12-year-old Cédric is already a top youth whistler: why more and more young people are choosing arbitration instead of playing themselves

“Everyone looks at the ball, but I especially pay attention to the running lines and the communication of the referees.” Cédric Cozyns is 12 years old and already referees matches at the highest youth level. He is not alone. For the first time in years, the referee corps in Flanders is growing again, and the influx comes from young people: half are younger than 25 years old. What changed, and why does someone from the first secondary school prefer to step onto the field in black rather than in club colors?

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