REFS and rules.

In the World Cup it seems both have been topics of debate more than the players themselves.

Over the past three weeks we?ve been witness to some of the poorest officiating seen at any major tournament ? so poor that at times it?s brought into question the ever-changing rules under which the game is played, and certainly the interpretation of those rules.

Two referees, not necessarily the worst, have been sent home.

And with FIFA chief Sepp Blatter never missing an opportunity to stir the pot when one would have thought others within the governing body, and certainly the World Cup organising committee, were more qualified to make comment, the situation has been unnecessarily inflamed.

A record number of red cards have been dished out already and with still eight games to be played, there?s certain to be more. That likely means that some of the world?s top players will be sitting out the semi-finals or the final, or even both.

Last weekend?s match between Holland and Portugal bordered on the farcical with four sent off and more than a dozen booked, although it has to be said none of the four dismissed had reason to complain. Indeed, at least one more should have suffered the same fate.

But there have been plenty of other occasions when the dreaded card has been used far too liberally.

Yet blame for the problems we?re currently experiencing at the highest level of the game can be shared by any number of parties.

FIFA must shoulder some of it for enforcing rules that have all but eliminated the art of tackling, once an integral part of the game. These days if a player as much as breathes on an opponent, he?s in the ref?s book.

Refs eager to stamp their authority on the game have become over zealous.

It was once said that the mark of a good referee was his ability to control the game in virtual anonymity. In this World Cup, the officials have been as, if not more, prominent than the players.

And then there?s the players themselves, far too many of them with one eye on the ball and another on an Oscar nomination.

Asked before this World Cup the biggest problem facing referees in the modern game, a Belgium official offered a one-word answer ? ?simulation?.

The ability of players to simulate or fake injury after a perfectly fair challenge has reached a level which has left refs with an ever recurring dilemma. Told by FIFA to clamp down on the game?s ?thugs?, the officials repeatedly find themselves exposed when the TV replay shows the ?foul? they?ve just blown for was induced by no more than some fancy amateur dramatics from a player giving the impression he?s been run over by a 10-wheel truck, when in effect he hasn?t suffered so much as a scratch.

And it?s these theatrics which are perhaps ruining the game more than anything else.

So what can be done?

One solution might be to enforce a rule which determines any player sent off the field for treatment, be kept off the field for a minimum of five minutes.

As it stands now, players injured, real or otherwise, are required to leave the pitch. All too often, those who have feigned injury, drawn a foul possibly in a dangerous area, and subjected an opposing player to a card, are quickly back on their feet as soon as they reach the touchline and ready to rejoin the action.

If they were required to remain on the sidelines for five minutes or more, reducing their team to 10 men, they might think twice before trying to fool the ref.

As for other changes, perhaps the time finally has arrived when football, particularly in the major tournaments, follows in the steps of other sports and makes use of the technology available.

Dubious penalty calls ? such as the one that booked Australia?s early flight home ? goal-line incidents too close to call, and even red card incidents, could all be reviewed on tape by a fourth official.

It?s not what the game wanted, and it undermines the authority of the referee, but if it helps to make the game fairer for all, then it serves its purpose.

It would be sad if this World Cup, watched on TV by more people than any other event, sport or otherwise, were to be remembered for red cards and controversy rather than the football itself.

But that?s the way it?s going.