da fezbet： The laws of football can appear strange and convoluted to those who don’t follow the game closely, and for those that do we’re still sometimes left scratching our heads. The problem is that referees each have their own interpretation of a specific law that we might not necessarily agree with. But what are the exact rules as written in stone and what should the referee signal if a certain situation were to occur? Well wonder no longer…
da betway： You Are The Ref is the ultimate illustrated guide to the laws of football. Featuring the work of the extremely talented artist Paul Trevillion and his cult classic comic strip, you’re asked to decide what you’d do if you were the referee. Stunning portraits display football stars from all ages, from John Charles, to Alan Shearer, to Kaka, with former international referee Keith Hackett penning the decisions. You’re given the opportunity to test your knowledge about the world’s greatest game, as well as given pointers on how to draw like Trevillion.
The book collects the best classic strips and features brand new art inspired by the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Alongside the refereeing conundrums there is also extra trivia and facts about the world’s best players, with a special section on World Cup heroes from the past where Paul Trevillion selects his 15 all-time icons. Keith Hackett gives an insight of the world of refereeing and even lists his top five referees. Whilst you won’t be surprised that the shiny head of Pierluigi Collina has made the list, the inclusion of a certain Mr Graham Poll who infamously gave three yellow cards to the same player in a World Cup encounter before sending him off may raise a few eyebrows.
You Are The Ref is a fascinating book that will test and increase your knowledge of the beautiful game. Featuring an extended foreword by current Portsmouth and England goalkeeper David James who himself has a passion for art, the book champions the series that started way back in 1957. Since then the game has changed a lot, as have the refereeing dilemmas, but the controversy still remains. The quirks, misconceptions and debatable laws are often something you’ll debate down the pub with your mates, but now you can find out if you were right or wrong. So next time you’re watching the big match you’ll know exactly what decision should have been made!
Order now from Guardian Books for £10.99: http://www.guardianbooks.co.uk and there’s an official iPhone App available as well!