The chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee hopes to reduce the possibility of human error that could affect the result of the match
“Even the best referee can make a mistake. He is a human being, and we know it,” assured the Italian.
The Italian Pierluigi Collinapresident of the FIFA Referees Committee, explained that the mission to prepare the referees for the Qatar 2022 World Cup is to avoid the use of technology, but that this is a support to prevent human error from affecting the result of an encounter
“Our goal is to prepare them as best we can to avoid using technology. But the technology is there to reduce the chance of human error that could affect the outcome of the match. Even the best referee can make a mistake. He’s a human being, and we know,” he said. Pierluigi Collina.
The Italian commanded, together with the Swiss Massimo BusacaFIFA Refereeing Director, three seminars between the end of May and June to prepare the 36 referees, 69 assistants and 24 VAR managers from the six confederations chosen to officiate at the next World Cup.
The former Swiss referee commented, less than a hundred days before the start of the World Cup, that “it’s like a football team, they have to prepare everything very well for the most important competition we have in this sport”.
“I am convinced,” he continued, “I expect a great World Cup. We know what we are doing. We know what language we speak. The sacrifice we are making, the seminars, talking and talking, is because we want to achieve a goal. I am sure that the referees understand this message and will do very well.
These seminars were held in Asunción (CONCACAF/Conmebol), Doha (AFC/OFC/CAF) and Madrid (UEFA), and the referees passed theoretical and practical tests daily, with which they were able to simulate and practice situations that can occur in encounters.
The referees were also able to start living the dream of being in a universal event, as the Dutchman recognized Danny Makkeliewho was already in Russia 2018 and admitted in a FIFA statement that when he received confirmation of his election it was “an incredible feeling” because when he started “as a referee he was 12 years old” and his “goal was already to reach the top and he dreamed with the World Cup.
the mexican assistant Karen Diaz trusts that the fact of being one of the pioneers in participating in a men’s World Cup, together with the referees Stephanie Frappart (FRA), Salima Mukansanga (RWA) and Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN) and assistants Neuza Back (BRA) and Kathryn Nesbitt (USA), will offer new opportunities to women.
“I am very happy and very grateful to all the people who have given me this opportunity. We have to make sure that this is not the only time that women are selected, but the first of many,” she said.