2. I have the highest respect for umpires, especially the English
umpires, as I was an umpire myself and I am fully aware that umpires
in table tennis are volunteers and often travel at their own expense.
However, this is not a reason not to do the job well and
professionally. I also am a volunteer and I try to do my volunteer
function the best way I can. This is a choice we make, although I do
understand the limitations.

3. My comments were not only addressing the new service rule, but ALL
rules. It is a fact, and I have seen it with my own eyes, that
Umpires in general do not apply our rules and do not enforce our
rules. This is a fact that can not be disputed. I have seen it, my
colleagues have seen it and even members of the ITTF Umpires and
Referees Committee have seen it and admit it. It is not something to
be ashamed of. My observation is not an accusation, but a matter of
fact. Of course my comments do not apply to ALL Umpires, but they do
apply to a large majority. This is a problem we are facing in our
sport (and perhaps other sports as well).

4. In the past, to keep things "cool", this deficiency in applying
our rules correctly has not been addressed. Now is the time, with the
advent of the new service rule to try to make a difference. We must
not hide our weaknesses, instead we must be brave and admit to our
deficiencies and try to find solutions to redress the problem. This
is an "EDUCATION" issue. Our umpires must be taught how to apply the
rules according to the objectives of the rule itself.

5. It is not the role of the umpires to interpret the rule. It is the
role of the umpires to implement the rules. However, it is the
prerogative of the rule makers (AGM of the ITTF and its
representatives) to make the rules and to explain the intent and the
interpretation. This is a fact and according to our Constitution. So,
the secretary of the Umpires Committee is absolutely correct in his
message "keep it simple". His comments may rub umpires the wrong way,
and obviously so do my comments, but these are the facts and we must
accept them.

6. I am very sorry if umpires were insulted by my comments, but I'm
ready to "eat crow" if I'm proven wrong. As recently as a week ago,
at the German Open I saw with my own eyes clear demonstrations of
neglect in implementing our rules-- not only the service rule, but
many other flagrant infractions. Granted, some umpires are doing a
great job and under difficult circumstances, but again, I'm referring
to a general trend.

7. Instead of lamenting our sort and accepting mediocracy, the ITTF
is now trying its best to "educate" and "arm" international umpires
with the proper tools to help them to the best job they can. We will
always have good umpires and bad umpires. Just as in any other
activity. This is a fact of life. Our job is to try and develop as
many good umpires as possible.

8. I fully agree with you that the ITTF did not provide adequate
tools and a comprehensive kit to international umpires on time. For
this we take full responsibility and we will redress this problem as
soon a humanly possible. We did, however, provide to all National
Associations a complete kit (text, CD with videos, and photos). We
assumed that all umpires nationally would receive copies through
their respective umpires committees. This did not happen across the
board. We are now preparing a new kit addressed specifically to
umpires and based on the observations we made at the Women World Cup,
the Korean Open (I attended), the Japan Open, The German open (I
attended) and most recently at the Dutch Open.

9. Your suggestion of adding to the actual rule elements of the
interpretation is an excellent suggestion and we are seriously
looking into making some modifications to the wording while
maintaining the intent of the rule as it is now. The Chairman of the
Rules Committee is preparing this now. But you are right, it is
better to include in the rule itself very clearly the intent and the
way the rule is applied. I fully agree with you on this point. 10. I have to disagree with your assessment that umpires are
mistreated and that the ITTF is biased towards the players. It could
be that you got this impression, but I assure you that the ITTF
leaders have the utmost respect for all umpires and our goal is to
try as much as possible to have a uniform standard of rule
application and implementation. Currently this is not the case.

Finally, if my comments have insulted you I humbly apologize and I
hope that our educational and training efforts will result in a
better corps of umpires in the very near future. At the same time, I
hope that you appreciate that I am not the type that prefers to sweep
problems under the rug, on the contrary I prefer to face problems
head on and find the most suitable solution available.

On behalf of my colleagues at the ITTF I thank you for the time you
took to provide us with your comments and advice.

Yours in appreciation,

Adham Sharara

President





Dear Sir,

I write in respect of the recent email sent by you to a player in
England and as an English IU I found the contents of your response to
be disparaging and insulting towards umpires who always try to apply
the laws fairly and impartially and who are not as you stated lagging
behind. Umpires travel the world at their own expense and are
accustomed to their work and dedication not being appreciated by
players and sometimes by officials who travel at the expense of others,
but to be openly accused by the President of the ITTF of lagging behind
and being reluctant to make judgment calls is almost beyond belief
particularly when it is the ITTF who are lagging behind as they have
not done what they stated they would do and that is to supply every IU
with an information pack on the revised service law. As is all too
often the case you rush to defend the 'top' players who must not be
offended preferring instead to attack umpires.

The secretary of the ITTF URC who is seeking to change the TT world by
turning umpires into badge robots and expecting them to pay their own
costs to attend seminars to qualify under his new umpiring requirements
has merely complicated the issue of the revised service law in an
article in ITTF Bulletin 282. He says, keep it simple; don't add
personal interpretations or elements that are not written in the rule
then goes on to talk about interpretations of the rule that no one else
knows about. Either we apply the law as printed, and this is what
players expect, or the interpretations he refers to are built into the
law and become part of it. You cannot have it both ways as players and
coaches read only the law and do not see and are not interested in any
interpretation. I must also ask why we have to go to a website to
obtain information that should have been made freely available to us.

Your comments have undermined the role of umpires everywhere and more
particularly in England as I for one interpret your remarks as being
your opinion of English umpires. I find these to be offensive,
disparaging and insulting and believe that any one holding the high
office you hold should not be attacking umpires and should consider
resigning.

Yours in Disgust

K.A. Armson, MBE

IU England