Members Blogs

Petr Blažej has a realistic vision on refereeing: “The problems are, were and will be. The important thing is to learn from them and not repeat them.” The Czech assistant referee is appointed for the u21 European Championships 2015 in Greece. Dutch Referee Blog interviewed him. Congratulations with your appointment as assistant referee for the u21 European […] Continue reading...

You got back from a a holiday and want to start training again: this is the perfect guide for first training week after a period of physical inactivity. Also check the 4 tips for pre-season referee training after a holiday. … Continue reading → The post Perfect referee guide for first training week after holiday appeared first on Football: Dutch Referee Blog for match officials. Continue reading...

What’s the first thing you think off when you hear the name of Real Madrid player Pepe? Probably the “Pepe fouls”, tackles with often a lot of excessive force. And then I saw this tweet: 1080 – Pepe is the player in La Liga this season to have played the most minutes without receiving a […] Continue reading...

Feyenoord captain Graziano Pelle went nuts after his team didn’t win against FC Twente. He was very unhappy with the referee’s decisions and made a scene when he walked to the dressing room. What do you think of his behaviour … Continue reading → Continue reading...

Pedro Proenca retires from refereeing. The Portugese referee confirmed his retirement during a press conference in the headquarters of the Portuges Football Federation (FPF). “I announce today the end of my career”, he told several media. His international career started in 2003 and Pedro Proenca retires at the age of 44. Based on FPF stats: […] Continue reading...

The Paris World Games referees got some very interesting guests and coaches to help them. What to think of Leif Lindberg, who officiated in both the World Cup and Euro final as assistant referee. And Michel Vautrot, a former French top referee, was there too. For my blog I got the chance to speak with […] Continue reading...

Greek Hamburger SV player Papadopoulos tried to fool the referee. Not his opponent got red after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but he got a yellow for fooling the referee. It was a strange game on Friday between Hamburger SV and 1er FC Köln. Especially from a refereeing aspect: Felix Brych got injured and […] Continue reading...

Referee Ovidiu Hategan and Virgil van Dijk embraced each other after The Netherlands won their Nations League group. If you look a little closer you can see the emotion on the face of the referee. Dutch and Liverpool captain Van Dijk consoles him, as the referee seems upset. “That man broke down, stood with tears […] Continue reading...

One of my readers posted the photo below on the Dutch Referee Blogs Facebook timeline. outfit of goalkeeper, good topic. Thanks for the suggestion about. It shows a goalkeeper appearing in a suit – can’t see his tie – on … Continue reading → The post Outfit of goalkeeper: suit and shirt appeared first on Football: Dutch Referee Blog for match officials. Continue reading...

The original Laws Of The Game (LATG) have been sold for £881,250 at an auction. The Rules, Regulations, & Laws of the Sheffield Foot‐Ball Club (1859). Photo by Sotheby's The anonymous bidder gets the unique handwritten rules of 1858 and the only known surviving copy of the only known surviving copy of the printed Rules, Regulations, & Laws of the Sheffield Foot‐Ball Club (1859). Both documents are part of the archive of world’s oldest football club Sheffield FC. Sotheby’s description of the document: “The 1858 rules promoted a passing game played with the feet, and included the free kick, throw‐in, goal kick, restrictions on handling the ball, and the banning of “hacking or tripping”. The code built on earlier football rules...

Candidate Fifa president Jérôme Champagne launched his future plans to make Fifa an organisation of the 21st century. He wants to introduce an orange card and a sin bin for players. Champagne got backed up for his candidacy by Brazilian … Continue reading → Continue reading...

The decisions of the assistant referees are crucial in football. Offside or no offside, means often also goal or no goal. Koen Put developed an online tool for assistant referees. The tool is also used by the assistant referees that are active during the European Championships in France. European referee boss Pierluigi Collina requested earlier […] Continue reading...

The first on field review is done by referee Pol van Boekel as video assistant referee in the Dutch Eredivisie. The VAR is used in Cup games in The Netherlands, but the on field review is introduced during the quarter finals. Pol van Boekel’s on field review Referee Pol van Boekel gave a penalty kick, because […] Continue reading...

Last weekend showed us a great case study for offside. Second last defender is the key word for it. Have you seen the game Chelsea vs Bournemouth? Check out Murray’s goal for Bournemouth. Was the referee correct to allow the goal? At offside situations you usually look at the last person in a kit of […] Continue reading...

A new case study: “Offside when defender leaves field of play”. CSKA think they score a goal, but does it count? A screenshot from the situation. To give some extra info: the player in black right in front of the goalie touches the ball. What is your call? I hope you made that call right […] Continue reading...

The offside rule is still a difficult one for players, fans and even referees. As an assistant referee it’s sometimes difficult to see if a defender is touching the ball and if it’s a deliberate pass as well. In Saturday’s … Continue reading → Continue reading...

Zanetti had a big smile on his face after he kicked the ball hard behind his own goalie. Just couldn’t stop laughing about this stupid action. But what he didn’t know that the goal in the match Parma – Inter didn’t count. Referee Antonio Giannoccaro took over the signal of his assistant Claudio La Rocca, who made an offside call for the attacker close to Zanetti. What would you say: stupid action by the defender or correct call by the assistant because the attacker is influencing Zanetti’s play although he didn’t touch the ball? Continue reading...

Check the image aboven on this blog post. Would you flag for offside? There’s been a lot of offside discussions recently. Is a player making attempt to play the ball? Is it a deliberate play or a save? Offside is the main task of the assistant referee, but it’s also quite difficult. Not just the […] Continue reading...

Because offences when the ball is not in play are rare, it’s unique to see it twice during one Bundesliga weekend. But how do you need to deal with it? Check out the clips and explanation below. Felix Brych spots shirt-pulling Firstly, a situation in the game between Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz. Thanks to readers […] Continue reading...

Arnold Hunter from Northern Ireland is happy he officiated such beautiful matches since he became a referee. Next Saturday he’ll be up for another top match in his home country: the cup final between Cliftonville and Crusaders. The second part … Continue reading → The post Northern Ireland referee wants te become Elite appeared first on Dutch Referee Blog. Continue reading...