Pierluigi Collina likes referees

Posted on 19 January, 2013 by Jan ter Harmsel

Referee campaign by Belgian FA: I like referees

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.

Howard Webb gives young Belgian referees advice

Posted on 1 November, 2012 by Jan ter Harmsel

Referee Howard Webb stresses that reaching the top is not just smooth progress for future Premier League referees. “Ups and downs are all part of the journey, and that ‘bouncing back’ from disappointments, or mistakes, is really important, as long as we learn from them.”

That says Howard Webb in an interview with Dutch Referee Blog. The top referee from England is speaking on ‘Belgian Referee Day’ for a group of young referees on Thursday evening in Brussels.

Howard Webb on FA tv screenshot.

Howard Webb: “I’m looking forward to visiting Brussels, and to meeting up with some really good friends from the world of Belgian refereeing. I’m also looking forward to having the opportunity to speak with some young Belgian referees and sharing with them some of my experiences. My presentation to them will focus on the passion, self-believe, perseverance and courage that individuals need to make it to the top. It will also highlight the importance of teamwork, thorough preparation (mentally and physically), and the importance of setting yourself apart from your competitors – refereeing in 2012 is competitive.”

The World Cup final match official says that high level refereeing is also demanding. “If you’re serious about making it to the top, you’ll need to make personal sacrifice.” But referees do also need to keep in mind that they are not the most important persons on the field, says Webb. “Referees are an important part of the game, but not of course the most important. The players are the stars, and the ones who make the game, but referees play a vital role in protecting the players and protecting the image of the game. We certainly need to encourage the next generation of referees, and I look forward to meeting the next generation in Belgium.”

Likes for referees

The Belgian FA will start a campain Thursday called ‘I like referees’. The KBVB want to give the message that there’s no football without referees. The number of likes will be announced at the start of the match between Standard Luik and Club Brugge on the 21st matchday in the Jupiler Proleague.

The two hundred young referees from Belgium will also get a course in doing heart massage (CPR) and get a speech by Werner Helsen, Uefa’s fysical coach for match officials and researcher at the university of Leuven.