Refs get their due at Euro

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-25  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

AFTER all the abuse, shoves and catcalls they suffer from players in their national leagues, referees at Euro 2008 earned what they were asking for - "Respect."

About the biggest melee referees became involved in was some lighthearted jostling and hugging from the three referees selected to officiate in the semis and final of the European Championships.

The word "Respect" was stitched onto every left sleeve in black against the Day-Glo colors of referees' shirts to stand out. Surprisingly to many, the message got across.

"The situation about respect in this tournament has improved. Absolutely," said Roberto Rosetti, the Italian who will referee Sunday's final of the European Championship. "I had an excellent sensation about this. There is trust."

Sometimes, a referee needs to be an expert in running backward as a whole team chases him menacingly to contest a decision. They gang up and intimidate him in the hope that perhaps the next decision will be kinder on them. Referees have been attacked by fans. Sometimes they are abused by coaches who question their integrity.

There has been almost nothing of this at the monthlong championship and Rosetti directly credits UEFA President Michel Platini for the change in attitude.

"Platini, maybe three days before the beginning of the tournament, told us that respect is very important and that players must respect the referee," he said.

Referee representatives were sent to all team headquarters with DVDs and a stern lecture to draw the line for players and coaches.

The DVD included 13 game situations, with clear instructions how referees would react to certain situations, including protesting.

"There was one case where a goalkeeper ran 40 meters to complain to the referee and he was given a yellow card. He knew it. He had been warned," said Yvan Cornu, UEFA's head of refereeing.

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann received a yellow card far away from his goal after protesting the dismissal of teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger. Such scenes are all too commonplace in England's Premier League and elsewhere in Europe, where they often become as disruptive to the flow of the game as a bench-clearing brawl in ice hockey.

The instructions paid off.

"At the matches, there were fewer complaints, less group haggling, less mass confrontation, little anti-sporting behavior," said Cornu.