Referee’s got a lot to endure during a soccer match. Fans, coaches and players are the biggest critics, even if they’re most of the time not good informed of what actually happened.

That’s why the referee organisation of West-Friesland initiated a exhibition match on the 8th of November where former professional referee Dick Jol explains all his crucial decisions publicly via the stadium sound system. “It also forces a referee to declare his decisions in clear and concise terms and, if necessary, give some extra explanation”, says initiator Rodric Leerling in a statement.

The referee came up with the idea due to his life in the New York area, where he saw the so-called referee-signal-system in American football. “Players, coaches and supporters will all benefit from this way of refereeing. We organise it in the first place to create a better understanding by them for the role and position of the referee in amateur football.”

In professional football there is lots of discussion in the media about difficult or sometimes wrong decisions by a referee. Video use is not allowed for the refereeing trio, but center can easily communicate with his officials. The amateur referees in The Netherlands are most of the time on their own, because there are not enough volunteers to also get neutral AR’s for most of the matches.

Leerling hopes everyone gets a better idea of how referees on the pitch deal with all sorts of trouble with players and coaches. It’s also a way to promote the ‘job’ of the referee and make it more attractive to young people.

When: Tuesday 8 November 2011 at 19:30.
Where: SPORTPARK ‘T KRIJT, Wilhelminastraat, Zwaag.
Match: sv Westfriezen 1 – vv Schagen 1
Referee: Dick Jol

The idea is unique in European soccer, says the organisation committee.