UEFA experts want more respect for referees and less time wasted

The UEFA Football Council called on players and coaches to show more respect to referees and ensure that playing time is not wasted, according to information released on Tuesday.

“The Board unanimously recognized that the behavior of players and coaches towards referees on several recent occasions has become a critical issue and does not contribute to the positive image of the game. Members are united in their belief that this issue must be dealt with as effectively as possible. “as firmly as possible,” it said in a statement regarding Monday’s meeting in Nyon, Switzerland.

The meeting, chaired by former Portugal international Luis Figo, UEFA’s football adviser, concluded that “it is important that coaches set an example for their teams and that moral harassment of referees is eliminated.” emphasizing that “referees are an essential element of football and must be protected from all forms of abuse.”

According to the expert panel, “what happens in the professional game has the potential to affect the entire pyramid,” since the recruitment and retention of referees depends largely on positive examples set in competitions, followed by millions of fans.

“It was agreed that a strong disciplinary approach was necessary, but that it would also be desirable to improve the transparency of communication between referees and coaches to promote mutual understanding and respect,” the organization said.

In addition to this issue, the board also discussed situations where players fake injuries to gain an unfair advantage, waste time and disrupt the flow of the game, and proposed, among other things, the launch of a campaign led by key players to educate about the injustice of such behavior and discourage it.

“Management has concluded that it is necessary to take effective measures to limit the fragmentation of the rhythm of the games,” the council emphasized.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on video referees (VAR), with management recommending work to make its use more consistent, transparent and understandable for players, coaches and fans.

“VAR must be considered as a tool to assist the referees, and its intervention should not be perceived as a negative judgment towards the referees themselves. It is clear that not everything on the field is visible to the referee,” the expert council emphasized.

The meeting was attended by Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez, as well as several former players and other coaches: Eric Abidal, Rafael Benitez, Oliver Bierhoff, Petr Cech, Rio Ferdinand, Jurgen Klinsmann, Henrik Larsson, Michael Laudrup, Juan Mata, Predrag Mijatovic, Giovanni van Bronckhorst , Patrick Vieira and Rudi Völler.

“The meeting with the UEFA Football Council is important for UEFA and football in general as it gives us valuable insight from key players who have experienced the game at the highest level on various current topics and issues. We look forward to reviewing the discussions. “As part of UEFA’s unwavering commitment to improving the game we love for everyone and for future generations,” concluded Luis Figo.

The council, formed last year, was created by European football’s governing body to provide an independent view on football-related topics. Members of the UEFA Football Council were selected for their outstanding performance on the field, global reputation and depth of experience and knowledge in the sport.

In addition to Spain’s national football coach Roberto Martinez and former footballer Luis Figo, UEFA’s advisory team also includes coach Jose Mourinho.