“Norman, it's all academic now as the FA have "let Pearson off with a slapped wrist", I was addressing a lot of points not giving a lecture.

Clagnutt, no matter how stupid it may seem, the and no matter what you did at your Nightclub, it is illegal to lock the firedoor of a room which is occupied. Especially if that room has no other exits. Grown men or not, anything could happen where all the occupants of the room are asphixiated, it's not just about them getting out, it's about rescue services getting in.
It has a lock so it can be secured whilst the players are on the pitch, as I dare say all the keys for their flash cars are in their lockers.

But I understand how ridiculous it all sounds.. what an idiot I am mate..”

“Agree with most of what you wrote. Chappy but really do we need a essay of a thousand plus words to get your message across. I don't think, so do you? As for not being able to lock the doors of a clubs changing room, utter garbage mate.
I bet the prisoners in Her Magisty's Correction Facilities would love the likes of yourself to be the warden of the prison.. As no doors would be allowed to be locked. In fear of a fire" or some other natural disaster" (yeah right Dooooh)
The wee Gnome had no right to be in Nigel's dressing shed as everyone except a couple agrees with that decision..”

“Daggerdave,
Now that is a quality piece of writing! You can,t possible work for the LM.”

“On Wednesday 1st February 2012 at The King Power Stadium 20,512 fans were treated to a 96 minute refereeing display from Mr Gavin Ward of Surrey.Afterwards Mr Ward said "The fans had nothing to fear there was no chance that I was going to allow a football match to take place here this evening.Despite the cost for fans attending football games refereed by me I still think I am good value and hope to bring my own unique refereeing style to many other clubs up and down the country.However never say never I cannot rule out allowing a football match to take place during at least one game I referee this season""
Asked as to whether the crowd were correct in stating he was unfit to referee Mr Ward, who was interviewed in his den made by his mother under the kitchen table stated "Its nonsense I can run all the way to the corner shop with a note from my mum and run back carrying two pints of milk"
At this point his mother interrupted the interview to help him get changed out of his Superman pyjamas but whispered "He does exagerate its only a pint of milk in a carton I wouldn,t trust him with anything else and as for all the names he gets called at every football game he referees I much prefer what all of our street call him...Billy no mates"
The interview then had to be cut short as Mr ward had 2 weekly appointments to go to which included an eyesight test and measuring the thickness of his skin.Mr Ward also has a long standing health matter whereby he compulsively makes decisions that make no sense at all.This he has recently found out is a long term affliction.”

“When NP was saying he will lock the door, I don't think he was serious guys, He was just stated a fact, does that need to be done to get some space to talk to his own Players???

Of course he wont lock the door, get real.

And those who think he was serious, are very fickle.”

“P.S. dont get me started on common sense sorry I mean ''health and safety''”

“Its time some officials were put in the spotlight to answer the critics, the T.V. companys need to apply pressure on the F.A. to require an offiical to face the media as the clubs are required to do, smacks of a secret society they have the chance to see the re-run of any decision post match, they have to be seen to be accountable as does everyone else involved in the game. 100% behind the gaffa in his comments on Wednesday.”

“I agree with you chappy the ref should not have gone into the changing room the ref was wrong.but however wrong I think we all know the FA will side with the ref and cover its own back.there should be rules for this”

“health and safety stops changing rooms being locked ?????? i have never heard anything so stupid in my life . why is there a lock then ? these are grown men not kids .if there is a fire its about exits not locked doors . i worked as a doorman at a night club with thousands in it , the front door was LOCKED until someone wanted to go out !! where do these people come from ?”

“Eastonian mate, it's alright getting het up,
and what you say is true, we don't know the facts,

but there are rules (and Laws) regarding who can and can't go where and when in a stadium.

Last I was aware, there is a calling tannoy style system in the Changing rooms, There is at Wembley which announces 1 minute before the teams form up in the tunnel.

Also a lot of teams leave a club official posted outstide the dressing room or an academy player to act as a doorman, it is usually his job to tip the Manager Off (and he will know the protocol), when the teams are required out.

It stands to reason that if your team isn't firing on all cylinders the manager will be fairly highly charged and an interruption will be unwelcome, and you can't just switch off turn around and say thanks ref, then resume briefing your team.

But the plain and simple fact is, Knock or no Knock, the REF should not enter the Players Dressing room AT ALL. It is against FA Regulations, the Referee is to conduct all discussions with Both the Team and Managers in full view of the Opposition. Which is why players and Managers can't approach the Ref in the Tunnel. It could lead to accusations of Corruption.

What if you saw the Ref disappear into the opposing teams Changing room, come out all smiles, and suddenly started giving everything their way in the second half. What would you suppose had been agreed in their Changing room?

Health and Safety and Fire Regulations prohibit the Locking of Changing Rooms when occupied either from the inside or out, as they are fitted with Fire Doors. So Locking the door is not an option. Which is why the Referee should respect the boundaries. He should Knock and Wait, or ask a permitted person to hasten the Manager. If a team causes an inordinate delay restarting the game the Ref can issue a card to the Manager and the club can be fined.

How Pearson reacted is irrelevant, the Referee Officiates the Game on the Pitch.
What happened in the changing room is his word against Pearsons, and is therefore inadmissable. (I don't think any player is going to side with the Ref, do you?)

The Rules are there, and in short, there was no need for the ref to go into the Leicester Changing room.”