Have you ever been on the wrong end of reffing madness?

After the first leg ended 1-1, Liechtenstein minnows Vaduz travelled to Livingston knowing they needed to score to progress to the first round of the Uefa Cup.

After a goalless 93 minutes, they thought that Marius Zarn had clinched them victory with a strike in the dying seconds - until the ref insisted that he had blown for full-time just before the ball hit the back of the net.

The incident was reminiscent of Brazil's match against Sweden in the 1978 World Cup - the ref blew his whistle while a corner was being swung in, rendering the resulting 'goal' by Zico null and void.

And who could forget Marcus Gayle's last-ditch header for Wimbledon in their FA Cup clash with Wrexham, only for ref to rule it out to take the match to a replay.

Have you ever seen anything like it?

Well, a similar thing did happen just before halftime in Iraq v Paraguay in the World Cup in Mexico '86. An Iraqi player headed what everyone thought was a good equalising goal, until the ref claimed he had blown his whistle before the ball entered the net.

The game ended 1-0 to Paraguay, so the goal cost the Iraqis dearly. Why is this kind of thing be allowed to happen? If a ref allows play to continue into injury time, then he should not be allowed to blow for full or half-time until the ball is either out of play or fully stationary.
Haider Mohammed, UK

This is an all too common occurence for my liking. The Vaduz lads must be absolutely gutted. Mark Drysdale is known for it in our country. The Carryduff referee is known to blow his whistle for half/full time when a shot is heading goalbound. It's simply not acceptable. These calamity referees should be banned.
Wayne Kennedy, Armagh, N. Ireland

Playing in a local Saturday team in Surrey, 2-1 down, not long to go. Asked the ref for the time to go, thinking about getting a sub on, and he refused to tell me. I asked again twice, he refused saying it wasn't his job, and I should ask someone at the side of the pitch. Even though I pointed out he was the official timekeeper, etc. A bit infuriated, I called the ref a "prat", twice, because he didn't hear me the first time. I was sent off, and given a one-month ban for bringing the game into disrepute!!! The League halved the ban, but I would love to see him ref The Premiership; one a-side anyone?!
Neil, Netherlands

If you think you've got it tough in the Premiership, try coming to see Blackpool this season. We haven't had a good ref yet and it costs us points when certain penalties aren't given. We even had a player sent off on the opening day for being thrown to the floor! It was later rescinded by the referee, but it still didn't help us on the day.
David Walley, Blackpool, England

When I was playing for an under-15 team, we scored a goal just before half-time, but it was disallowed because the ref blew his whistle as the ball was rolling over the goal-line. Pretty annoying, not least because the ref was our manager...
Giacomo Taibi, England

There must be another method to detect a ball that has crossed the line. The goal scored by Romanian star Munteanu at Euro 96 is one bizarre refereeing decision that will linger on in my memory.

If anyone had seen the 2000 African Cup of Nations final, and the Ikpeba penalty kick, then you'll agree with me that referees are humans after all, but need get their vision right to erase the black spot their former performances have done to the beautiful game.
Oluwashina Okeleji, Nigeria

While at school and playing a game of football, our teacher announced that if there were any foul play or arguing with the referee we'd all get smacked bottoms. It wouldn't have been so bad but we were all sixteen years old at the time!
Bill, UK

Does anyone remember that ref in the 1982 World Cup, when a similar incident happened? Only back then the ball was almost over the line. I think the ref is entitled to end the game when he feels appropriate, that time wasn't appropiate.

They wait for a goal kick to be taken often enough, so why can't they see out the chance? In my opinion, bad refereeing, although he didn't actually do anything wrong.
Chris Lacey, Brennan, S. Wales

There was some dubious refereeing in the Birmingham v Leeds clash on Saturday, with Paul Durkin seemingly desperate for the Yorkshire outfit to pull the game level.

A disgraceful offside decision leading to Bowyer's equaliser could have cost us the game.
Richard Barron, Birmingham England

Why on earth can't football adopt the methods of rugby in the southern hemisphere?

It's so simple. At the first break in play (barring fouls) after full time is up, you blow the whistle for the end. Why we persist with the opposite and blow the whistle mid-game, I've never understood.

While we're at it, I also cannot understand why the referee is giving the time duties on top of running the game. Surely a fourth official in the crowd can control the time better and signal the end with a hooter, as in rugby league?
Mark Smith, England

Football should take a leaf out of rugby's book where a game cannot finish until the ball is dead. This way everybody knows where they stand.
Kam, ex-pat in Cayman

My son Alessanjro played his under-six grand final this morning. They went down one nil at half-time, and the rest of the game remained that way.

However, with seconds remaining on the clock, my son's best mate David kicked the ball to Alessanjro for him to run up the field. When Alessanjro reached the outside of the box to score a certain goal, the ref blew his whistle!

He is very proud of his runners-up trophy. But as a proud dad, I think he deserves better, and I am not ashamed to admit I had to wipe a couple of tears from my eyes!

Canterbury Hills for the Under-Sevens Premiership next year!
Fernando Martinez, Australia