The importance of assistant referees

Two days of intensive discussions at UEFA headquarters in Nyon recently ensured that assistant referees from 37 countries exchanged ideas and reviewed decisions taken at EURO 2004.

There was, however, another aspect which UEFA wanted to impress on its officials - teamwork. This is why the assistant referees spent a couple of hours in conference with the officials who actually took part in the European championships in Portugal.

Philip Agius, Malta's senior referee assistant, was invited to attend and was even appointed rapporteur of one of the groups.

The top referees and assistants spoke about their various roles in Portugal and gave their views on decisions taken. These concerned the co-operation between referees and their assistants and dwelt with both correct and incorrect decisions.

The ever controversial offside law was naturally the subject which, at times, brought disagreement among the officials and it was only after exchanging views was a single interpretation agreed upon.

The question of teamwork begins when the officials enter their dressing room around an hour before the match. There is no ordering about by the referee. He informs his assistants what he expects of them and then is open to questions when matters might not be clear enough.

What is important is that this is done in a relaxed atmosphere and that before walking onto the pitch there is total agreement on co-operation expected.

This will ensure the smooth running of any match even the most difficult.

Agius said that the UEFA Referees Committee wants assistant referees to play their full role.

They are not to be there as bystanders just flagging when the ball is in or out of play or to indicate a corner.

Assistant referees are obliged to flag every infringement they see especially when the referee could be unsighted. This includes the penalty area.

No longer sole arbiter

Gone are the days of yesteryear when a referee was the sole arbiter of interpreting infringements in the penalty area and instructed his assistant or linesman as he was called then, not to flag any foul play he noted in the penalty area unless this was committed by a forward.

Another instance where the assistant referee must get involved is when an incident has taken place and is unseen by the referee.

Many a time a player takes a kick or swings a punch whenever he thinks the referee is not looking. He totally forgets the assistant referee but the latter cannot forget him.

His duty is to draw the referee's attention to the incident and it is then up to the central official as to what action needs to be taken.

The seminar, the fourth of its kind, keeps assistant referees on their toes as they know that if they do not perform they will be overlooked by UEFA for international appointments.

UEFA are conscious of the fact that unless all officials perform to the best of their ability, the game will suffer.