UEFA gala in Monaco Fifty years of the champions' competition ...

Scenes from
EURO 2004
were analysed
in plenary
session.
UEFA
UEFA
Seminars in Nyon
Referees and assistant referees stay on the ball
AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, UEFA’S ELITE AND TOP-CLASS REFEREES, AS WELL AS 37 ASSISTANT REFEREES,
MET AT UEFA’S HEADQUARTERS IN NYON. THE MAIN TOPIC ON THE AGENDA WAS A REVIEW OF EURO 2004.
The UEFA Referees Committee
was very satisfied with the performances
of the referees and assistant
referees appointed for the European
Championship final round in Portugal.
However, this was no excuse for them
to rest on their laurels. Remaining
on the ball also meant ferreting out the
smallest weaknesses. Under the
guidance of the members of the Committee,
the match officials analysed
Physical exertion
under the spotlight
Prof. Werner Helsen, who has
been entrusted by UEFA with the
physical fitness of its referees and
assistant referees for some years
now, used the European Championship
final
round in Portugal
to take a
closer look at
the physical
exertion of the
match officials.
“During a
match, the referee
and assistant
referees
are put under
Werner
Helsen
UEFA
enormous pressure,
marked
by significant
changes of direction and pace”,
he summarised. His records show
that a referee covers 12-15 km in
a match and changes direction or
pace every four seconds. An assistant
referee covers between six and
eight kilometres and changes direction
or pace as often as a player –
about every six seconds on average.
a selection of critical situations from
EURO 2004, discussed problems and
sought solutions.
Trends on the field
“It happens more and more
that the referee is faced with the
question of whether a player was
really brought down or whether he
is trying to win a free kick or penalty
that he does not deserve,” stated Ken
Ridden, vice-chairman of the Referees
Committee, introducing the session
on simulation. An exchange of views
led on to the subjects of holding and
pushing, and the illegal use of hands,
arms and the body, as often seen on
corner kicks. The discussion then
expanded to situations outside the
penalty area, when players use their
bodies against the rules, namely by
committing bodychecks, which have
become a new tactical trend. Excessive
goal celebrations, particularly when
players remove their shirts, were also
illustrated with examples.
Emphasis on cooperation
A united team is the basis for
good referee performances, or as
former Portuguese referee Vitor Manuel
Melo Pereira, now a member of the
UEFA Referees Committee, put it:
“Three pairs of eyes are better than
one.” He went on to underline the
importance of the team knowing each
other well and regularly officiating
together. Before every match it was
essential to make it clear who would
assume what responsibility and what
the priorities were. For example, the
assistant referees had to be clear
about when the referee expected signs
of agreement from them. In offside
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