Euro 2008 refs to tackle dissent, violent play

Referees at Euro 2008 will come down hard on players who use excessive force or show dissent if they follow instructions they were given yesterday.

The 12 referees who will officiate at the June tournament in Austria and Switzerland were handed a six-point list of instructions at the end of a four-day workshop at their Euro 2008 base near Zurich.

The instructions, compiled by UEFA, order referees to "act firmly (red card) against challenges involving excessive force... including the illegal use of arms and elbows."

UEFA said that players would also be expected to respect officials' decisions. "Referees can accept a spontaneous expression of frustration from players," the instructions state, "but will firmly sanction players who show dissent by word or action."

The referees have also been instructed to control holding or pushing in the penalty area prior to corners and free-kicks and to punish "simulation intended to deceive the referee" with yellow cards.

As is already the case in the Champions League, UEFA's disciplinary body will be able to use video evidence to punish players who fool the referee by diving or pretending to have been fouled.

The referees have also been told to deal firmly with mass confrontations with the instructions stating that "any players involved... have to realise that the main protester(s), including any who run over to join in, will get a yellow card."

The list ends with a note to coaches, advising them that they will be "left to do their jobs" in the technical area immediately in front of the team bench provided they act responsibly.

UEFA president Michel Platini said last month that the organisation would use the tournament to call for more respect within the game with individual campaigns addressing the need to respect opponents, national anthems and referees.

UEFA said they would demonstrate their own respect for the referees with an accompanying support team and increased pay levels.

In addition to the team of referee-specific doctors, fitness trainers and masseurs provided at Euro 2004, match officials will also be offered the services of a sports psychologist.

Referees will be paid e10,000 for every match at which they officiate with their assistants receiving €5,000.

That corresponds to an increase of almost 60 per cent compared with Euro 2004.

UEFA said the 12 referees, who will be matched with assistants from each of their own countries, had been selected based on their good performances in European matches.

Euro 2008 refs

Konrad Plautz (Austria)
Frank de Bleeckere (Belgium)
Howard Webb (England)
Herbert Fandel (Germany)
Kyros Vassaras (Greece)
Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

Pieter Vink (Netherlands)
Tom Henning Ovrebo (Norway)
Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain)
Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)
Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)