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Round after round, referee decisions are regretted and discussed in football in Switzerland. Fans, players, coaches – almost everyone bickers. Last weekend they were smoking in Basel, in Valais they smelled the great conspiracy and in St. Gallen they felt wronged. “Meanwhile, the referee is discussed almost endlessly,” says former top referee and current Blick referee expert Urs Meier (64).
It was expected that with the introduction of the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in the summer of 2019, disputes would quickly decrease. But the opposite seems to be the case. It seems like the umpires are being criticized more harshly this spring than ever before. “It feels like the conversations with the VAR have increased,” says Meier.
Why is that? Does the VAR actually make the referee’s job more difficult? Are the technical resources used incorrectly? Are the regulations (keyword handball) too complicated? Is it because of the quality of our referees? Or are our expectations simply too high? do we need help If yes, what or who could help?
It should not continue as it is now
We asked around players, coaches, experts and referees. In addition to criticism, there are also constructive suggestions to improve the situation. Because everyone agrees on one point: it should not continue as it is now.
SonntagsBlick identifies the hottest points of interest and our referee expert Meier says what he thinks.
1
Our umpires have gotten worse
Many professionals feel this way. Many say it behind the scenes, few criticize in public. FCL goalkeeper Müller complained about the quality of the Swiss referees two years ago. FCZ veteran Dzemaili was even punished in an interview recently for his scolding the referee. FCB goalkeeper Marwin Hitz said last weekend: “We have a problem in Switzerland and we need help.” His suggestion: call in the former German top referee Manuel Graefe. Have our referees gotten worse? The facts say: no! In international comparison, we are better than we have been in a long time. After years of absence, Switzerland even has a referee in the European elite class again in Sandro Schärer, who will soon preside over the European and World Cup finals. Fedayi San is VAR in the Champions League, played against Inter for Milan, and Esther Staubli, like Schärer, is in the women’s top group.
Meier says: “In international comparison, we have not become weaker. In Sandro Schärer we have a figurehead, behind whom we have some young talented referees who can now mature in peace. But we have to keep working hard to get even better.”
2
Referees are more arrogant than they used to be
In the past you could still consult with the referees. There were statements from both sides, according to players and coaches. Today the referees would isolate themselves. Instead of an answer, there is an admonition or a warning. There is hardly a coach in Super League or Challenge League who hasn’t seen a card yet. “The referees are more arrogant than before,” said a former professional. Ex-Nati coach Rolf Fringer sees part of the problem in the more consistent interpretation of the rules. “If a trainer is a meter outside his zone, the fourth official comes immediately and pulls him back by the ears. It is sometimes exaggerated, you are almost too picky.”
Meier says: “I don’t think the Swiss referees are arrogant. It seems to me that some referees even talk too much sometimes. Referees are part of the game, dealing with each other can be direct, sometimes tough or funny. But never below the belt and always with respect. A referee shouldn’t always be open to discussion, and we weren’t before. I remember Georges Bregy well, for example. He always wanted to talk about everything. I often stopped him or ignored him.”
3
The VAR comes on too often
Despite great skepticism, the majority were satisfied with the VAR after its introduction in the 2019/2020 season. The tide has turned: dissatisfaction is great. “The VAR interferes enormously,” says a coach. The numbers prove him right: in the 36 rounds of 2019/20, VAR overturned 36 referee decisions. After the 32nd round this season, there are already 67 (see box). Extrapolated we will be at 75 at the end of the season. The number of checks is always about the same: six to seven per game. The reason is simple: the VAR consistently reviews every decision it can change. Every goal, every red card and every penalty whistle.
Meier says: “The VAR was introduced to prevent blatant wrong decisions. To save the game and help the referee not look like an idiot when he’s the only one not seeing a clear hand target. Like then the hand of God through Maradona. Meanwhile, however, the VAR interferes too much in the game. Perhaps the video referees put too much pressure on themselves and look too hard for a violation of the rules with every action. Those who search always find something. But nobody wants that. The threshold for intervention must be raised again.”
4
The rules are too complicated
A major reason why there is no more popular sport in the world than football is that the rules of the game are simple and have remained virtually the same for decades. Certainly no longer applicable to the rule of hands! So much was doctored that hardly anyone has an overview anymore. The current issue of the football magazine “Zwölf” even dedicates its cover story to the controversial Hands. The big question: What is an unnatural increase in body surface area? Silvan Kampfen, author of the story, is not really smarter after the research than before. “Even among referees there are different interpretations of this term. That causes confusion.”
Meier says: «Hands or not? The big point of contention, not only in Swiss football, but worldwide. After the whistled penalty in the 2018 World Cup final between France and Croatia, when Perisic actually wanted to pull his arm away, FIFA wanted to simplify the hand rule, but only make it much more complicated. Some innovations have since been reversed. But it would be best to go back to square one. The only criteria would then be: “Intentionally or not?”, “Does the ball go to the hand or the hand to the ball?” and “Is the movement natural or unnatural?”
5
Not enough football skills
A reproach that you hear again and again: in the VOR (Video Operations Room) in Volketswil (ZH) there is not enough football expertise. St. Gallen striker Schubert recently called up former professionals as VAR? The suggestion is good. Your experience would help with that,” says former Nati star and current SRF expert Beni Huggel, going even further. “If you decide to do that, you have to do it consistently. That means: Ex-players must be trained and given a part-time job. » An education would even be a basic requirement. Because the regulations stipulate that only referees with qualifications for the Super League and Challenge League are allowed to work in the video operating room.
Meier says: “Is correct. The football understanding of the referees needs to be trained more intensively again. Not only in Switzerland, everywhere. Not only as VAR, but also on the field. Former top players and coaches could help. What is natural movement? What is it game idea of a team? What are their tactics? So what is a tactical error? For example, I very much regret that I did not get to know Jürgen Klopp at the beginning of my refereeing career. Especially in this area, I could have benefited a lot.”
6
The VAR makes the referee worse
Are you as focused on an exam when you know that you will be helped if you make a mistake? Hardly! The same goes for referees. The knowledge that the operator in Volketswil will intervene in the event of a serious error certainly does not sharpen the senses.
Meier says: “This recital has something. In the old days, a game was like tightrope walking. If you fall, it hurts terribly. Today the VAR is here. your fishing net. It is quite possible that this means that a referee no longer fights for the best position and does not go to extremes in the last resort. In addition, we have invested so much energy, time and money in the VAR in recent years that too little attention has been paid to training the referees. I want to put it this way: we can now easily disassemble and reassemble a car with the engine and technology, but we have problems driving the car.”
7
There are not enough referees
In Switzerland there is a lack of referees in the amateur field. This, of course, has repercussions at all levels. The fewer people, the smaller the choice. The association is doing everything it can to combat the declining number of referees and has even set up a website for this purpose: www.werdeschiri.ch.
Meijer thinks: «In Germany, the lack of referees is even more acute than in Switzerland. There are hardly any descendants. In Bavaria, for example, more than 50 percent of amateur matches are refereed over the age of 60. But the problems are also obvious for us. What is it? Mainly due to a lack of appreciation. And then I’m not just thinking about the financial compensation, but also about the little things like a thank you after the game or a sip of tea during the break. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.”
8th
The referees do not present themselves
Coaches and players must answer questions after each game. Referees usually disappear directly into the dressing room after the final whistle. Lausanne coach Ludovic Magnin called for referees to be interviewed last season. “I expect they will also wonder after the game.” This week it happened: Alessandro Dudic stands up and explains to Blue after the missed penalty in Basel against Zurich.
Meier says: “I loved that Dudic stood up. Referees have to explain themselves, that takes a lot of pressure off the kettle. But only with big wrong decisions and not immediately after the end of the game. He can’t say anything until he sees the pictures.”
“They should whistle for once – all those know-it-alls!” Meier does not say that. Gottfried “Godi” Dienst († 1998) already claimed this 47 years ago. In 1976, the former Swiss top referee told the “Schweizer Illustrierte”: “Decide in fractions of a second, take responsibility. The critics would certainly speak differently! » Almost half a century later, unfortunately, we are at about the same point.
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
