EURO 2008 INFO

Gathered in the course of preparation in Regensdorf near Zurich, officials of the Euro 2008 have received from UEFA for specific technical guidelines for the holding of matches. Tour rules in force, sanctions ... and wages.

In total, 44 officials were selected to referee the 31 meetings of the tournament. These will be divided into 12 trios (one referee and two linesmen) of the same nationality. And the eight remaining will share the role of "referee fourth on the edge of the field.

In the eyes of the leaders of UEFA, the essential mission of the referees during the Euro is mainly to protect players and the image of football. In particular, they are asked to brandish the red card in case of excessive use of force that endanger the physical integrity.

"We want the players to finish their tournament in the state where they started," and hammered Hugh Dallas, the Commission of UEFA referees, following the course of preparation, on Thursday, 17 last April.
Scramble, simulation challenge ...

In detail, players must expect to be punished if scramble in the penalty area, to challenge a decision of an arbitrator or voluntary involvement in a confrontation.

The simulations, widespread and insidious to be dropping in order to obtain a coup-franc or a penalty, will also be punished with a yellow card.

Great novelty, disciplinary bodies of UEFA will now be able to use video recordings retrospectively to punish a player whose simulation would have escaped the referee during the match.

This hardening is a direct consequence of the many critics denouncing the increase in cases of simulation at the last World Cup in Germany. A competition which will remain high because the now famous "coup de boule" assené by the French Zinedine Zidane to Italian Marco Materazzi in the final.
Problems behaviour

According to the English referee Howard Webb, one of the officials selected for Euro 2008, this kind of problem is being overcome.

"The simulation, horseplay and confrontation tarnish the game and it is now time to eradicate them. There has been a resurgence of these behaviours there are five or six years, but it has stabilized over the past few seasons. It seems to me that the message is going: the players understand that the game must be protected, "he says.

"Some supporters have turned their backs on football because of these behaviors. The players have a responsibility in this regard: to them to ensure that their actions do not exceed the threshold of what is tolerable. "

Representatives of each of the 16 teams qualified for the competition will be invited to the headquarters in Regensdorf arbitrators in order to become acquainted with guidelines of UEFA in terms of behaviour.
The 17th team at the Euro

The referees were selected by UEFA on the basis of their performance in European club competitions. Angel Maria Villar Llona, chairman of the Referees Committee of UEFA, spoke willingly of them as "the 17th team at the Euro".

"I am convinced that the tournament will be quality because we have the best team of referees of all time," he said.

Only Swiss representative among the 12 main referees, Ticino Massimo Busacca claims to be even more proud to participate in Euro 2008 and World 2006.

"It is an honour for me to officiate in switzerland as an arbitrator in this tournament to be held in Switzerland, he said. I know that the pressure will be great, but the experience gained in World Cup will allow me to be ready in June. "
10,000 euros per game

Like any effort deserves wages, UEFA has also prepared a list of salaries for referees. The referee will receive 10,000 euros per game, his assistants 5000 euros, and the fourth referee 4000 euros.

These amounts represent an increase of 60% compared to the benefits in force at the last edition of the Euro 2004 in Portugal. An increase qu'Ángel Maria Villar Llona justified by "pressure, responsibility and personal preparation that require these functions, in addition to quality".