Meeting with the FIFA Members Association delegates at the 2023 FIFA Football Summit held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, FIFA Referee Committee President Pierluigi Collina talked about the recent developments regarding referees in the football world.
Stating that referees are indispensable in football, the legendary name said, “There are many events that do not attract the attention of the media. Referees are constantly exposed to verbal and physical attacks.”
Here are Collina’s words…
“The attack on Halil Umut Meler attracted the attention of the media, but there are many events that do not. This is not only Turkey’s problem and it is not a situation that only concerns the upper level of football. There are many incidents regarding referees in amateur leagues and lower leagues that the media do not bring to the agenda Most of these referees are young men and women and they are subjected to verbal and even physical attacks.
Those who carry out these attacks on them are often the parents of the children playing the match. This is unacceptable. It is enough! These behaviors are the cancer that is causing the death of football. I implore football leaders around the world to do something about this before it is too late. That’s enough.”