The CBA league has always been regarded as the flagship of Chinese basketball, and as the highest level of professional leagues, it not only represents the overall strength of Chinese basketball, but also the focus of fans' attention. However, in the recent CBA semifinals, the series between the Guangdong men's basketball team and the Liaoning men's basketball team once again raised questions about the level of CBA referees. The controversial referee decision not only affects the fairness of the game, but also raises doubts about the professionalism of CBA referees.
In this fierce semi-final, the issue of the referee's blowing became the focus of controversy. From the obvious omission in the fourth game to the relatively fair judgment in the fifth game, the performance of the CBA referees was a big surprise. In this regard, Ding Jianing, a veteran basketball expert, unceremoniously expressed his dissatisfaction, believing that the game not only "lost the face of Chinese referees", but also exposed the deep-seated problems in the CBA referee system.
As a senior referee, Ding Jianing's views are undoubtedly worthy of our serious consideration. The questions he raised not only reflect the current situation of CBA referee level, but also point out the direction for the future CBA referee reform. We have to face up to these problems and actively seek solutions so that the level of referees in the CBA can match the overall level of development of the league.
The referee "civil war" exposed the flaws of the CBA referee system
In the fourth game of the CBA semifinals, the referee blowing penalty between the Guangdong men's basketball team and the Liaoning men's basketball team caused a lot of controversy. For example, for Moreland's hugging and throwing action against Zhou Qi, the referee only gave a penalty for fouls on both sides, which undoubtedly aroused the dissatisfaction of Guangdong coach Du Feng. For another example, Zhang Zhenlin's obvious foul on Hu Mingxuan, the referee still chose "indifferent". These misjudgments not only affect the fairness of the game, but also make people question the professionalism of CBA referees.
In the fifth match, however, the referee's performance was very different. In this game, the referee's blowing penalty scale is relatively more uniform and strict, and the punishment for the player's hand movements is also more in place. This difference in penalties has aroused people's attention and thinking: why is there such a big difference between the referee's blowing penalties in the same series?
Ding Jianing analyzed this, and he believes that the root of this difference lies in the nationality difference of the referee. In the fourth game, all three referees were from China, while in the fifth game, two referees were from South Korea. In other words, there are obvious differences in the enforcement style of domestic referees and foreign referees.
This phenomenon of "referee civil war" undoubtedly exposes the deep-seated problems in the CBA referee system. On the one hand, there is a certain gap between the professional level and law enforcement standards of domestic referees, which affects the fairness of the game. On the other hand, the introduction of foreign referees as a "compensation" is not a long-term solution, and the cultivation and promotion of domestic referee teams is the fundamental way.
Faced with such a problem, Ding Jianing bluntly pointed out that the referees of the CBA "can't blow it themselves", and they "can never be respected by others". These sharp accusations just point out the practical dilemma of the CBA referee system.
It is difficult to improve on its own, and CBA referees are in urgent need of reform
The reason why Ding Jianing criticized the CBA referees so much was not out of personal grudges, but based on his deep experience in basketball refereeing for many years. As a professional referee, he is well aware of the difficulty of referee work, and he is also aware of the problems existing in the CBA referee team.
First of all, the professional level and law enforcement standards of CBA referees are not uniform. From the comparison of Game 4 and Game 5, we can see that even within the same series, there are significant differences in the scale of blowing penalties by different referees. This not only affects the fairness of the game, but also raises questions about the professionalism of CBA referees.
Second, CBA referees lack international perspective and learning opportunities. Ding noted that the South Korean referee's performance in the fifth match was "just right", which reflected the superiority of foreign referees in terms of law enforcement skills and standards. In contrast, it is often difficult for domestic referees to grasp the law enforcement style of international referees, which has also become an important factor restricting the improvement of CBA referees.
Thirdly, CBA referees lack sufficient respect and recognition. Ding Jianing bluntly said that CBA referees "can't blow it themselves", and even "embarrassed to say that they are basketball referees", which reflects the dilemma of CBA referees in terms of social status and public recognition. The lack of due respect and affirmation will inevitably affect the motivation and professional development of referees.
Obviously, it is difficult to solve these problems in a short period of time with the efforts of CBA referees alone. In order to truly improve the overall level of CBA referees, it is necessary to carry out comprehensive reform from the level of institutional mechanisms.
First of all, the CBA league needs to establish a more scientific and reasonable referee training and promotion mechanism. Formulate unified standards for referee training, and regularly organize assessments and trainings to ensure the continuous improvement of referees' law enforcement levels. At the same time, it is also necessary to establish a fair and just promotion channel, so that excellent referees continue to stand out and inject fresh blood into the league.
Secondly, the CBA league should actively introduce international referees and encourage domestic referees to go to international competitions to learn and exchange. Through the mutual learning of domestic and foreign referees, it can not only improve the professional level of domestic referees, but also help narrow the gap between domestic and foreign referees.
Thirdly, the CBA league should increase respect and recognition for the work of referees. Through a variety of channels, including public opinion guidance, power protection, etc., referees feel valued by the society and the alliance. Only when referees are given the respect and recognition they deserve, can they be more proactive in their work and continuously improve their law enforcement skills.
In addition, the CBA league should also improve the supervision and evaluation mechanism of referees. For major misjudgments, it is necessary to find out the reasons in a timely manner, strictly hold them accountable, and earnestly maintain the fairness of the game. At the same time, it is also necessary to establish scientific and reasonable assessment standards, conduct performance evaluation according to the referee's law enforcement performance, and link it with salary and treatment, and motivate referees to continuously improve themselves.
Only through these all-round reforms can the CBA League truly solve the problems existing in the current referee system and promote the overall improvement of the referee level. This is not only conducive to improving the fairness and enjoyment of the game, but also helps to enhance the overall image and competitiveness of Chinese basketball.
Ding Jianing's criticism, although the tone is tough, is really to the point and deserves the attention of the CBA League. As the top event of the professional league, the referee level of the CBA directly affects the development of the entire Chinese basketball industry. We should face up to the existence of the problem and actively seek solutions, so that the referees of the CBA can be truly competent, maintain the fairness and justice of the game, and give Chinese basketball wings to take off.