First of all, to pre-empt any outcries from the perpetually faux outraged, I'd like to point out this post is nothing to do with me being 'discriminatory' and I'm more than happy for any person, of any creed to live their life in whatever way they wish.... please let's not get into a moral debate on that matter....

I'm just wondering if anyone else feels the RFL are potentially guilty of positive discrimination. Ben Thaler was dropped last week for not sending off Ferres who later received a 6 match ban for the offence - yet James Child has faced no punishment over the Westwood incident that has seen him banned for 4 games. Where is the consistency?

Also, I think most will agree that Child is generally poor (that's certainly what I read most fans saying about his performances), yet he seems to get a disproportionate amount of the big Sky games, despite often ruining them with his pedantic, bizarre and inconsistent decisions.

I know we've had similar discussions in the past on this, and it's one that is quite emotive and will divide opinions and I know there are people who don't believe positive discrimination even exists (I happen to believe otherwise having seen it happen first hand on numerous occasions in my place of employment). It just seems bizarre to me that this referee in particular does seem to get preferential treatment.

I could well be wrong, and others may feel he doesn't get preferential treatment - interested to know people's thoughts...?

Not sure he gets preferential treatment since he's the only referee who's been around more than a couple of years who's yet to be trusted with a big final, even Hicks and Hewer have gone past him in the pecking order, so the RFL are probably aware he's a rubbish ref. As for bringing his sexuality into it, it's clearly not an issue and the only way it would cross anyone's mind in this situation is if they're actively looking to turn it into an issue.

I remember Child reffing Cas Wakey magic weekend 2011. 37 penalties and 3 yellow cards later, most the crowd had gone , i'd fallen asleep (nothing to do with the 10 pints I swear). It was an embarrassment. That said I think he has improved, he makes mistakes but i don't ever find him biased. It's a tough gig officiating and I don't envy any of them.

Don't accuse me of being homophobic while i distill a mans achievements down to preferential treatment because of his sexuality.

Straight out of the "I'm not racist but...." school of thought.

Nice one.... and your thoughts on why Thaler faced sanctions and Child doesn't...

Your "I'm not homophobic but....." post doesn't deserve a proper response.

Unless he starts prancing about the pitch with a rainbow flag tied around his head, I cant believe any decision made about Childs by the RFL has anything to do with it.

More to the point, I think people are fixated on Childs from his performances when first entering SL and not the improvements he has made since. What it does highlight is that referees are pushed through to SL far too early by the RFL. I understand they may not have a choice in the matter but ultimately we are seeing referees popping up in the Championship and on the line in SL who for me I have seen forst hand at conference level and have not controlled the game at that level let alone with the confidence to control seasoned professionals.

Its an unenviable position the RFL are in and more needs to be done to train and prepare the refs of the future for the professional game

This is a silly thread. The OP thinks Child gets away with being worse than other refs because he's gay.

The fact that you think this, let alone the fact that you think it's ok to publicly say you think the gay guy is getting preferential treatment based on absolutely no evidence at all beyond your own paranoia, is pretty damning.

Go have a look at your calendar. It's now well into the 21st Century. I suggest you join us in it.

Although I think Child is a poor referee perhaps the sentencing for the 2 offences gives a minor clue - 6 matches v 4? Just enough of a margin to overstep the line and get dropped?

Also its not a if Thaler is a genius ref with an unblemished record for decision making. As has been pointed out Child (deservedly IMO) hasn't got the big finals so I can't see any sign of discrimination helping him along. Take him for what he is on the field, a referee struggling with a very difficult job that I'm sure we all wish he could do better and bin the ridiculous conspiracy theory in the OP.

Referee performances are subjective. We all have our own opinion on how they've performed (sometimes letting our bias get in the way of assessing it fairly).

The OP comes to the conclusion that Thaler was dropped because solely he missed the Ferres tackle, and Child should therefore be dropped too for not sending Westwood off. But was he dropped for this reason, or could it be Thaler has underperformed for a number of weeks? None of us on here see EVERY game a referee officiates, I doubt the OP has seen the last 5 Thaler games or the last 5 Child games.

The point is, you can't claim inconsistency if you don't know the true reasons for Thaler being dropped.

Also, didn't Child get dropped a few weeks ago and have to referee the Toulouse v Batley cup game?


His sexuality has nothing to do with it, and it was utterly ridiculous to even bring it up.

That didn't take long...

I'm not distilling his achievements at all - I'm suggesting he's not been punished for poor performances in a consistent manner, and IMO opinion he gets big games despite better referees being available - so rather than turning it into a 'you're a homophobe' debate for daring to ask the question, how about you share your thoughts on his performances compared to other refs - why doesn't he deserve sanction, but Thaler did... Why he gets the big games in the regular rounds etc

For those talking about him not getting finals - I doubt they'd risk giving him the only show piece events we have and ruining it on the biggest stage of all.... I'd argue the fact he gets lots of big regular season rounds but not finals again shows inconsistency...

There's nothing brave about the question you are asking. You arent some straight talking crusader, railing against the evils of political correctness to speak truth to power. You are, on the basis of purr speculation, linking a person's performance in their job to their sexuality. You are suggesting that he is held to a lower standard because of his sexuality. That he has the role he has, and conducts the job he doesnin the way he does it because of his sexuality. It is a textbook example of homophobia. You aren't fighting the good fight here. You're not the hero prepared to take the slings and arrows of PC culture to shine a light on a necessary truth.

Well said Smokey.

I wish I'd written this.

Absolutely spot on.

I cannot abide those who think they're being "brave" challenging "PC nonsense", when all they're really doing is giving vent to ugly prejudice. I'll tell you what bravery is: a gay bloke who every week goes out in front of thousands of people, including some deeply unpleasant knuckle-draggers, to referee a sport which gives us all entertainment and pleasure, knowing every week that those same knuckle-draggers are going to subject him to abuse for being gay, both on and off the pitch.

That's brave.

Suggesting gay blokes get an easier time because they're gay, is cowardly.

Bravo... Now that you've got that off your chest... I think you'll find you've shot your load a little early and thrown out a number of innacuratr claims - you've got lost getting in a hissy fit. Nowhere have I claimed to be some sort of brave crusader, no where have I mentioned his sexuality having any impact on how good he is at his job - the only part of your statement above that is in any way accurate is that I'm questioning if he gets preferential treatment or held to a lower standard - which I think based on his performances, he does.

Since when did the OP say he was "brave" or a crusader for asking the question?

Fact is Child has been getting games such as Lees vs Wigan as far back as 2012, he's reffed Leeds vs Wire 7 out of the last 12 games between the two. When refs get these fixtures they inneviatably end up doing finals and semis, he's not been given a single one yet (others like Hewet and Hicks who became SL regulars AFTER him have done finals) so definitely something out of the ordinary with the way he's appointed to games.

Also with regards to people saying it definitely couldn't happen, we're in the 21st century! Yeah and look who the leader of America is in today's world and the RFL and the match officials department have plenty of history with regards of treatment to staff with incidents and rumours of bullying and jobs for the boys, we've seems number of refs quit lately with that pointed towards the reason so we're hardly dealing with a whiter than white department even if you personally would never treat someone that way doesn't mean others don't.

Absolutely spot on - couldn't have said it better, so I won't try.

Your post explains and highlights your prejudice better than I ever could.

You chose to give the thread the title, 'Positive Discrimination'. The very concept of positive discrimination is that it favours members of groups that are perceived to be discriminated against. So, unless Child's belongs to some other discriminated against group (that only you know about), why do you suspect positive discrimination??

Of course it does - so, any comments on the points around my perception of inconsistency that I actually raised?


Not sure what your point is - I've stated that I believe he appears to get preferential treatment - what I haven't done in any way shape or form is state that his sexuality impacts in anyway his ability to do the job...

No but you have pointed to him getting preferential treatment because of his sexuality.

My comments would be that Child's inconsistency has nothing to do with his sexuslity.

Your perception of it however...

I never linked his inconsistency to his sexuality - only you are doing that... you're seeing what you want to see.... I've only ever referenced the RFL's inconsistency