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Welcome to all friends of football. Julian Carosi kindly offered to host some of my articles on his renowned Internet corner. An offer I could not refuse - I have greatly admired his enormous commitment to helping referee colleagues through his writings and FA instructional work. It is a privilege to be associated with Julian and I hope my own contributions will add to the undoubted value of his website for referees worldwide. Some of the articles you read here may be familiar to veteran friends who have seen them in various publications. A few have been revised and all are intended to be relevant to the game of today and tomorrow - although a little nostalgia might creep in here and there. I would be happy to hear from old and new friends via email at stanley.lover@free.fr  Whatever your personal involvement in the game of football I wish you well and the same immense pleasure it has afforded me over a lifetime.     Stanley Lover.

Profile of Stanley Lover:

From REFEREE Magazine of NASO - (National Association of Sports Officials - USA)

Five Minutes With … Stanley Lover

Stanley F. Lover was born on December 18, 1925 in London, England. Currently living in Neuilly, near Paris, France, he is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and a marketing consultant. A painter and sculptor, Lover is also a golfer (lowest handicap 3) with eight holes-in-one. He has served as Qualified Golf Referee for five years with French Federation de Golf. Tuberculosis ended a promising semi-pro playing career in 1946, so he turned to refereeing with over 1,000 matches including serving as an assistant referee in the Football League for 11 years, plus international matches and European Cup ties. He has held many leadership positions including President of the Football League Referees Association and The London Referees Society. He was the sole FIFA selection to the FIFA Panel of Instructors for Referees Courses (1971-94) where he conducted FIFA courses in all six Confederations. As a writer Stanley has contributed many instructional features and articles for referees worldwide and was recently honoured as one of the most influential figures in soccer officiating history by the National Association of Sports Officials in America. His impressive list of publications is included below. 

Referee: You've got numerical ratings of the referees going back many World Cups?
Lover: Yes, from 1970 through 2006. At the 1966 World Cup in England, my role was to analyze games and suggest match control topics for daily conferences run by Ken Aston, then the chairman of the FIFA Referees' Committee. That set the pattern for following World Cups.
Later, FIFA Technical Reports on each tournament were useful for coaches but omitted comments on match control. I wrote reports for FIFA on match observations and recommendations in nearly all games (1974 thru 2002) and allocated my own ratings on a consistent basis. 

Referee: What is the most significant rule change in the last 30 years? How or why is that important?
Lover: In a positive manner, two changes in 1992 and 1997 - keepers not being allowed to handle the ball when it is passed, or thrown, to them. That has eliminated a boring tactic and helped the rhythm of the game - there is more play to enjoy.
In a negative aspect, the 1993 change allowing coaches to direct tactics during play. In my view that's the worst change since the Laws were first codified in 1863. Officially, this privilege was intended 'To improve the quality of play' but, after 15 years who can claim it has achieved that goal? As one international coach said, "A coach only needs to convey occasional tactical instructions during play unless he is incompetent and has not established his ideas in training."
Visible coaches cause more harm to the game than players. I would gag them and do away with technical areas, which only serve as stages for maniacs.

Referee: What one rule change would you like to see made?
Lover: If you paid for ten gallons of petrol but only got six you would be entitled to sue. Fans pay dear for 90 minutes of soccer but see only 50-55 minutes of actual play. It's time to count time, on a neutral clock (as in many sports). Say, 60 minutes of ball-in-play. I know that could only apply to professional games, but that's what hundreds of millions of fans watch. We're in the 21st century, for goodness sake.

Referee: What one mechanics change would you like to see made?
Lover: Instant video support. It's depressing to observe referees crucified and humiliated every week for incidents they don't see or can't see. It is possible to devise a procedure that would satisfy players, fans, coaches - and referees. Again, we're in the 21st century!

Referee: You are widely known as the best writer to further the knowledge of referees in the English language? Given film clips, videos and constant television, what is the value of a book on refereeing?
Lover: Every serious referee will have a library of soccer books for quiet reflection and deepening knowledge; getting to the roots of the sport; motivating further research and study. Films, television, etc., are invaluable but tend to flash across one's mind: books are forever - books are Aladdin's Caves, hoarding words of wisdom to inspire passion.

Referee: What can a mid-level learn from watching a referee during a televised match? How?
Lover: Attitude: Communication: Positioning: Compassion for seriously hurt players. How? Observe the referee's performance; note the pros and cons. Relate the skills you see to your own ability.

Referee: What lies ahead for Stanley Lover? What plans are there for the next decade?
Lover: To plug away at improvements to soccer (as above). To back any action which promotes the true role of referees in preserving the game for the pleasure of players and fans. Also to promote worldwide legislation to class sports officials as valued citizens worthy of special protection. NASO's successful campaign is a model of achievement through tenacious lobbying.
There's a huge public relations and education task still ahead.

Publications :  Association Football Laws Illustrated (1971) Soccer Laws Illustrated (1984) Football Laws Illustrated (Arabic edition 1985) Football - Lois Illustrées (France 1990) Official Soccer Rules Illustrated - USA edition - (1999 & 2003) Association Football Match Control (1978) Soccer Match Control (1986) Soccer Judge (1980) Illustrated Soccer Quiz Book (USA 1983) (Australia 1984) Soccer Laws Explained (1993) Soccer Rules Explained (UK1998) (USA 1998) Know Soccer and its Rules (1996- present) Fair Play Guide (1986-present) You are the Ref - illustrated (for RA 1977) FOOTBALL - The Game and Rules (UK1999) The Match (2001) "Kent Whistler" Magazine (1960-1965) "Play on!" as publication of Football Association (2003) Masterclass for Soccer Officials (USA 2003)