PokerBlade
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This article from 2012 suggests that, in the future, referees' conversations were to be recorded. If that is still the case there should be plenty of evidence to show what was actually said by Jon Moss.
Ref chief Riley backs move to record match officials' conversations
By DAVID KENT FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 09:17, 24 November 2012 | UPDATED: 13:06, 24 November 2012
Heated conservations between referees and Premier League players during matches will be recorded and stored within the next month.
Although the recordings will not be made public, the Premier League and FA will use them to protect referees in disciplinary cases in future.
Referees chief Mike Riley is looking to introduce the new equipment in the coming weeks after Mark Clattenburg was cleared of racist abuse towards Chelsea player Jon Obi Mikel.
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It's good to talk: From December referees conversations with their assistants will be recorded
That original report was made to the FA by Chelsea player Ramires after the game between Chelsea and Manchester United which was not recorded on equipment used by referees now.
Premier League chiefs are now ordering new equipment so referees performances will be available and stored digitally after games.
The same system is used by rugby referees and their match performances are available for public broadcast during games. But Premier League games will be kept private.
Riley said: 'To reduce the risk of an episode of this nature being repeated PGMOL will introduce recording of the referees' communication system on a private basis.'
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Backing the scheme: Referee chief Mike Riley supports the idea of recording conversations
Former Premier League referee Graham Poll has welcomed the move although he doubts it will bring an immediate improvement in players’ behaviour towards referees
He is hopeful however that referees will be able to use the facility to improve player management during matches as part of their training.
Poll said: 'What it highlights is that games should have been recorded anyway and the fact it is going to happen now is very sad because it proves that the relationship between referees and players is not as good as it should be and there is a problem of trust between the two parties.
'I hope the PGMO don’t miss out on a trick here. There are incidents where a player goes racing up to the referee to protest and is clearly unhappy, and he is quickly calmed down by the referee. In those incidents the recording could be used and played back as part of referees’ training to demonstrate how it is possible to placate a player who is upset.
'Man management is almost the most important part of the referee’s performance and it could be a great tool to help them.’
Although the system works in rugby, the Premier League believe using recordings of conversations, or shouting matches between players and officials would be counter-productive.
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Concerns: Former referee Graham Poll says there is a lack of trust between players and officials
Poll however believes the threat of the recording being heard by Riley or the FA will make players think twice about dissent, and making accusations against referees and other officials.
He said: `When the system was first introduced we met rugby referees who said they used the microphones as a tool to calm players down because, they would point at their earpiece and remind them it is being recorded. So that could work.
'It could also result in more dismissals because players know what they say will be heard back now.
'If there is an incident involving a player shouting and swearing at a referee which is unedifying and offensive and the player has not been sent off, Mike Riley might decide to look and listen to that incident again and ask the referee concerned for his thoughts afterwards.
'So in future matches that same referee may decide to take action and dismiss a player because he knows their conversation will be heard back. And that is not necessarily a bad thing.’
The Premier league said today that cautions for dissent are down by half over the last three seasons and that bookings this season are down 20 per cent compared to last season.
Why is football still a sport where we think it's better for referees if nobody really knows what goes on on the pitch?
I know the major problem is that the language allowed couldn't be aired on most TV shows but maybe it would be nice if we could know why refs make the decisions they do, what they thought they saw when they got it wrong, and how much shit from players they really put up with.
The way the game is currently run is that refs keep peace more than enforce rules. They'll be criticised if they "ruin a game" by giving loads of bookings for dissent or timewasting that result in reds. Take Sunday's game; early on Baldock gets a throw-in and steals a few yards, the ref makes him go back. A few minutes later, a Bournemouth player gets a free-kick, steals a few yards, the ref makes him go back. Each time is met with frustration and complaining from the players. Then, at the end of the game, Basham is fouled near the corner flag, Hendo puts the ball down at the edge of our box. The ref now has to make a decision about whether to move it back, allowing Hendo to waste some time, or let him get on with the game; the ref chooses the latter. Twenty two players have effectively ground him down to the point where they can get away with stealing small advantages.
Other example, it's now become routine that a goalkeeper will take as much time as he can from his first goal-kick in order to set the standard should he wish to kill time later. Because the ref lets it go at 0-0, the keeper has to really really take the piss to get a booking. Take a drink, kick the post, check your boots, dry your hands, move to the other end of the six-yard box to take the kick.
Or the opposition get a free-kick. One player picks the ball up and carries it ten yards, throws it backwards five, a second player comes in and accidentally stumbles on the ball to delay the kick further. It's a booking for kicking the ball away, but if three players combine to achieve the same thing, the ref lets it go.
And NOW, even with Bournemouth taking the piss at every opportunity, surrounding the ref when a decision goes against them, play-acting from thirty minutes in, they still have the fucking gall to come out and say the ref didn't respect them and he might've said something a bit mean.
The absolute state of the game at times is bewildering.