This book, YOU ARE THE REF, has a special 2010 edition filled with amazing soccer stories, great explanations of soccer rules and cool illustrations. 

The book is more than a compilation of soccer games, it is a rich glimpse into the life and thoughts of a man who has made a huge impact on the game of soccer; Keith Hackett.

 

Anyone curious of who Keith Hackett is can easily discover his background by quickly googling him. 

Hackett started referring in 1960, before most of us were born and has been involved with pro soccer since 1972. Hackett became a FIFA Referee in 1981 for ten years and was the Olympic Games Semi Final Referee in 1988 in Seoul. His first book, Hacketts Law, was published in 1984 and he has been a Premier League Referee, and recently took on the role of the first Premier League Referee Ambassador.

 

Hackett has also been the General Manager of Professional Game Match Officials Ltd.

 

“You are the Ref” is a weekly column in England’s The Sunday Observer and with artist Paul Trevillion, Hackett has been inspiring soccer enthusiasts for ages.

 

"Take a look at http://www.guardian.co.uk/ website and tap in You are the Ref" says Hackett.  The London newspaper reviews the book and explains how the cult classic comic strip puts you in the spotlight and asks the question: what would you decide? 

 

SN asked Hackett his thoughts on the referring at the World Cup:
Hackett: “There is no doubt that the standard of refereeing in the tournament to date is of a good standard. And, yes we have seen some errors, which happen. Players also have made some glaring errors - that's football. I certainly appreciate the way Referees have allowed the games to breathe and not to jump in with quick yellow cards that then lead to reds.”
 

SN also wanted to know Hackett’s opinion on the use of technology in professional soccer:

Hackett: “I am a strong supporter of the use of technology around the goal no goal scenario. In other scenarios I await to see what technology exists. I do know that Hawkeye who serve tennis have goal line technology developed to an advanced stage.”

 

SN wanted to know how the “You are the Ref” column started:

Hackett: “In 1981 following my appointment to Referee the 100th Football Association Challenge Cup Final. I was approached by Paul Trevillion to do the questions and answers for his long running You are the Ref column that appeared in The Shoot Magazine.

 

The YATR column is now, of course, in one of the leading English Sunday Newspapers The Guardian and has gained a cult following around the world.

 

In 1981 I was an avid reader of the Shoot Magazine so did not hesitate to join up with such a well known artist. Paul was famous not only for his works of art of famous sporting heroes but in his earlier years had painted Sir Winston Churchill our most famous Prime Minister

 

I jumped at the chance and look forward each week to receiving his three questions that come into “You are the Ref” from around the world. I then supply the answers by return.

 

These questions are posted on the Guardian website and readers are invited to send in their answers.

 

The drawings and answers then appear in the Newspaper. “You are the Ref” is used by the British Council in several of their education modules.

 

In the book, Paul Trevillion shows on a number of pages how top draw Capello the England Team Manager. Several schools have taken this part of the book to get their pupils to draw Capello the Trevillion way.

 

SN also wanted to know how book sales are:

Hackett: ‘The book is proving to be a big hit. Recently we launched an App for the Iphone and this allows people on the move to improve their knowledge of the laws of the game.”

Knowing the Rules of the Game has never been so much fun for the soccer player and the whole family.