KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Andy Gray/Richard Keys

Are you ok with women in the Police or armed forces, or working in A&E departments?

Do you not think that they are subject to abuse and anger? Believe me they are, and they manage to deal with it too.

Maybe if there were women referee's the players would remember that they are often held up as role models for kids who watch their every action, and would keep their petulant outbursts to a minimum.

If they don't, and do a bit of effing and blinding, I doubt a female linesman or referee would crumple in a heap unable to cope.

Did anyone notice how daintily Glen informed the lineswomen that he was after the ball, never seen him so cultured, seemed to take the fire out of him. Of course women can officiate; it's not rocket science, except for howie the webb. But the full impact of how distasteful it can get will only impact us when we actually see it. To force the players to mind their manners will only take the fire out of them and the game.

Or they could channel it into their game.

Completely different issue.

I don't want to see women sworn at and abused by men in sports, that's all. I'm against women being in mens football. We aren't talking snooker here where refs are respected, we are talking the ugly game of football, where refs get all manner of abuse. Sorry but I don't want to watch a woman subjected to that bullshiit.

Overpaid twats.

I'm not comfortable with anyone being abused on a football pitch.

But I'm no more uncomfortable with a female official being shouted at than I am by an asian, african, tall, short, fat, thin, etc., official being shouted at.

Why exactly are you so uncomfortable with it?

I agree with this.

Any woman who goes and officiates at a sporting match - whatever it is - may be the subject of abuse either from players or spectators.

I am sure the female ref's assistant had a few words said to her after the offside decision, and I bet they weren't "Well done old thing!"

If they think they can deal with it, who else has the right to say "No"?

Well we aren't talk race here we are talking gender. I think most people can take a man abusing a man just about, but I like many others would be disgusted at any man abusing a women in that way. I think it's just a natural reaction really.

I get what you're saying, and there is an element of truth in it. It's true that some people may well instinctively feel a man abusing a woman is worse than a man abusing another man.

But the thing is, while a protective instinct may exist, when you use that and purely that to justify excluding someone from doing something they're willing and able to do, that's when you cross the line into discrimination.

The thing that needs to be stamped out is the abuse, regardless of who the object of the abuse is.

Well played lads. Send her back to the kitchen.