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Seen lot’s of discussions about the Ukrainian goal that didn’t count. But the decision from the extra assisant is not the first mistake. Got this picture via BBC journalist Jacqui Oatley, which showed that Viktor Kassai’s AR missed an offside first. Artem Milevskiy (center) got the ball from the Ukrainian left back, and the image below shows that he is probably (can’t see full pitch) is offside. Most newspapers in Holland missed that. What about that in your country? Photo via Twitter of BBC Journalist @JacquiOatley I’m wondering if this will influence which referee teams are going home today. I bet so. Who do you think will stay in Poland and Ukraine for the final rounds? And why? Continue reading...

Long-term vs short-term goals for referees: what is the difference? In this blog post you’ll get advice from Kathryn Nessbitt, who I recently published a big interview with. She was named MLS assistant referee of the year in 2020 and has some great tips for you. Nesbitt always had a major top level goal. “I […] Continue reading...

I am at Dublin for the Referee Conference. Really looking forward to it. Just got my badge Continue reading...

Referee’s got a lot to endure during a soccer match. Fans, coaches and players are the biggest critics, even if they’re most of the time not good informed of what actually happened. Dick Jol's twitter photo That’s why the referee organisation of West-Friesland initiated a exhibition match on the 8th of November where former professional referee Dick Jol explains all his crucial decisions publicly via the stadium sound system. “It also forces a referee to declare his decisions in clear and concise terms and, if necessary, give some extra explanation”, says initiator Rodric Leerling in a statement. The referee came up with the idea due to his life in the New York area, where he saw the so-called referee-signal-system in American...

Assistant referee John Brooks has some advice for the Manchester City players shaking his hands after the match against Arsenal: Go to your fans, who paid a huge fee for a ticket, and thank them for coming. Fans of Manchester … Continue reading → The post Linesman advices City players to thank their fans appeared first on Dutch Referee Blog. Continue reading...

Errol Sweeney is back in his own Ireland, but has been a football referee in South Africa. He actually was named the best referee of South Africa twice. Once by his colleagues, the second time by sports journalists. Errol Sweeney in action during a match in South Africa. Photo provided by referee. Name: Errol Sweeney Born: 1947 Country: Ireland Career: FAI Intermediate, Cup final – 1974/1975; first cup final in South Africa was in 1986 as assistant referee. In 1986 he was fourth official and he got the first cup final as referee in 1988. In 1991 he also officiated both semi cup finals, which is unique in South Africa. What do you do now for a living? Errol Sweeney: “I’m a psychologist working in Wilson’s Hospital School in Ireland...

The third referee in ‘Life after refereeing’ is Edward Lennie from Australia. Edward Lennie was named referee of the year in the National Soccer League in Australia for several years. He also got the Medal of the Order of Australia. Edward ‘Eddie’ Lennie, soccer referee from Australia. Provided by referee. What do you do now for a living? “I am the Referee Development manager for referees in Western Australia, I am also an elite assessor and instructor for both AFC and FIFA. I retired in 2004 and took up assessing and instructing immediately first of all with OFC (Australia was still a member then) and later with AFC, when Australia joined in 2005.” How do you look back on your career and what is your best experience? “Best experience...

A new section has started on the Dutch Referee Blog: Life after refereeing. This is how I got the idea: Two weeks ago I got an e-mail from a retired Romanian referee, named Daniel Munteanu. He was an international referee and had officiated with René Temmink, a Dutch referee. ‘Got his e-mail address?’, he asked. I know some refs but not all of them. Little research finally got me in touch with a car dealer with the same name. And yes, it was him. Doing this, I wondered why I shouldn’t let these former referees talk about their refereeing experiences. They both agreed to answer the four questions to give an impression of what they do now and what they did before. Today I’ll publish the first part with the Romanian referee. Munteanu at...

The second referee in ‘Life after refereeing’ is Carlos Eugenio Simon from Brazil. Use of Simon’s Twitter with his permission. Name: Carlos Eugenio Simon Born: 1965 Country: Brazil Career: Fifa badge in 1997; World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2010; Copa America in 2001 and 2007; Copa Sudamericana finals in 2003, 2004. What do you do now for a living? “I am commentateur of soccer matches at Fox Sports Brazil. I analyze the match and the referee.” How do you look back on your career and what is your best experience? “I worked in 1.198 soccer matches, lots of decisions, one olympiad and 3 world cup’s which are my best experience. It’s hard keep a career in high level in Brazil because we don’t have much incentive. The fact that I worked in 3...

Stan Teuben thought he made his debut as the youngest referee in Dutch professional football. Another ref appeared to be 31 days younger than him. It doesn’t make him less happy, because this first game was just the start of something beautiful. In this story you’ll get some tips and lessons from this young referee […] Continue reading...

Lee Markwick followed the referee course when his son signed up for it. “As his dedicated taxi, I started to develop an interest in officiating”, he says in an interview with Dutch Referee Blog. Le Markwick (54) is a level 4 referee and he started officiating in 2011. Please tell a bit more about how you […] Continue reading...

Referee Ali Sabbagh from Lebanon works hard to get to the World Cup in Brazil. Then he would become the first center referee from his country to achieve that. An interview with 33-year old referee Ali Sabbagh by the Dutch … Continue reading → The post Lebanese referee Ali Sabbagh wants to reach the World Cup appeared first on Football: Dutch Referee Blog for match officials. Continue reading...

The final Laws of the Game Quiz of the 2017-2018 season. It contains the most difficult questions since January. Can you score 5 out of 5? it will be easy for you to receive an e-mail notification when the new quiz season starts. Just one e-mail after the quiz is published. It’s up to you […] Continue reading...

The new quiz season starts. Here’s Laws of the Game Quiz week 1 of 2022-2023. Good luck! Laden… Continue reading...

Laws of the Game changes for 2023-2024 were published this week. Below the outline of the summary. You can also download the full pdf with changes. Law 3 – The Players Clarification relating to extra person(s) on the field of play when a goal isscored Law 6 – The Other Match Officials Reserve assistant referee […] Continue reading...

Laws of the Game changes for 2020-2021. Some highlights first, then the summary. You can also download the full text pdf. Summary of Laws of the Game changes for 2020-2021 Law 1 – The Field of Play Goalposts and the crossbar may be a combination of the four basic shapes Law 10 – Determining the […] Continue reading...

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has published Laws Of The Game changes for 2015/2016. There are no major changes, but few things are allowed now: returning substitutes and electronic performance and tracking systems. I know many refs for example who already use tracking systems on gps-watches and the returning subs are already in use […] Continue reading...

Laws of the Game changes 2021-2022: the first updates from The IFAB meeting of March 5th appeared on their website. The main topic was the handball rule and all members “confirmed that not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence”. Plus more about concussion substitutes Firstly a personal thought on […] Continue reading...

Laws of the Game changes 2019-2020. IFAB announces some changes. Biggest changes is on handballs and the place subbed players have to leave the field of play and the position of the goalkeeper at penalty kicks. Download pdf with all decisions Handball changes On the topic of defining handball, a decision was taken by The […] Continue reading...

The Laws of the Game changes 2018-2019 are published by IFAB. Below you’ll find an outline of the main changes. In the documents you can read the full texts in different languages. No big changes for me. New terms, like video operation room (VOR) and Referee Review Area (RRA). Referees can now also caution players if […] Continue reading...