UEFA Refs expected to clamp down on excessive force during Euro 2008 competition

Just two years after the WORST officiating ever in a major competition at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the Associated Press has reported that UEFA has "instructed referees...to simultaneously protect players from excessive force and crack down on simulation of injuries at the European Championship."

Refs were also instructed "to stamp out any pushing and shoving in the penalty area before corners and free kicks, with yellow cards to be awarded on a second offense."

Hugh Dallas, the former FIFA referee who is now responsible for training refs for UEFA, claims that the new rules are being added because they "want the best players at the end of June to be in the same fine shape as they were in the beginning of June."

Responsibilities for assistant refs have also been increased (see link to article above for more info).

I don't have any problems regarding disciplining players especially when they deserve it, but at times, these officials go way too far. I seem to remember that FIFA made very similar changes ahead of the 2006 World Cup, and as I said above, that competition had the worst and exaggerated officiating done in World Cup history with a ridiculous amont of red cards given, never mind yellows.

Vlado Sajn, another ref trainer, claims that "referees have a responsibility to protect the players and the image of the game. Challenges endangering the safety of an opponent will be sanctioned with a red card."

I cannot agree more with Sajn, but at times, international refs (especially those at the most recent World Cup) have overprotected "the image of the game" to a point where it seems like an even more watered down version of Major League Soccer officiating.

According to the article, UEFA has introduced "12 referees, 24 assistant refs and eight fourth officials for the tournament.

Referees were taken from twelve nations, which include Austria and Switzerland (the host nations), Belgium, England (the only appearance the almighty English will have in this year's tournament), Germany, Greece (the defending Euro champions), Italy (the defending World Cup champions), Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. This is in addition to eight referees from other European countries.

UEFA is also clamping down on players who fake injuries with diving resulting in yellow cards. This is something FIFA promised to clamp down on at the World Cup but it didn't seem to happen as Italy became notorious for faking injuries (sorry Italian fans but you know its true). One controversial call involving an Italian player's exaggeration of an injury caused Australia's fairy tale run to end at the round of 16 as Australia fought Italy for a full 90 minutes only to lose because of an exaggerated injury in the penalty box during stoppage time which essentially gave Italy the win with a successful penalty kick and a 1-0 result. Watch this youtube video which summarizes the entire game (pay very close attention to the very end when the injury and penalty kick occurs):



Australia (a team I like call "the Croatia B team" as half their team are Australian-born Croatians who could not make it to the Croatian national team and are good childhood friends with Australian-born Croatian national teamers) just came out of a strong first round group that consisted of Brazil, Japan, and Croatia, defeating Japan with 3 last minute goals in the final ten minutes as the Japanese were ready to declare victory and their first three points, a loss to Brazil, and a hard fought 2-2 draw against a Croatian team that needed a win to progress.

For more information regarding the officiating at the upcoming Euro, click here.