(28 Dec 2014, 1:01 am)aureolin wrote @Fozz - the ref criticism issue isn't a difficult one to sort out. Give the referee a press slot after the game, where they can explain their 'big' calls. It would eliminate some of the guesswork carried out by pundits for hours afterwards.Yeah, I think Refs should get a slot after a match to talk to the cameras, if a big decision has been made, it would be good to hear first hand from a ref, why he made the decision, and the chance to apologise if he laters sees he got it wrong(although it is too late by then, though your red card maybe rescinded)...
They could even do a joint press conference with club reps...Or even hold a private meeting with both managers or captains after the game to discuss the match played...
I personally think some referees only have themselves to blame sometimes, it must be a hard job, I could not be arsed with it to be honest.
Another thing that needs to be sorted out is players sorrounding the Ref, and a rule brought in that only allows the offending captain and his skipper to deal with contentious issues, with serial offenders being fined on a sliding scale for each offence.
(28 Dec 2014, 9:35 am)MurdnunoC wrote As long as the pub is not specifically targeting groups whose characteristics are protected under the 2010 Equality Act - they can refuse to serve (or levy conditions upon) any person who enters their premises. For example, some bars require a certain dress-code while some shops have notices stating 'only two children allowed in the shop at one time'. The latter might be challenged on the grounds of age as age is a protected characteristic (although targeting children isn't necessarily discriminatory) but the requirement of one conforming to certain standard of dress is not discriminatory.
Barring employees of the FA, PL, Sky Sports or BT Sports would not be classed as discriminatory as it does not specifically target any cohort protected under the Equality Act. So, yes, the pub can actually do that.
(28 Dec 2014, 10:07 am)aureolin wrote I've seen it before elsewhere. It actually protects them to an extent, as if one of these employees come in, and they later get a court notice, then they can try and press charges for the said employee being on the premises without permission.
A question about barring certain people from pubs, what would stop Sky, FAPL and Bein planting people in the Wheatsheaf or through a mystery shopper kind of thing???