ms Rayner been a black man, rather than a mere female? Of course not, because - apart from the fact that such a comment would be blatantly racist - there is no way one can lump every member of any group, ethnic or gender based, into a pot where refereeing competence is concerned.

The fact is that Newell based his judgement on one thing only - Amy’s gender. And that to me constitutes the most ludicrous of arguments. Indeed, it would be laughable were it not so offensive. The whole episode makes me question the Luton boss’s intelligence - not only for his illogical logic but also for putting his neck on the block in such a ridiculous way. If his head is chopped off by the FA as a result, he has only himself to blame…and I for one will cheer to the rooftops.

There is no place in football for such sexist claptrap, and fortunately the football authorities seem to agree. Neale Barry - the FA’s head of senior referee development - said: "Amy Rayner is one of our leading female referees and is one step away from the national list of referees. At the moment she is a FIFA assistant referee and the FA have nominated her for the FIFA women's referees list for 2007.

"Amy enjoys enormous respect within refereeing circles and has our full support, as do the rest of our female match officials. English football needs more Amy Rayners."

Those comments seem slightly at odds with the views of Newell, who said of women officials: "It is tokenism - for the politically-correct idiots. We have a problem in this country with political correctness and bringing women into the game is not the way to improve refereeing and officialdom. It is absolutely beyond belief. When do we reach a stage when all officials are women because then we are in trouble?’’

Not half as much trouble as you’re already in, Mr Superior Sex.