Anthony Bates
Encyclopedia
Anthony Bates is an English association football referee who operates in the Football League
, and previously served as assistant referee for UEFA
in the Euro 96 competition. He also refereed the FA Women's Cup Final in 2007. On average, Bates gave a high 4.0 cards per game in the 98/99 season, the highest so far in his career.
assistant referee in 1993, and took up the flag during the Charity Shield
match at Wembley on 13 August 1995, when Everton
beat Blackburn Rovers
1–0 courtesy of a Vinny Samways
goal. He fulfilled the same role for UEFA
, and ran the line in the Euro 96 group match between Germany
and the Czech Republic
. He was also an assistant referee for Dermot Gallagher
during the 1996 FA Cup Final
at Wembley on 11 May 1996, when Manchester United
beat Liverpool
1–0, with Eric Cantona
scoring the only goal.
Following that busy period, he was promoted to referee in the Football League for the 1996-97
season. One of his first appointments was the Third Division
match between Hereford United
and Doncaster Rovers
at Edgar Street on 24 August 1996, when the home side won 1–0.
His only match of note during his first six years at Football League level was an old First Division play-off semi-final first leg, which he refereed on 28 April 2002. It was between Birmingham City and Millwall
at St. Andrews
, and finished in a 1–1 draw. Birmingham were promoted to the Premier League after winning the Final on penalties.
In 2004, former Liverpool and Denmark
international Jan Molby was sent from the dugout by referee Bates after having verbally abused the fourth official during the old Third Division
match between Southend United
and Kidderminster Harriers
. It was played at Roots Hall
on 14 February 2004, and finished 3–0 to Southend. Harriers' director of football
Molby was subsequently fined £1,500 by the FA, and banned from the touchline
for four matches.
After a match in Football League One
between Nottingham Forest
and Scunthorpe United
at the City Ground
on 20 August 2005, Bates attempted to take an unprecedented step regarding a yellow card he had issued to Scunthorpe's Andy Crosby
during the game. Having agreed to review it, he asked the Football Association
to "overturn the yellow card after viewing video evidence - but FIFA
rules insist cautions may not be withdrawn", only dismissals by straight red card.
Bates was the referee in charge of an FA Cup
first round tie between Newport County
and Swansea City
at Newport Stadium
on 11 November 2006, when fourth official Alan Sheffield was struck by a coin thrown from the crowd, shortly after County manager Peter Beadle
was sent from the technical area by Bates for verbal abuse of Sheffield during the game, and following a free kick given in favour of Swansea from which they scored. After the match, Beadle said: "I questioned the referee's decision on whether it was a foul or not and that's the end of it. Unfortunately they are pretty quick to send you away from the dugout. You can't even ask them questions or contest their decisions." In mitigation, however, he added: "I'd like to apologise to the board of directors, players and supporters of Newport County Football Club for my actions and behaviour at the game". Newport lost 3–1.
Subsequently, both Newport County and their manager received heavy punishments from the Welsh FA
. "The Conference South
side were fined £3,000" after being "found guilty of failing to control their supporters", and Beadle "received a seven-match touchline ban after accepting misconduct charges. He was also fined £1,500, half of which [was] suspended subject to good behaviour".
Bates' highest honour yet was his appointment to the FA Women's Cup Final, played on 7 May 2007 at the City Ground, Nottingham
. Arsenal
defeated Charlton Athletic
4–1 to clinch "The Quadruple" (the winning of four competitions in one season, the others being the FA Women's Premier League
, FA Women's Premier League Cup and UEFA Women's Cup
).
On 22 December 2007, he refereed the 1–1 draw in the Championship between Charlton
and Hull City
at The Valley, one of Danny Mills
' last appearances on loan for the home side. The player's four month deal was about to expire, but he compounded his situation by getting sent off by Bates in the 72nd minute for "muttering far from glad tidings" towards him, and didn't play for them again. Fellow player Chris Powell
told the Daily Mail
: "That's the end of his loan. I don't think we'll be seeing him in a red shirt again unless he comes permanently. And that's a shame because he's been really good around the place, he's a lively character and totally different to how he is on match days.
"He puts his boots on, gets the kit on and, obviously, gets into scrapes. He plays on the edge. Players like him and Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage
are almost – especially at this time of year — like pantomime villains. People have a go at them but, generally, they deal with it."
On 28 January 2008, Bates was the referee for a 0–0 draw in the Championship between Ipswich
and Plymouth
where the fourth official was required to replace an assistant referee, himself so badly injured that he could not assume all the duties of the replacement at half-time. After getting caught in a collision with a player, Gary Evetts, a Football League assistant, "went flying into a photographer's pit and spent the next few minutes receiving extensive treatment. He was eventually considered not fit enough to continue". One photographer, Louise Morris from Colchester
, was injured by the flying Evetts. At the interval, the public address
announcer asked for "any level three officials in the ground to report to reception immediately", so that the fourth official could receive assistance in his duties. James Smith from Claydon, Suffolk
, answered the call, handling all the paperwork for Evetts for the remainder of the match.
Bates' one other appointment to a "Final" was in the Football League Trophy
on 19 February 2008, when he took control of the Southern
Area Final first leg at the Liberty Stadium
between Swansea City and MK Dons
. The winners over the two-legged decider would go on to meet the victors in the Northern
equivalent at Wembley Stadium
on 30 March 2008. Swansea lost 1–0 to the eventual Finalists.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, and previously served as assistant referee for UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
in the Euro 96 competition. He also refereed the FA Women's Cup Final in 2007. On average, Bates gave a high 4.0 cards per game in the 98/99 season, the highest so far in his career.
Career
Bates became a Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
assistant referee in 1993, and took up the flag during the Charity Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
match at Wembley on 13 August 1995, when Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
beat Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
1–0 courtesy of a Vinny Samways
Vinny Samways
Vincent "Vinny" Samways is an English former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.Samways was born in Bethnal Green, London, and began his football career in Tottenham Hotspur's youth system. He won the FA Cup with Tottenham in 1991, and helped them reach the semi-finals of...
goal. He fulfilled the same role for UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
, and ran the line in the Euro 96 group match between Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
. He was also an assistant referee for Dermot Gallagher
Dermot Gallagher
Dermot J. Gallagher is a retired English-based association football referee, who lives in Banbury, Oxfordshire. He refereed in the Premier League of English football until May 2007.-Career:...
during the 1996 FA Cup Final
1996 FA Cup Final
The 1996 FA Cup Final was the 51st to be held at Wembley Stadium after the Second World War and was held between two of the biggest rivals in English football, Manchester United and Liverpool.- Build-up :...
at Wembley on 11 May 1996, when Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
beat Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
1–0, with Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
scoring the only goal.
Following that busy period, he was promoted to referee in the Football League for the 1996-97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
season. One of his first appointments was the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
match between Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
at Edgar Street on 24 August 1996, when the home side won 1–0.
His only match of note during his first six years at Football League level was an old First Division play-off semi-final first leg, which he refereed on 28 April 2002. It was between Birmingham City and Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
at St. Andrews
St Andrews (stadium)
St Andrew's is an association football stadium in the Bordesley district of Birmingham, England. It has been the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club for more than a century....
, and finished in a 1–1 draw. Birmingham were promoted to the Premier League after winning the Final on penalties.
In 2004, former Liverpool and Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
international Jan Molby was sent from the dugout by referee Bates after having verbally abused the fourth official during the old Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
match between Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
. It was played at Roots Hall
Roots Hall
Roots Hall is a multi-use sports stadium in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, primarily used for football games and is the home of the Football League Two club Southend United. With a capacity of 12,392 Roots Hall is the largest football stadium in Essex, and is the current venue for the final of...
on 14 February 2004, and finished 3–0 to Southend. Harriers' director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
Molby was subsequently fined £1,500 by the FA, and banned from the touchline
Touch-line
The touch line is the line on either side of the playing area of a games of rugby league, rugby union and association football . In many other sports it is called a side-line....
for four matches.
After a match in Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
between Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
at the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
on 20 August 2005, Bates attempted to take an unprecedented step regarding a yellow card he had issued to Scunthorpe's Andy Crosby
Andy Crosby
Andrew Keith "Andy" Crosby is an English footballer / assistant manager who plays as a defender. He is now Nigel Adkins' player-assistant manager at Southampton.-Career:Crosby was born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire...
during the game. Having agreed to review it, he asked the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
to "overturn the yellow card after viewing video evidence - but FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
rules insist cautions may not be withdrawn", only dismissals by straight red card.
Bates was the referee in charge of an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
first round tie between Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
and Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
at Newport Stadium
Newport Stadium
Newport Stadium is a football and athletics stadium in Newport, Wales. It is currently the home of Newport County A.F.C., Llanwern F.C. and Newport Harriers Athletic Club. Albion Rovers F.C...
on 11 November 2006, when fourth official Alan Sheffield was struck by a coin thrown from the crowd, shortly after County manager Peter Beadle
Peter Beadle
Peter Clifford William James Beadle is an English former football player and manager. A forward, he scored some 83 goals in 355 league games, mostly for the two Bristol clubs....
was sent from the technical area by Bates for verbal abuse of Sheffield during the game, and following a free kick given in favour of Swansea from which they scored. After the match, Beadle said: "I questioned the referee's decision on whether it was a foul or not and that's the end of it. Unfortunately they are pretty quick to send you away from the dugout. You can't even ask them questions or contest their decisions." In mitigation, however, he added: "I'd like to apologise to the board of directors, players and supporters of Newport County Football Club for my actions and behaviour at the game". Newport lost 3–1.
Subsequently, both Newport County and their manager received heavy punishments from the Welsh FA
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
. "The Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
side were fined £3,000" after being "found guilty of failing to control their supporters", and Beadle "received a seven-match touchline ban after accepting misconduct charges. He was also fined £1,500, half of which [was] suspended subject to good behaviour".
Bates' highest honour yet was his appointment to the FA Women's Cup Final, played on 7 May 2007 at the City Ground, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
defeated Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
4–1 to clinch "The Quadruple" (the winning of four competitions in one season, the others being the FA Women's Premier League
FA Women's Premier League
The FA Women's Premier League is the second tier of women's football in England. It previously formed the top tier prior to the creation of the FA Women's Super League in 2011. The Women's Premier League has been run by The Football Association since the 1992–93 season...
, FA Women's Premier League Cup and UEFA Women's Cup
UEFA Women's Cup
The UEFA Women's Champions League is the first international women's association football club competition for teams that play in UEFA nations. Initially known as the UEFA Women's Cup, the competition has been re-branded since the 2009-2010 edition as the UEFA Women's Champions League...
).
On 22 December 2007, he refereed the 1–1 draw in the Championship between Charlton
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
at The Valley, one of Danny Mills
Danny Mills
Daniel John Mills is a former English professional footballer best known for his time at Leeds United. His main position was right-back, though he could also play as central defender...
' last appearances on loan for the home side. The player's four month deal was about to expire, but he compounded his situation by getting sent off by Bates in the 72nd minute for "muttering far from glad tidings" towards him, and didn't play for them again. Fellow player Chris Powell
Chris Powell
Christopher George Robin "Chris" Powell is an English football manager and retired player, who had a long career as a left back, crowned by five caps for the English national team...
told the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
: "That's the end of his loan. I don't think we'll be seeing him in a red shirt again unless he comes permanently. And that's a shame because he's been really good around the place, he's a lively character and totally different to how he is on match days.
"He puts his boots on, gets the kit on and, obviously, gets into scrapes. He plays on the edge. Players like him and Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage
Robbie Savage
Robert William "Robbie" Savage is a football pundit and former Welsh professional footballer who played predominantly as a midfielder. During his career he captained Derby County, and also played for the Welsh national team. He now presents 606 on BBC Radio Five Live on Sunday evenings alongside...
are almost – especially at this time of year — like pantomime villains. People have a go at them but, generally, they deal with it."
On 28 January 2008, Bates was the referee for a 0–0 draw in the Championship between Ipswich
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and Plymouth
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
where the fourth official was required to replace an assistant referee, himself so badly injured that he could not assume all the duties of the replacement at half-time. After getting caught in a collision with a player, Gary Evetts, a Football League assistant, "went flying into a photographer's pit and spent the next few minutes receiving extensive treatment. He was eventually considered not fit enough to continue". One photographer, Louise Morris from Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, was injured by the flying Evetts. At the interval, the public address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
announcer asked for "any level three officials in the ground to report to reception immediately", so that the fourth official could receive assistance in his duties. James Smith from Claydon, Suffolk
Claydon, Suffolk
Claydon is a small village just north of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. The meaning of the name is 'clay-on-the-hill', though it is not much of a hill....
, answered the call, handling all the paperwork for Evetts for the remainder of the match.
Bates' one other appointment to a "Final" was in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
on 19 February 2008, when he took control of the Southern
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
Area Final first leg at the Liberty Stadium
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Liberty Stadium is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the...
between Swansea City and MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
. The winners over the two-legged decider would go on to meet the victors in the Northern
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
equivalent at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 30 March 2008. Swansea lost 1–0 to the eventual Finalists.
Career stats
| Season | Games | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Average Cards a game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997/1998 | 38 | 140 | 8 | 3.9 |
| 1998/1999 | 41 | 160 | 6 | 4.0 |
| 1999/2000 | 37 | 121 | 8 | 3.5 |
| 2000/2001 | 33 | 100 | 2 | 3.1 |
| 2001/2002 | 38 | 78 | 4 | 2.2 |
| 2002/2003 | 40 | 105 | 2 | 2.7 |
| 2003/2004 | 32 | 92 | 5 | 3.0 |
| 2004/2005 | 33 | 94 | 3 | 2.9 |
| 2005/2006 | 36 | 100 | 7 | 3.0 |
| 2006/2007 | 40 | 116 | 4 | 3.0 |
| 2007/2008 | 36 | 85 | 2 | 2.4 |
| 2008/2009 | 38 | 64 | 3 | 1.8 |
| 2009/2010 | 36 | 106 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 2010/2011 (In progress) | 17 | 43 | 3 | 2.8 |