The Belgian FA has started the campaign “I like referees” earlier this season. Uefa referee boss Pierluigi Collina likes referees too.
“I think it’s important to support, help and assist the referees, so any action to promote refereeing is very important. I’m very pleased that the Belgian FA started such initiative.”
Pierluigi Collina also talks about the moment he got the most respect as a referee. “Ofcourse it was the World Cup final. I was invited on stage by Fifa presidant Blatter put a gold medal around my neck and then the crowd in the Yokohama stadium gave a very big applause. It’s something I’ll never forget. Fantastic.”
His last advice: “Support the referee be liking the facebook page.”
Also check out the interview with Howard Webb by the Dutch Referee Blog about his advice to young referees at the start of the campaign.
Referees in the media will be published at the beginning of the week on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading.
“They cannot have contact with members of the public, because you don’t know what can be exchanged.”
“We will not assign referees next weekend for games in the D-League in Darmstadt. We have a duty of care for our referees and can in all honesty not tolerate that they put their health at risk in order to allow others to exercise their hobbies.”
“You dedicate a significant part of your lives to football, a game of self-discipline and respect, and one that represents a battle where fair play must reign.”
‘Referees in the media’ will be published at the beginning of the week on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading.
“Women have so much to offer. For some reason, many believe that you have to be a man to be a good referee. This is simply not true.”
“”They are a deterrent in the penalty area against pushing and pulling, especially from corners or free-kicks.”
Pierluigi Collina about extra assistants. Read more about this on Uefa’s website, where the former Italian top referee suggests that extra assistants will be added to the Laws of the game in July by IFAB.
“I still think about quitting.”
Amateur football referee Luc Bosmans in Belgium has lost control of himself during a match between Wuustwezel and Gooreind. He pulled of his shirt (check photo here) and left the pitch. He did leave due to supporter’s comments, not due to player’s behaviour.
Serdar Gözübüyük in Dutch magazine NUsport.
“It’s anyhow going to happen. Next week, next month or maybe the one next. It’s not going to be a party. I don’t want to make mistakes.”
Referee Serdar Gözübüyük, Dutch talented referee, is not afraid about making a big mistake. He has been interviewed in Dutch sports magazine NUsport.
‘Referees in the media’ will be published at the beginning of the week on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading.
“I went past an Ild player and then tripped over my own feet. It was unbelievably clumsy of me and when the referee pointed to the spot I felt I had to speak out.”
Talat Abunima spoke with local newspaper Sandnesposten after he was send of in Norwegian fifth league after being send of for protesting against a penalty kick he conceived.
Referee Nedzad Munjic also gave a reaction to the same newspaper. He still disagreed with the player:
“It was a clear penalty. The player got it all wrong – I don’t think the players know the rules properly. And when I’ve blown the whistle, I can’t change my mind.”
“I think the first few decisions for the referee set the tone for the match, to get a certain security. And I think if the first decisions are taken well, then you get into the match easily as a referee.”
“EURO 2012 will be a tough challenge. It will not only be remembered for the quality of the play, but also for the quality of the refereeing. We need a very high commitment from all of you from now until the end of the competition.”
“During muy career as a linesman I always continued whistling matches. With lots of fun I whistled the sixth team from DZSV or a match of A-juniors. I’d really like to whistle again.”
Former international assistant referee Wijnand Rutgers has stopped as AR at national level too. He gets back to refereeing third and fouth amateur level matches, says he to De Gelderlander, a local newspaper in Holland.
‘Referees in the media’ will be published at the beginning of the week on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading.
“But as long as managers allow their players to con referees, they should not exhibit the incredible gaul it takes to call them out in public. It’s a hard enough job as it is.”
‘It was another fantastic event from a refereeing point of view. Once again, we had a very high pass rate for the various tests and it was particularly pleasing to see referees from so many different countries working harmoniously together, since we do not use the fixed trio system [of shared country or language referees and assistants] that is used in the men’s programme.’
Fifa head of women’s referees Sonia Denoncourt after the Algarve Cup 2012 in the April issue of Fifa’s magazine.
“Football is changing and becoming faster. It’s also becoming more difficult for the referees. So the challenge is to be educated to this standard, to continue or to try to be at the same standard. It will not be easy but the referees will do it.”
Pierluigi Collina answered questions of Uefa.com readers. He talks about the biggest challenge for referees in the next five years. Read all the questions here, or take a look at the video interview.
‘Referees in the media’ will be published at the beginning of the week on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading.
“We’ve got some reports that people are buying referee outfits in districts too … so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some penalty flags get thrown at some members of Congress’ offices.”
Jamie Henn, communications director for 350.org, during a protest against the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline where activists where dressed as referees to ‘blow a whistle’.
“Their preparation for officiating at UEFA matches will start here.”
“Our referees even visited him on Sunday. We were however shocked on learning that he had died. It is very unfortunate we have lost one of our best upcoming referees.”
European referee boss Pierluigi Collina on Uefa.com:
“The 12 are all referees from the elite group, so they are the top referees in Europe. They have all refereed UEFA Champions League matches during the past two seasons. What they can guarantee are two main elements – quality and experience. And only one referee, Howard Webb, was at UEFA EURO 2008. So there has been significant turnover.”
Cüneyt Çakır from Turkey was appointed after a lapse of sixteen years without a Turkish referee at a European Championship. The Turkish FA the selection of Çakır a “historic achievement“.
“I am extremely proud, happy and grateful to be one of the twelve referees who will go to the European Championship finals and can enjoy this tournament. I want to send a big gratitude to everyone in Swedish football: from refereeing colleagues and observers to the players and coaches who all in different way have developed me as a soccer referee.”
Bjorn Kuipers was pretty happy he got called personally by Pierluigi Collina to tell him the good news. “A very nice conversation.” Watch the interview Dutch media had with the referee from The Netherlands:
Stéphane Lannoy from France got much support from his national referee chief Marc Batta.
“This is clearly a confirmation of the skills of Stéphane, you do not qualify for a World (2010) and a European Championship without proof of quality. But after enjoying this appointment, Stéphane will have to continue to work hard to prepare for this next stage.”
Pedro Proença from Portugal was selected instead of fellow countryman Olegario Benquerenca. Referee boss Vítor Pereira thinks Portugese referees are all good quality: “This appointment seems to be a reflection of the overall quality of the Portuguese arbitrators and arbitration, their commitment and dedication to refereeing.”
“Wolfgang Stark to the Elite of European referees. He has represented the German referees excellently at the World Cup in South-Africa. The nomination for the EC is a confirmation of his constant performance in latest years.”
Scottish FA’s latest news is about Renfrewshire referees who show their respect for veterans. Hope for them they didn’t miss Craig Thomson appointment for Euro 2012. UPDATE: John Fleming, Scottish referee boss is delighted: “Firstly, I am absolutely delighted for Craig. He is a tremendously hard-working referee and this is great news for all referees in this country.”
“For me, the choice of UEFA and the possibility of being in the Euro Ukraine and Poland is a very special emotion and above all, a dream come true.”
Howard Webb completes the list of twelve. A picture of him got uploaded on Uefa.com long before the list was online, but until the final list was published there was still some doubt among British people on Twitter wether Martin Atkinson would be chosen from the UK.
UPDATE: British FA congratulates mr. Webb with some words of David Elleray, Chairman of The FA’s Referees Committee: “We are delighted that following the Champions League Final and World Cup Final appointments, Howard has once again been appointed to a major international tournament.”
