A local referee who was denied the opportunity to affiliate with Football Wagga says the association is to blame for the current shortage of referees.
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The Class Two referee requested anonymity in the hope that one day they’re allowed to operate in the local competition.
“I’ve still got a lot to give to refereeing,” the source said.
With more than 30 years of experience in the job, and having worked as a referee in Wagga from 1987 to 2009, they believe Football Wagga could benefit from their expertise.
The source claims that local referees are overworked, and at times, not capable of taking on the games they are assigned to.
“They’re spread far and thin,” the source said.
“They’ve had a referee break down in tears and abandon the match at half-time.
“If you can’t handle the match, what are you doing there?
“It’s not the referee’s fault. Football Wagga’s putting people on games they can’t control.”
The source asserted that there are a handful of qualified referees who have been denied the chance to work for Football Wagga.
In 2015, Football Wagga decided it would stop appointing South West Slopes refereeing affiliates.
Anyone wishing to referee Football Wagga games was expected to dual-affiliate with the Football Wagga Referees Branch.
“Football Wagga wanted full control of any appointments in the competition,” the source said.
Seven SWS referees applied to dual-affiliate with the branch in 2014.
All seven were refused according to the source.
There are two former SWS affiliates who have been granted the opportunity to referee in the Football Wagga competition.
But the source claims those referees are the exception rather than the rule.
“People are asking why the South West Slopes fellas are sitting on the sidelines,” the source said.
“Well, I know why.”
The source admitted they had ruffled a few feathers by reporting issues of concern to Football NSW.
“I’ve done nothing to them except report when things go wrong,” they said.
Football Wagga president Erwin Budde insists the association does not have a policy of shutting out SWS referees.
“We welcome any SWS refs and are happy to look at affiliation requests,” Budde said.