Women’s Super League: Rare video of mic’d up referee is still fascinating to watch | OneFootball

One of the most popular and controversial topics when it comes to football is the decision-making of referees.

Whether we’re gesturing frantically and yelling over an incorrect call, or jumping around after our team is awarded a penalty, there is always a decision to talk about.

But would it make us feel better if we could listen in and actually see how officials handle the game and make their calls?

Last year, the Women’s Super League gave fans a glimpse of exactly that.

Referee Emily Heaslip was mic’d up while in charge of Chelsea‘s 5-0 win over Reading and it made for a fascinating watch on Sky Sports.

For the first time in the broadcaster’s history, the footage was released to give fans the opportunity to see how officials navigate and control a football match.

Despite this being almost nine months ago, we still haven’t seen anything similar to this in English football, which makes this rare insight all the more interesting.

How do football referees make decisions?

With the video providing crystal clear audio of Heaslip, viewers can listen as she gives instructions and comes to decisions throughout the Chelsea vs Reading fixture.

Throughout the footage, Heaslip comments things like: “No way, nothing there” when assessing a tackle and informing Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney to keep “one foot on the line” while preparing to face a penalty.

Heaslip is also heard making the odd remark to herself, including one occasion where she mutters about how Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert “loves a challenge.”

Video: Highlight footage of mic’d up WSL referee

The video has been viewed almost 200,000 times and fans seemed to really enjoy the insight provided, with some calling for it to be introduced to the Premier League.

“This is badly needed in the men’s game. Well done to the WSL for paving the way,” one user commented.

“This five minute clip has told me more than watching the game live for 40 years,” another wrote.

“It’s taken all the confusion out of the game and gives you even more of an insight. Sign it up for [the] Premier League next season.”

A third replied: “No idea why they don’t do this more. Players won’t swear at referees as much, clear explanation of their decisions and everyone is held accountable.”

Should the Premier League release referee audio?

Attaching a microphone to a referee is not a new trend, as the A-League and even the NBA have released mic’d up content before.

However, the WSL instalment was the first of its kind in the UK and it remains to be seen whether Sky Sports will do something like this again.

But how good would it be to listen in on a Premier League referee’s conversations during a game?

With the amount of times a referee has been swarmed by players when they bring out a card or point to the penalty spot, there would be hours and hours of entertaining audio to listen to.

The unique insight would also show fans and players exactly why referees make the decisions they do, which in turn could reduce the amount of hot-headed responses on the pitch.

The players aren’t the only ones who have run-ins with the officials either. There have been plenty of times where managers have also flown off the handle following a referee’s decision.

Most of the time, we see how animated the other party is and we can probably guess the kind of things they are shouting as they air their frustrations.

However, the referee more often than not remains calm and composed, and unless you’re a master at lipreading, it’s impossible to know exactly what is being said in return.

Earlier this week, Liverpool men’s manager Jurgen KloppBrentford.

The German was confused as to why the Bees’ third goal was allowed to stand and why some incidents Klopp thought were fouls did not go in Liverpool’s favour.

Maybe if Premier League referees were mic’d up too, it would answer a lot of these burning questions.