Since the World Cup ended on 11 July 2010 as well as my personal involvement therein, I had a long break from football … and the keyboard. Much needed. The 2009-2010 referee season was cut by almost 9 weeks to give some recuperation time for the 2010 World Cup players, certainly the shortest and busiest season experienced since I came onto the referee panel in 2003.
Time is now of the essence to get back onto the Premier Soccer League (PSL) referee panel for the 2010-2011 season, which kicked off in great style recently at the Cape Town Stadium with a double header. Newly promoted Cape Town team Vasco da Gama debut against Orlando Pirates, scored first but lost 1-2, while Ajax Cape Town got the better of Bloemfontein Celtic with almost 45,000 people in attendance at this magnificent stadium. The fan walk that worked so well during the World Cup did its magic again, with young and old showing the World Cup atmosphere certainly will not be a once-off for the mother city.
Alas, apart from suffering serious food poisoning during the World Cup, I tore a calf muscle 3 1/2 weeks ago doing some stamina (hill) reps in preparing for the obligatory Fifa fitness test at the start of a new referee season. My first serious injury in 17 years. My physiotherapist is doing wonders with the calf with numerous 5cm needles being pushed into “pressure points” to speed up the recovery. A combination of eastern medicine pressure, western medicine ultra-sound & laser treatment, painful deep tissue massage (you really do sweat on a table without ever moving a muscle!) as well as regular gym work/swimming to keep fitness & stamina levels up for the oncoming Fifa fitness test, are all doing its magic on my calf muscle. This (balanced) treatment recovery program has even my physio astounded at the recovery speed. Healthy eating via wife’s Portuguese/Mediterranean cooking… well, her food should not be underrated in this sorry escapade.
I promised earlier to do Part II, Referee Body Language. Specifically, actual exercises to hone the referee’s body language style and repertoire to communicate with players on field. It will be forthcoming…very soon. Watch this space.
World Cup match 1: South Africa vs. Mexico, Johannesburg, 11 June 2010.
I am of the opinion the Referee for the opening match between South Africa & Mexico, Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan, did exceedingly well, including his 1st assistant whom correctly ruled Mexico’s goal offside. Ravshan control of the match was calm, focused, with excellent body language; he was also quick off the mark to get into good viewing angles. He did not seem flustered or nervous given the occasion. Rated currently #15 in the world, he has a bright future and if he’s consistent, will soon break into the World Top 10 Referee List. Well done Ravshan and your officiating team!
Mexico's Efrain Juarez, left, became the first player to be booked in the World Cup by referee Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan) during the World Cup group A soccer match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010
World Cup match 2: Uruguay vs. France, Cape Town, 11 June 2010:
A very good performance from Japanese referee Nashimura given some of the flying tackles during this fast, chaotic match. Well controlled, using his discretion and common sense, where allowed, to rather talk to players as opposed to be completely yellow-card happy.
Nashimura quickly took charge of the delaying tactics of the captain of Uruguay at a free kick (awarded to France) near the penalty area late in the match, cautioning the player for failing to adhere to the referee’s instruction to move the required 10-yards away.
Referee Nashimura was also spot-on with the first red card of World Cup 2010 in the 81st minute, a second yellow/caution for the hot-headed Uruguayan substitute Lodeiro due to the latter’s late, reckless lunge on his opponent. Lodeiro managed only 18 min. on the pitch.
Lodeiro, brought on as substitute in the 63rd minute, received his first caution in the 65th minute for delaying the restart of play; kicking the ball away after the whistle was blown for an infringement.
Most importantly, Nashimura looked as if he enjoyed the match, being stern when needed, but also showing a relaxed body language (and a smile!) in lesser confronting situations between the two teams. He was not too officious, correctly maintaining a balance between being firm, fair as well as approachable by grumbling players, without entertaining too much lip from them.
Despite the French coach Domonech’s complaint after the match about a possible handball to be awarded for France in the penalty area late in the match, the Laws of the game were correctly applied: If the ball did indeed struck the hand of the Uruguay defender after a shot from a French forward, there was certainly no deliberate movement of his hand towards the ball, given the speed of the ball and the distance between the two players involved.
Another very good performance from the FIFA Team officials!
Massimo Busacca (Switzerland, rated #1, born 1969)Roberto Rosetti (Italy, rated #2, born 1967)Howard Webb (England, rated #3, born 1971)Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay, rated #4, born 1968)Frank de Bleeckere (Belgium, rated #5, born 1966)Wolfgang Stark (Germany, rated # 9, born 1969)Hector Baldassi (Argentina, rated #10, born 1966)Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay, rated # 12, born 1970)
Note: Amarilla will not officiate in the 2010 World Cup due to one of his assistant’s failing his fitness test – see here.
Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain, rated # 13, born 1973)Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan, rated #15, born 1977)Oscar Ruiz Acosta (Colombia, rated # 16, born 1969)Benito Archundia (Mexico, rated #18, born 1966)Martin Hansson (Sweden, rated #19, born 1971)Eddy Maillet (Seychelles, rated #24, born 1967)Marco Rodriquez Moreno (Mexico, rated # 25, born 1973)Jerome Kelvin Damon (South Africa, born 1972)Yuichi Nashimura (Japan, born 1972)Joel Aquilar Chicas (El Salvador, born 1975)Michael Hester (New Zealand, born 1972)Peter O'Leary (New Zealand, born 1972)Viktor Kassai (Hungary, born 1975)Pablo Pozo (Chile, born 1973)Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal, born 1969)Stephane Laurent Lannoy (France, born 1969)Carlos Eugenio Simon (Brazil, born 1965)Carlos Batres (Guatemala, born 1968)Koman Coulibaly (Mali, born 1970)Mohamed Benouza (Algeria, born 1972)
Note: Benouza will not officiate in the 2010 World Cup due to one of his assistant’s failing his fitness test – see here
Kahlil Al Ghamdi (Saudia Arabia, born 1970)Subkhidden Mohd Salleh (Malaysia, born 1966)
EDIT: 27 May 2010 — Martín Vázquez from Uruguay has been announced as replacement for Amarilla’s Paraguayan team. Fifa will not call in a replacement for the Benouza (Algerian) trio of referees.
Referee Martin Vazquez (with assistants Carlos Pastorino & Miguel Nievas, all from Uruguay) was called in by Fifa to replace the referee trios headed by Amarilla & Benouza.
The above 2010 FIFA World Cup middle referee list is provisional. Provisional in the sense that they all must pass their final hurdle, a fitness test. The World Cup African contingent of trios/referees will be evaluated at my hometown Coetzenburg Athletics Track, Stellenbosch, on 8th May under the auspices of South African FIFA co-ordinator Carlos Henriques.
For a list of all the World Cup assistant referees, see here.
We are not gods. We make mistakes. — Swiss referee Massimo Busacca to Greek player Basinas (Greece vs Sweden, Euro 2008) – see the critically acclaimed film, Les Arbitres.
Coetzenburg Track, Stellenbosch, South Africa
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest test an international referee will ever face, both professionally and personally. Of the 29 referees representing 26 nations (Uruguay, New Zealand & Mexico have 2 middle referees each) taking charge of the 64 World Cup games in the month-long tourney in South Africa, 10 are from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 from Asia, 4 from the CONCACAF region, 3 from Africa and 2 from New Zealand. Each referee has his team of two assistants who have worked with him over many months in various FIFA international and Association tournaments, their performance and fitness constantly being monitor by the FIFA Referee Committee.
During the tournament, the referees and assistants will be swathed in a protective blanket of security, locked away from the world’s prying eyes at a luxury hotel where they will be provided with a continuous healthy diet, sports psychologists to boost their confidence and video technological tools for briefing/debriefing to allow them to study the strengths, weaknesses and favourite ploys of the teams they will be officiating.
It has been a 3-year+ journey for all the pre-selected World Cup referees and after many reductions on the final referee list, countless fitness evaluations, workshops, aptitude tests and constant health & diet monitoring , these are the men that FIFA trust to control the greatest sporting event on the planet.
I wish all the above FIFA referees, assistants (and their families) the very best and may your dreams be fulfilled!
Rummaging through my football referee paraphernalia lately, I came upon a prized pair of red and yellow cards in my possession, with the name “K. Aston” signed in person in big black, scrawling letters on each card. A present from an American referee friend, all the way from Chicago. [ Thank you again Timothy Orosz! ]
Ken Aston (1915 - 2001), inventor of yellow and red cards. Author has a signed pair.
Kenneth George Aston, known as “Ken,” born in Colchester, Essex, joined the Royal Artillery during World War II before transferring to the British Indian Army, where he reach the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Aston was involved after the war in a war tribunal (Changi War Crimes Tribunal) and the hanging of senior Japanese officers. 21 officers were charged with war crimes against humanity and 8 were eventually sentenced to death. It was Aston’s duty to inform them of their sentence and then he had to attend the hangings.
Aston later settled in the United States. He was knighted by the Queen for his football activities and work in the States.
Aston was one of the match officials in the 1960European Cup Final between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt. This match is regarded by many as the greatest European Cup Final ever played. Madrid won 7–3 in front of a crowd of 135,000 at Glasgow’s Hampden Park, with both Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás scoring a hat-trick for Real Madrid. Madrid were crowned kings of Europe for the fifth straight time, prompting the legendary Bill Shankley, after viewing the match, to say: ” Real Madrid are the greatest club side the world has ever seen”
Another notable achievement for Ken was as middle referee for the 1963 FA Cup Final between Manchester United – managed by Matt Busby – and Leicester City, attended by 99,000+ spectators at Old Wembley stadium, which was then fully roofed for the first time. The match was broadcast live – black and white – with the BBC requesting the one team change kit as the red of United and blue of City would have been indistinguishable to the viewers. Leicester changed into a mostly white kit, as they loss the toss for team colours. Gordan Banks was in goal for City. Despite fielding 9 internationals, including Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, United had struggled during the league season while their opponent had performed well, doing the league double over Manchester in the process and thus entered the FA Cup final as slight favourites. United won 3-1.
Ken Aston invented a few ideas during his service to football, not least of which are the yellow and red cards that referees use today to either warn or expel players if they step on the wrong side of the Laws of the Game. He is also credited for other innovations & ideas in football refereeing, including:
The first referee to wear black with white trim as an official uniform, which later became the standard apparel for referees;
The first referee in England to introduce the neutral bright yellow linesman flags (in 1947) in place of the home team pennants;
In 1966 he introduced the practice of naming a substitute referee who could take over in the case of the referee being unable to continue – his eventually evolved into the practice of having a designated fourth official;
The number boards to announce substitutions;
He successfully proposed that the pressure of the ball should be specified in the Laws of the Game;
During the 1966 World Cup in England, he came upon the idea of issuing yellow and red card to players.
The story goes that, as FIFA Head of World Cup Referees in 1966 (he was in charge of all referees for the 1966, 1970 and 1974 World Cups) Ken received a call from Jack Charlton, the England player. The latter explaining that he read in the newspapers that he apparently received a caution from the German referee Rudolf Kreitlein in England’s World Cup match versus Argentina, but that he was unaware of such a caution being issued verbally, as was the custom then. Kreitlein also could only converse in German.
Aston, returning from Wembley Stadium to Lancaster Gate that same evening, mulled over the language confusion that Charlton mentioned. On his trip from Wembley in his MG sports car, he passed many a traffic light. Aston came upon the idea to use coloured cards with the same colour coding (yellow/amber and red) used by traffic lights. He reckoned that showing coloured cards to players will transcend language barriers and clarify to spectators and players that they have been cautioned or sent off.
The use of red and yellow card to warn and/or sent off a player was first implemented in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
Referee Aston trying to control tempers, World Cup 1962, Chile vs Italy.
But there is another notorious incident(s!) that Ken is remembered for; he officiated the infamous “Battle of Santiago,” a 1962 World Cup match between Chile and Italy in Chile’s capital. On the bench as substitutes for Italy that day were the future star players and managers Cesare Maldini, father of famed and elegant AC Milan left back Paolo Maldini, including Giovanni Trappatoni – the only football manager to have won all UEFA club competitions and the Intercontinental Cup – as well as Lorenzo Buffon, related to the grandfather of Gianluigi Buffon, the current goalkeeper for Juventus and the Italian national team.
This match was not unlike the 2006 World Cup match in Nuremberg between Portugal and Holland, except the tackles and wild swinging fists were of such brutality that by today ‘s standards most of the players would have been sent off. Tensions were running high before the match as two Italian journalists, Antonio Ghiredelli and Corrado Pizzinelli, had spent weeks labelling Santiago in the newspapers as a poverty-stricken dump, full of loose women. Chile’s organization for the tournament had suffered through poor infrastructure, a problem made worse by the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960. Fearing for their own safety, the two Italian journalists left the country before the World Cup kicked off.
When the match was shown on BBC television, reporter David Coleman introduced the Group B game with this classic statement:
Good evening. The game you are about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football, possibly in the history of the game.
He wasn’t far off the mark! Those with squeamish stomachs should not click on the football video below. Chile won 2-0.
Notice the very last few seconds of the above clip, where the 1st assistant quickly runs onto the field to stand next to referee Ken Aston as the latter was about to separate another fight after he blew the final whistle. Aston said his assistant, Leo Goldstein, uttered the following: “Ken, don’t bother sorting this mess out!”
Ken Aston admitted afterwards: “I wasn’t reffing a football match, I was acting as an umpire in military maneuvers.”
South African referees, Jerome Damon and Enock Molefe (assistant), were included in the list for match officials for the World Cup Finals starting on 11 June 2010 in South Africa.
Still want to blog the 3rd part of the Top football Referees, as well as the case for the trend to moving towards professional football referees, but will keep it after the New Year as I have a national referee workshop soon and want to take time off now from the most hectic referee schedule since I came onto the PSL referee panel. I’m off to the Mosselbay Yacht Club for a much needed holiday with the familia.
I wish everyone a beautiful festive season and outstanding prospects for the year 2010. World Cup 2010 is almost upon us. My best wishes and good luck go to South African Fifa referees Jerome Damon and Enock Molefe, both are still short listed for the 2010 World Cup on our shores. Do us proud gentlemen!
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