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Watching back the final of the Copa America, I found Alvaro Pereira from Uruguay tackle referee Salvio Fagundes from Brazil. It looks like it’s not on purpose, but always be aware of the players behind you. Take a look:

It's been a sad weekend as a nation lost its innocence and the world lost a unique singing talent. I have friends who have many good friends in Norway because they travel there each year to referee in a youth football tournament. I hope when they arrive this week, that they find all their friends safe and well. Extremism and terrorism have no place in this world and in a place like Norway which has such a small population, it seems likely that the effects of this weekend's tragedy will touch many lives. As for the death of Amy Winehouse, she was undoubtedly a talented artiste and her loss will be felt by her many fans. I reserve my sympathies for her family. No parent should ever have to bury their child. Unfortunately, all too often...

Counter reset ... School holidays always bring a challenge as my 6 year old son needs to be kept company and amused, so we have the summer holidays scoped out with each week carefully planned. Some weeks he would spend odd days with me or his mum and on other days he would spend time with either of his grandmothers. All nicely planned until he found out his cousin was staying at his Nanna's this week so he was desperate to see her because she would have her coveted Nintendo DS with her and he could have a go. With a trip to Rhodes on the horizon attending my daughter's wedding and the school holidays to get through obviously we are not awash with spare cash just now and a Nintendo DS (just like the XBox Kinect I want) will have to...

About an hour ago posted on YouTube: a referee running for his life. Does anyone know which teams this are or when it happened? I’ve never seen it before.

If like me your tight, then you can now download the latest copy of the FIFA Laws of the Game direct from FIFA.com. It saves buying the book (if you can track down a copy to buy). Something that struck me while reading through these at the weekend. The Laws are 56 Pages long, however the Interpretation of the Laws is 81 Pages Long! Shows why there is so much confusion at times!

“Each company’s respective technology will be scrutinised across a broad range of criteria, in both daylight and floodlit conditions” by Fifa’s spokesman in the Guardian about the fact that Fifa is going to test nine systems for goal-line technology. “Fidel and I both saw clearly the goal they took away from us” By Venezuela’s president Hugo Chavez, who was watching football with Fidel Castro and saw the referee disallow a goal. Would a red card for denying obvious goalscoring oppurtunity be honest if a goal is scored (from a penalty kick). Give that card only when the goal is not secured. By Uefa’s referee chief Pierluigi Collina, who’s waiting for IFAB’s review of the DOGSO rule. “I enjoy myself everytime I’m able to whistle (a...

What’s in the referee bag you take with you to your matches? Just add some papers on a4 size … … because sometimes the substitution board doesn’t work due to heavy rainfall, like here in the Chinese Super League match between Hangzhou Greentown and Beijing Guoan.

This referee let’s the penalty kick retaken over and over again. Players won’t stop complaining, isn’t he just strictly applying the rules? Teammates of the taker and as well as opponents infringe the Laws of the Game. Mostly by moving into the penalty area (or 9,15m circle) too soon. But also take a look at the goalkeeper during the penalty kick he saved. He moves forward to fast and is way in front of the goalline when the attacker actually kicks the ball. Anyone an idea why the goal from the before last kick is not allowed? Last week, I’ve started a discussion about giving a yellow for players who pull off their shirt at amateur level. Anyone experiences with this situation? What’s your ‘record’ of retaken penalties in a row or do...

Third referee in SummerRefs lives Colombia, the country where the World Cup under 20 will start in a week. In this section refs from all over the world and all with different experiences will tell about their refereeing career and how they prepare for next season during this summer break. Each Saturday a new profile will be posted online, and the second person who answers the five questions (5W’s) is Carlos Salcedo from Colombia. Name: Carlos Salcedo Age: 20 Hometown: Bogotá Started refereeing: at age of 16 Carlos Salcedo Who do you think you are (as referee)? “Carlos Salcedo is a referee who always is learning of the others. That’s why he likes to see other referees act. He is a relaxed referee, but rigorous, as all the South...

It's raining, men ... On Wednesday Neil was working and Paul text me to say that he wasn't sure he wanted to train because of the rain. My response was that he would have to referee in the rain, as I used to do, so he really should train. That was before I heard the rain bouncing off the conservatory roof and realised it seemed to be getting dark earlier than usual. I text him back to agree and we said we'd pick things up on Friday (today). Within half an hour Paul pointed out that the rain had stopped but by that time I had eaten a rather large salad and pasta dish from the local supermarket, so I passed up the opportunity. So today I got a text this afternoon from Paul telling me that he had a lot to do before going on holiday...

European qualification matches already started and some competitions will kick-off this weekend. Here are the new referees at the national top levels. If you miss something, let me know. Netherlands New in the senior referee group is Serdar Gözübüyuk, who holds many Dutch refereeing records, being the youngest referee ever officiating at the highest level in the Netherlands. Assistants Charl Schaap en Hessel Steegstra moved up to the highest level as well. Referee Ben Haverkort retired and has already started as commercial manager at FC Groningen, a club in the highest league. Austria New: Dominik Ouschan End of career: Bernhard Brugger (next December) Relegated: - Source: Announcement ÖFB Belgium No promotions announced...

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...

Leo Blank, editor of Dutch referee magazine De Scheidsrechter, is wondering wether amateur referees will give a yellow card if a player pulls off his shirt after he/she scores. Nobody ever did this in one of my matches, but I think it’s a good question. Are there special rules about that for amateur levels? Would YOU give a yellow card for that officiating at lower football levels? Don’t hesitate to join the discussion below. And what if someone gives away his shirt to a fan who entered the field, like Andrei Shevchenko did this week?

Massimo Busacca has been appointed as new head of Fifa’s refereeing department. The Swiss referee, who will start at August 1st, has announced the end of his career as ‘men in black’ recently. Fifa president Joseph Blatter is happy with his recruit: “As I have said on many occasions, I have made refereeing one of my main priorities. Massimo Busacca’s experience will prove to be particularly useful to our mission and to our efforts to continue the groundwork we have put in place with the confederations and member associations in this particularly important area.” The question for many referees is: will this in the future bring much change into refereeing. According to German newspaper Der Tagesspiel, Busacca has said he is favouring a...

Carlo Bertolini will be the new Swiss referee boss. He succeeds Urs Maier, who resigned in June because he didn’t feel support from the FA in professionalising refereeing in Switzerland. The new chief stopped his national career after last season. He was international from 1997 to 2010, when he got to retire because of Uefa’s age restrictions. “The first goal I want to achieve after the resignation of Urs Maier, is to give the top referees a certain certain security and stability again”, says Bertolini in Wednesday’s interview on the website of the Swiss FA. He feels the pressure of making new plans pretty fast. “The season starts this weekend, so there’s not much time left.” Bertolini doens’t want to professionalise Swiss refereeing as...

Two match officials living in the same house, whistling both male’s matches in Swiss leagues. But who’s the best referee? “We don’t compete, we discuss and he gives me advice for improving”, says Simona Ghisletta about her relationship with Roberto Ferrari, who was a top referee in Super League in Switzerland since 2001. “Because of his work he had to stop on high level and now he officiates in regional league. I’m referee in the third league so he can give me a lot of advices.” Simona Ghisletta. Photo provided by referee. “He also knows that being a women is different from being a men; I have my way to officiate. At home when we watch a game on tv we discuss a lot about the manner of the referee or if he could do this or that thing …...

The u17 Women’s European Championships, quite a unique tournament starting with the semi-finals. All matches will be played in the Colovray stadium across Uefa’s headquarters. Swiss referee Simona Ghisletta, one of the five referees who got promoted by Uefa last week, is looking forward to this tournament. “Next week I’m appointed for the Euro final tournament WU17 in Nyon. It’s the first big tournament and it’s in my country, it will be fantastic”, says the 35-year-old referee from Switzerland. But this is just a start for her, Ghisletta told Dutch Referee Blog. “For the future I hope to do even better and an olympic game or the world championship are really a dream.” On the 28th of July she will officiate Iceland vs. Spain or France...

‘Referees in the media’ will be published each Monday on the Dutch Referee Blog and provides remarkable or interesting quotes and links to articles worth reading. “With hard work, determination and commitment I’m sure the OFC referees will be just as good, if not better, than the top confederations.” By Japanese FIFA fitness instructor Toshio Utsumi, who has to prepare the Oceanian referees O’Leary, Kumar and Namo for the u20 World Cup in Colombia, on the website of OceaniaFootball.com. “I don’t know if it was because I’m a female too, and they’re used to being refereed by men. Or maybe because I was younger than them.” By rugby referee Sarah Bennison in The Guardian, who faced disrespect from female players officiating their matches...

Today, the second edition of SummerRefs has something special: the referee comes from southern hemispere, so this actually is a WinterRefs. In this section refs from all over the world and all with different experiences will tell about their refereeing career and how they prepare for next season during this summer break. Each Saturday a new profile will be posted online, and the second person who answers the five questions (5W’s) is Mike Cowie from New Zealand. Name: Mike Cowie Age: 20 Hometown: Christchurch, New Zealand Started refereeing: in 2007 Grade: Level 4 (Level 1 being the lowest) Mike Cowie Who do you think you are (as referee)? “I would hate to have to say “I am a referee similar to x,” but there are certainly a few...

Saw this today and thought it was brilliant. It got a few of us testing it in the office! Seen on Lifehacker.com Continue reading...