Football is a difficult, interesting, even exciting and controversial game. And in many ways it is such because of one comrade, in whose arsenal there is always a ringing scroll and a pair of plain cards of red and yellow. In Russia they are used to calling him a football referee, in European countries - a referee or arbitrator. Why is this position so attractive for people of the most ordinary professions: engineers, journalists, mathematicians?
Who are the judges?
England is considered the birthplace of the great game. But football has become so deeply integrated into the life of modern man that it is no longer so important where this game came from. Today, most are interested in who is taking part in it and how this or that match will end, and with it the championship and tournament. Not least in this regard is occupied by such an important person in the game as a football referee. It is he who monitors the progress of events developing on the field, makes fateful decisions both for the players and for the entire game as a whole. He, like football players, runs around the field, but does not dream of scoring a hat-trick. He faces a number of other important tasks, which he must perform with dignity, respect and complete dedication.
Arbitrators are not only experts and professionals, they are true fans of their craft! They not only referee each match, they live it as a big event on which the life of the football family depends. Yes, namely families, because there is no other way to describe the close-knit and friendly team of athletes, coaches, medical workers, and the entire football team. This is exactly a family with its own habits, traditions, rules and signs.
How to become an arbitrator? Step-by-step instruction
If you are an avid football fan, if you cannot imagine life without the coveted ball in the goal of the opposing team, if you cannot even miss a friendly match, then you have a direct path to becoming the referee of this game. Becoming one is not as difficult as many people think, but you still have to work hard. The first step is your irresistible desire. You have thoroughly weighed the pros and cons, thought it over, are eager and want it. The second step is a fateful call. Find the phone number of the regional football federation in your region and report your desire. Next, you should be invited to an interview and set a date and time.
Don't waste your time and prepare for the exam. It consists of two stages. The first one tests your theoretical preparation: how well you understand the rules, know football terminology, are familiar with the history of this game, its prominent figures, players, etc. In addition, you will need to show what physical shape you are in. This is quite an important point, since a professional referee covers more than one kilometer on the field in one game. You will need to take some decent distances. After passing the checks, you receive the title of “third category referee”. Then the most interesting part begins - referees, football, appointments and career growth, during which you will be invited to matches on a city or regional scale, depending on your success. First as a side judge, then as a main judge. At some stage, there will be a need to think about special education at the Institute of Physical Education and Sports or a referee school. So you can gradually grow to become an international-class specialist and become a FIFA referee.
Lately, controversial issues often arise during a match, so good psychological preparation is required from football referees. They must be able to find a common language with any player, fan, colleague, even the most heated one. This is also part of the job of a modern football referee.
Football referees of Russia
You can talk about these famous personalities for hours, discussing them all together and each one individually. They are very responsible, hardworking and, to some extent, brave people, since the position of an arbitrator requires incredible dedication. And they all have one thing in common - a love for the great game.
Among the prominent football referees of our country we can note: Valentin Ivanova (FIFA referee), Igor Egorov (highest category referee). Referees are people who not only devoted their lives to their favorite game, they gave and still give a part of their soul in every match.
Now in Russia more and more representatives of the refereeing profession in football are appearing. The rules of the game are being improved, the rules are changing, so slightly different requirements are being put forward for the new generation of referees. In order not to lose face at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, it was decided to adopt the experience of colleagues from Europe. The preparation was entrusted to specialists from Italy, as they are considered the best in the world. And the fact that our country joined the UEFA Referee Convention in the spring of this year only confirms the correctness of the chosen path.
"Golden whistle" of football
Speaking about the great game, one cannot fail to mention the name of the unrivaled Nikolai Gavrilovich Latyshev, a world-famous football referee. He was a pioneer in terms of refereeing world-class matches. His wonderful work in Chile during the World Cup is still unparalleled. The arbitration was carried out flawlessly. Several decisive games were held with his participation, including the final meeting between the teams of Brazil and Czechoslovakia.
Subsequently, the management of the International Football Federation appreciated his skill and principled approach to work. The Russian judge was presented with a significant gift - the legendary golden scroll. During the Swedish championship, he also brilliantly played matches as a football referee for the side and main flanks. Latyshev treated everything that happened on the field tolerantly and fairly, without giving preference to anyone.
Referee skill
As you know, you can’t drink skill away. In our case, it’s better to say - you can’t judge. A highly qualified football referee is necessarily distinguished by good physical fitness, psychological stability, excellent knowledge of the rules and methods of refereeing, as well as strong-willed character qualities, without which his position is unthinkable.
In addition to all this, the referee on the field must have a lightning-fast reaction and the ability to make the right, fair decision in the shortest possible time. Otherwise, he risks losing not only his earning position, but also his authority in the eyes of the entire football community, from fans to representatives of the top division. The quality of refereeing must satisfy everyone; this is one of the biggest difficulties of the referee’s profession.
Hard game - dangerous work
“Our service is dangerous and difficult, and at first glance it seems invisible...” - these lines perfectly characterize the work of a modern arbiter of football matches. While serving as a referee, the main thing is not to lose the initial passion, because referees have to listen to a lot of things addressed to them while refereeing various matches, and even after them. Unfortunately, today there are already known cases even with a fatal outcome (youth league, match in the Netherlands).
A person most likely becomes a football referee by the call of his soul, the dictates of his heart, and not by coercion or inheritance. But often football experts like to shift all responsibility for the game onto his “amateur” shoulders, which leads to all sorts of proceedings and unfair accusations. People don’t want to think that a whole team of specialists, not counting the athletes themselves, is responsible for the course of the match. And demand, accordingly, must be carried out equally from everyone.
In their opinion, the disciplinary code, which was introduced some time ago, has a great influence on the work of football referees. His points are so severe that even seasoned and seasoned pros begin to make basic mistakes on the field. One of the best referees in our country, Sergei Khusainov, said in one of his interviews that now he is entering the field as if for the last time. Today, referees are hostages of a set of strict rules who are afraid of disqualification for the slightest offense.
Honorable place in football
A referee on the field is more than a referee. This is a guardian of order, a healer of souls, the arbiter of the destinies of an entire team, and not just one. But above all, he is a person who is not immune to mistakes and mistakes, like any of us. At the same time, referees are preachers of new ideas, tactics, and strategies in football.
Without their personal experience and skill, not a single game will be played at the proper level, so do not underestimate the profession of a football referee. And although such a position is not listed in the personnel register, we think it can be confidently included in the track record of any referee, since it has every reason to be an officially recognized profession.
“Championship” continues the column “How it works” - about professions in Russian football. In the next issue we tell you what the work of referees is like, what difficulties Russian referees face and how much referee equipment costs.
What does it take to become an arbitrator?
Anyone can become a judge, you just need to undergo training. Referees are trained in specialized schools at regional football federations. The training course includes seminars taught by current and former arbitrators. Along with theoretical classes, where game moments are usually analyzed, physical training classes are conducted. The main training cycle for football referees lasts three years.
– There are practical classes, for example, working with a flag. At the end of the course there is an exam. Before the exam, we let you referee friendly games. Then we look at where to include the person, since we have the highest group, second, third, and so on. If a person is promising and he succeeds, then we highlight him,” said the former referee.
How is the work of referees assessed?
Referees undergo constant checks throughout the season. At each match, the refereeing team is accompanied by a delegate or inspector of the RFU, who monitors the quality of refereeing. Based on the results of each meeting, the referees are given a score.
“There is a basic score for the game - 8.4 points,” said Egorov. If the game is of a special level, say “Spartak” - CSKA, then 8.6. When I mistakenly do not show one yellow card during a game, one point is taken away from me. And then for each wrong decision, one tenth is removed. If a player already has a yellow card and I didn’t show him a second one, then he is automatically given 7.9 for failure to be removed. Same with penalties. The score may change upward if, for example, the referee made the right decision in a difficult moment.
“Let’s say I awarded a penalty in a controversial situation when it’s hard to figure it out,” Egorov clarified. - If we then looked and the penalty was awarded correctly, then the inspector can give a bonus and add one tenth of a point. Or, roughly speaking, I have the CSKA Cup final - Zenit in Kazan: two penalties, a red card. These are all difficult moments. The inspector gave me bonuses for them.
The points received directly influence further appointments of the judging panel. For high scores throughout the season, a referee can be appointed to such top matches as Spartak - CSKA or the Russian Cup final. For mistakes and low scores, the referee may be demoted to refereeing FNL matches.
How do referees find out about match assignments?
The decision on which match a particular refereeing team will be assigned to is made by a special commission of the RFU and approved by the executive committee. Previously, the chief referee received a notification about the appointment of a match by email, and he had to notify his team. Now all information is published four to five days before the game on the website of the refereeing department.
Karasev: we are in the semi-finals of the Europa League. Where are the critics?!
Russian judges we should be proud of right now.
“When I’m assigned to international meetings, I don’t find out the match itself where I’ll be working, but only the route,” said referee Sergei Karasev. - I can roughly understand what kind of game it will be. As soon as I receive the route, I must confirm the tickets. This happens in about five to six days.
However, information on the appointment of referees for major European tournaments, such as the Champions League, Europa League, European and World Championships, is confidential. The referee teams are officially announced on the UEFA or FIFA websites two days before the meeting. Until this time, no one except the arbitrators themselves should know about the appointments.
Where do referees get cards, flags and whistles?
Each team has its own referee kit, consisting of cards, flags and a whistle. All of them are purchased independently and at your own expense.
Photo: Alexander Safonov, “Championship”
“I tried to spend the whole season with only cards,” said Egorov. - When they break, you replace them. It's OK. I always had five sets with me on the field. This is more for peace of mind. Sometimes you give it to fans or a child.
How does the brigade get to the stadium?
Typically, the refereeing team arrives in the match city the evening before the game and returns the next morning. Sometimes you have the opportunity to take a walk and see the main attractions on your own or accompanied by the head of the host team.
“The receiving party is responsible for meeting the brigade, its transportation, accommodation and food,” said Karasev. - There is a company that deals with travel for judges. She has been working under an agreement with the RFU and the referee department for many years. Having learned about the appointment, I call this company and adjust my route. Plane tickets will be sent by email. The host will meet you on site, place you in a hotel and deliver you to the game. Then they take you to the airport the next day after the match.
The refereeing team must arrive at the stadium 1.5 hours before the start of the game. The first step is to inspect the stadium and field for markings, proper fastening of the net, flags and other elements. After this, the referees go up to the referee's room, where only the crew and the match inspector have access, and take care of the match protocol.
“They bring us the team rosters, we check them with the cards that the RFPL issues to football players when they sign up for the club,” Karasev added. - When the protocol is ready, we begin preparations for the game. We change clothes and go out to warm up in 35-40 minutes. We warm up for about 15-20 minutes, then put on the entire communication system and leave in about seven minutes to check the players for compliance with the equipment - we check the rings, chains, tapes, and so on.
Photo: Alexander Mysyakin, “Championship”
Do referees have files on players or teams?
Throughout the championship, judges monitor the teams and conduct a thorough analysis of them before each match. In addition, arbitrators often share opinions with each other. Based on this information, the refereeing team forms its tactics for the game.
But it’s one thing to referee the same teams year after year, it’s another thing to be a referee at European tournaments and work with football players whom you’ve never encountered before.
“There are special UEFA platforms that are provided to help referees,” Karasev said. - With their help, we can look at any team, since there are video clips of all blocks: how they attack and defend, how they go from defense to attack, how they execute set pieces, and so on.
Is refereeing debriefing carried out during the break of the match?
Officially, no, but sometimes the arbitrators themselves ask their colleagues to keep an eye out for inaccuracies. A former referee spoke about this:
– I could agree with a referee I know who is not working on the day of my game, and ask him to watch the match and write to me during the break about some controversial decisions. But not everyone does this. This is not to come out in the second half and suddenly start judging differently. I just felt so calm. We did this with Vilkov and Lapochkin. Sometimes they asked me, sometimes I asked them.
Most often, the refereeing team uses the pause between halves to simply rest and resolve issues not directly related to refereeing.
“There are emotional games, and during the break you just want to switch off,” admitted referee Sergei Karasev. - If there is a desire and need, we can discuss some points, but related not to refereeing, but to the communication of the team - if something did not work or something needs to be paid attention to. But, as a rule, this rarely happens.
What happens after the match?
After the match, the chief referee again turns to the protocol: checks it and makes adjustments. The official sheets are then signed by club representatives, usually team managers. They can get to the referee's room only after the match and after agreeing with the referees and the RFU delegate. Now the RFPL is introducing electronic protocols, which are sent to clubs, referees and the RFPL immediately after the game.
“Sometimes they come to thank us for the game,” Karasev shared. - But if there is any tension after the match, then it is better not to inflame the conflict and ask to come back later. In 20 minutes the person leaves, and completely different conversations emerge.
As for the analysis of the match, it is carried out immediately after the game, right at the stadium or already in the hotel. The review of referee decisions is carried out by an RFU inspector, who presents a cut of video clips to the referee.
In some European leagues, referees provide commentary after matches along with the players and coaches. There is no such practice in Russia. There is a decision by FIFA and UEFA, according to which the referee is recommended not to evaluate his work immediately after the match. First, the judging panel must analyze the work and sort out errors.
Can a referee be friends with football players?
Why not? There are no restrictions on communication between referees and football players; the regulations do not prohibit this. Moreover, everyone understands that everyone on the field - both the football player and the referee - must remain a professional, forgetting about all personal relationships from the starting whistle to the final whistle.
“Many football players who played in Saransk will honorably call me their friend,” said Egorov. - I communicate quite well with Denis Glushakov. He and I vacationed together a few years ago. But never in my life did I or he allow myself to have a prejudiced attitude towards each other on the field. He never argued with my decision.
“There was one incident at the Confederations Cup,” Egorov added. “My son and I sat right behind the New Zealand bench, and next to it there was a VIP box, almost unfenced, where all the tournament judges and Roberto Rosetti sat. His son saw him, quickly climbed onto this box and stayed there. Well, I moved there. And then, when the players of our team entered and left the room under the stands, almost everyone waved to me. The son at that moment was the happiest person.
How much do referees earn?
For each match, the referee receives a certain fee. Its size depends on the referee's category, the score he received for the match, and the league in which the match was played.
“60 thousand is the base rate,” said ex-arbiter Egorov. - If you judged well and received a score for the match of 8.3 or higher, then it comes out to 98 thousand without taxes and with bonuses. A Premier League referee now has a salary of 30 thousand, which is transferred monthly, regardless of whether you are refereeing or not. And for each game you get 60 thousand. At Champions League and Europa League matches, the chief referee can receive from 3 to 5 thousand euros per match. Assistants, as a rule, receive fees half as much.
How do judges deal with negativity directed at them?
One of the unpleasant features of the work of a referee is the constant negativity coming from both football players and club representatives, and from fans. Conflict situations between the referee and the player can easily arise due to a controversial refereeing decision.
One of the biggest problems in Russian football is the lack of referees. Even large football centers such as Moscow and St. Petersburg are faced with this problem. And the lack of highly qualified arbitrators is only its consequence. Meanwhile, almost anyone who is partial to football and is ready to objectively assess what is happening on the field can become a referee. We offer you brief instructions on how to become a football referee.
There is no age limit to become a judge. There is only a limit on servicing matches of professional tournaments. All ages are submissive to mass and amateur tournaments.
The most difficult is the first step in a judicial career, but at the same time it is the closest. In the structure of any regional football federation there is a panel of judges, which federation staff should help you contact. This is where those who want to devote themselves to football refereeing should go.
And then everything depends on the level of the board itself. For example, in Moscow, a newcomer will be sent to one of the judicial teams created on a territorial basis. There are about two dozen such brigades in total. They have foremen, there are experienced referees, and the size of each team is from 15 to 30 people. There, a person will be helped to master the basics of the judicial profession, and the pace of his training and career development will depend on the degree of preparedness. Often people come to refereeing who are quite familiar with the rules of the game.
From the team, a judge may be sent for further training. Also, the Moscow College of Judges from time to time conducts seminars specifically for beginners. A similar system was built in St. Petersburg. In other regions, perhaps, at first everything will be limited to the fact that a person is given a book with the rules of the game and asked to read it carefully. In regions where there are a total of 20-30 judges, there are most likely no territorial teams.
The first step in your career is the category « Young judge » (formerly it was called “Sports Judge”). In accordance with the “Regulations on Sports Judges”, approved by order of the Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy, it is usually assigned to persons under 16 years of age. But it is precisely the wording “as a rule” that gives grounds for receiving this category for people who are much older. This is followed by the third category, second, first and all-Russian.
The judiciary notes that the very name “Young Judge” can create some ambiguity - after all, a newcomer may be 25, 40, or even 60 years old. But if you really want to get into refereeing, this controversy shouldn't be an obstacle for you.
The judge must confirm his qualifications. This also gives him the opportunity to receive higher categories. For example, to get the third one, you need to play at least ten matches of mass competitions. You need to be prepared for the fact that football players of amateur teams are not always familiar with the intricacies of the rules of the game, which means that the referee needs confidence in his abilities and the ability to calmly and clearly explain his decisions to the players.
To obtain the second category, it is necessary to obtain practice in judging competitions at the municipal and regional level, and at least one year must pass after the assignment of the third category. After another two years, you can apply for the first category.
The highest in the national hierarchy is the All-Russian category. To earn it you need:
- have at least two years of experience as a first category judge;
- during each year, repeatedly serve at municipal level competitions, and in various positions (chief judge, assistant), work at regional tournaments;
- conduct methodological work;
- meet physical fitness standards.
Judges of any level regularly take theoretical and practical tests and physical training standards. For highly qualified referees, the KFA conducts training sessions, gathers them for seminars - in other words, conducts constant methodological work with them.
The pinnacle of a referee's career is the category "FIFA referee" (for assistant referees - "FIFA Assistant"). It is assigned by the International Football Federation on the recommendations of the national federation. It gives the right to officiate at matches of European club tournaments, European and World Championship games.
But experienced referees say: the main thing is not the category that is assigned to you. And any judge will definitely gain rich practice in competitions at various levels. The level of pay for a judge also does not primarily depend on the category, as was the case in previous years. Now it depends on specific competitions, and the category may in some cases slightly affect it.
It is also important to remember: the stages of a referee’s career are not a history of awarding titles, but the passage of all levels of competition, starting with matches of mass and children’s tournaments. Everyone who has ever worked in the Champions League and World Cup finals started with them. You will have to start with them too.
Vasif Mamedov has been refereeing matches in our league for several years now and is probably familiar to almost every player, just as he knows almost everyone. However, we don’t know much about him, or about all the people who help organize and make the league better - in addition to referees, there are also photographers, journalists, cameramen and many others. We will talk about the specifics of the work of some of them in similar materials. In the meantime, we talked with the chief referee of the League about his career, the peculiarities of our league, and also examined acute situations during matches and methods for resolving them.
Let's take a short excursion into the beginning of your career. Many people switch to this profession after trying to become a football player.
No, I never played football professionally, I played for myself. The beginning of my judicial career was quite interesting. At one time I was involved in martial arts, competed for the university and for the Kyiv kickboxing team. I then lived in Kyiv. And at the same time he was engaged in freestyle wrestling. I went to training and there I met a guy who at that time was a football referee. One day after training, he suggested: “Let’s try it.” I agreed and in 2007 signed up for courses at the Kyiv Regional Federation. I went a couple of times, but the theory wasn’t particularly interesting to me at that moment, and I left pretty soon. And in 2009, I myself accidentally saw an advertisement for recruitment to a school of referees. Just not to the regional, but to the Kyiv federation.
- What have you been doing these two years?
He graduated from college and worked as a manager. Then, in 2009, there was a crisis, work was not easy, and I thought that now was the best time to start. I signed up for courses and started attending them. Classes took place from spring to autumn, once a week. I immediately got into the swing of things and started refereeing matches at the same time. In his first year of work, he was among the top ten referees in Kyiv at the end of the season. As for theory, it is, of course, important, it can and should be taught, but practice is a completely different matter. You must know the basics and nuances, but you also need to be able to apply them in practice. This is a very important aspect.
- At that time, were you working in mini-football or big-time?
In big. Judged the Kyiv championship among children. In 2009-2010, he began refereeing the Ukrainian Championship among children. In 2012, he began refereeing the Ukrainian Championship among men's teams, KFK. In terms of refereeing, adult football is very different from children's football. When you talk to a child, he looks at you as an authoritative man. In adult football this is far from the case. There are seasoned, experienced and sometimes daring men there.
- Who perceive you as a person who interferes with the game?
Some people think this way about judges. But it is mainly those who lose who make claims against us.
- When did you move to Moscow?
In 2014, he moved to Moscow and bet on mini-football and beach soccer. Now I work at the matches of the Major League of the Russian Futsal Championship. This is the second strongest division in the country after the Super League.
- What are the prospects for you getting into the Super League?
It all depends on the quality of work and stability. There are leaders who analyze our progress, look after us, and help us in everything.
- How can you track this progress?
Our managers are constantly in touch with us, they look at our games, give advice, tell us what needs to be improved and what to work on. Thanks to close cooperation and assistance, we grow and try not to let them down.
- How long have you been working in the Major League?
Second year.
- So, are you planning to work in the Super League soon?
I'm planning. On average, a referee must work four to five years in the Major League before being promoted to the Super League. In the Super League, the dynamics of the game and the skill of the players are two to three times higher.
Are there matches in CityFootball as difficult as games in the Super League? And how interested are you in working here?
Interesting. But there is a difference compared to mini-football. Here it's dirty time and fouls don't add up. I can stop the stopwatch only if some force majeure situation occurs. There is pure time in mini-football. As soon as the ball leaves the court, the stopwatch stops. And in mini-football, fouls are summed up, that is, if a player commits five fouls, the subsequent violation is punishable by a ten-meter penalty kick without a wall. So it’s difficult there, because you need to keep track of a lot of nuances. But it’s not easy here either - the field is small, there are a lot of shots, any player can score from any position. Any penalty can affect the outcome of the game. Just like any mistake. Somewhere you didn’t have time to whistle, somewhere you blinked. In big football it is easier in this regard, because if you miss a foul there, it may not turn out to be key.
When passions in the game heat up, what model of behavior should you choose? Extinguish them with yellow and red cards?
No, this is the wrong model. You need to communicate with the players, give hints, prevent certain situations in advance, make suggestions and, as a last resort, if all these stages have been completed and nothing helps, apply sanctions.
- Even if at some point you whistled incorrectly?
Yes. There are also mistakes, because we are all living people and make mistakes. Error is different. There are “small” mistakes, and there are serious mistakes that affect the result or outcome of the match. Errors cannot be corrected. Two mistakes are two minuses.
- If you made a serious mistake, but the teams still have a long time to play, how not to let the game get out of control?
You need to behave confidently in any case. The most important thing is to quickly forget the mistake, not think about it and work through the game to the end as best you can.
- Even if you know that it will affect the outcome of the game?
Such mistakes also happen at any level among any judges. If I made a mistake at some point, of course, I can apologize. Many players understand this. But there is a certain category of players to whom there is no need to apologize in such moments, otherwise they will later discuss every moment of the game and every decision - you need to feel this. If one such player starts talking, he will raise the ears of the rest of the players on his team, and then you will definitely not be able to put the game together.
- How to respond to harsh complaints from players?
We should under no circumstances be rude, rude, insult or humiliate players. Must be reasonable, calm, confident. This comes with experience. Experience is very important. It is developed in practice, in various kinds of games. There are games on which nothing depends on the outcome, and there are knockout games when the players’ emotions go through the roof. You need to be able to understand this. In some matches you can use communication more often, and in others you can not interfere with teams playing football if there is no rudeness, aggression, or appeals. The arbitrator should not stand and be silent, at a minimum, but there is no need to explain every moment. If you do this, the player may start asking: “What happened here? And here?". It hurts the game, so I try to do it in moderation.
Of course, there are borderline moments when the player does not understand where he broke the rules. Then the player needs to explain this. Here it is very important to find the right word, word or criterion according to the rules of the game, and not made-up words from your head. If he talks about a moment with a hand, then I must give him the criteria by which I determine that this is a hand game. When I bring them to him, then he begins to think, analyzes for a split second and begins to perceive the information. But he may not perceive it. Or the opposite criteria. If the game gets heated, I use more phrases: “Be careful!”, “Be careful!” If a player does not understand communication, then sanctions in the form of cards must be applied.
- I heard you say to a player during one of our league matches: “I’m watching you.”
There are players and teams of different levels. Some players are still learning and play carelessly at times. Such a player can foul, but if I see that he is not doing it on purpose, but because he lacks skill, then I need to somehow motivate him so that he plays more carefully, without fouling. When a player commits several fouls, he must be warned somehow before applying sanctions. Prevent this situation.
- I don’t know if you watched the 2008/09 Champions League semi-final, but the match referee Tom Henning-Evrebe was there had to run away from Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba, who were unhappy with his refereeing and almost rushed at him . How to behave in such a situation?
The main thing is not to “float”. You need to mobilize and gather within yourself. In this case it could be a straight red card. Even if the match is over. The player is under the jurisdiction of the referee from the moment he enters the field until he leaves it. The referee can send off a player before the start of the match. I had a case, I was an assistant to the chief referee in a match of the Major League of the Kyiv Championship. A team played in which one of the players was also its president. I asked him to take off the bracelet, but he refused. After this, the chief arbiter repeated the same request. In response, he sent it in three letters. And we had to remove it. Interestingly, after this episode we crossed paths with him several more times.
- How was your communication structured?
You know, after that I gained some authority in his eyes. It is very important for the referee to position himself correctly, as they say - “you are greeted by your clothes, you are seen off by your mind.” If you don't position yourself correctly, no one will respect you. And if no one respects you, then no one will accept you and your decisions.
- What do you think are the main qualities a judge should have to work successfully?
The most basic thing a referee should be able to do is control and manage the game, make the right decisions, and be consistent. If he whistles a moment in favor of one of the teams, in an identical moment with the other team he must whistle in its favor. We need to monitor the safety of the players. And in terms of mentality, the referee must be stress-resistant and be able to find contact with different types of players, because you calmly speak to one player, but the other understands only in a harsh manner. There are players, I call them VIPs. Every referee has them. As soon as he starts talking, it’s a yellow card, because he doesn’t understand any other way. We are talking about behavior in the game. He started the teams, and he needs to be calmed down in time to calm down the game.
There are players who are not reassured even by the presence of a yellow card. If you understand that it’s all over, the edge, then you need to remove it. But there must be a reason. It’s not that you’re tired of him or personal animosity. You must make a remark, make a suggestion; if he does not calm down, you have to resort to extreme measures. I had moments when players, having a yellow card, deliberately rudely played both the ball and the opponent, for which they had to be sent off by showing a second yellow card. I understood that if I didn’t do this, the teams could organize lynching.
- Name the most difficult match in your career?
I think this is what awaits me in the future.
- Maybe you can highlight one of our league matches? Recently there was a hot match between VTB 24. Berkut and FC PowerStyle.
This game was difficult in the sense that the players had extreme emotions, since the game decided a lot. But I tried to remain calm and neutral. I think I handled this match.
- Is it a challenge for you to referee such matches?
Yes. I always want to referee such matches. Due to such games, when everyone is “on the knife”, the quality of refereeing improves and you gain experience. There are many such matches in CityFootball. It’s just in my memory now because it passed recently. (the interview was conducted a couple of days after that match - author's note)
- What do you think about the introduction of video replays? (Match "RDP Group" - "Sberbank" - 0:12 - author's note).
It was a joke (laughs). Then there was some very serious situation, and it was necessary to relieve the tension with this joke.
How can you cope with stress, since there is always a risk of making a mistake?
I'm not tense during the game. If you think about not making a mistake, you will definitely make one, so you should try not to think about it. But you must be prepared to make a mistake. As our leaders recommend, “expect the unexpected.”
- You work in big-time football, mini-football and beach soccer. Where is it more interesting to work?
Each species has its own specifics and each is interesting in its own way. The hardest thing to judge is the beach one. Because it has an unpredictable ball bounce from the sand, the goal is large, all free kicks are taken without a wall, your feet are in the sand and it is very difficult to see the violation. That is, any wrong decision you make can affect the outcome or outcome of the match.
- Do you use the practices of the best referees in the world? Who are the best referees on the planet for you?
There are top judges for me - Massimo Buzaka and Damir Skomina. I like the demeanor of these referees, their gestures, their control and management of the game, their facial expressions, and the conduct of the game. There are other referees from whom I can take something for myself, something that I like. I try to take the best.
- What are your career goals?
Become a FIFA referee.
- How feasible is this?
The main thing is to believe in it and do everything in your power, work on yourself and constantly progress, prove it with daily work and not stop there.
- And finally, maybe some parting words for the teams?
I wish everyone respect for each other, spectators, referees, spend all their energy on the game and not talking with the referee, and be able to control their emotions. Think not only about your safety, but also that of your opponent.
Friends, we remind you that if you have any questions regarding refereeing and regulations, you can always ask them to the referees, including Vasif, before or after the match.
Interviewed
They stood at the origins of the creation of the “Center-“Football Referee”
Yu.V. Avdeev
HELL. Budogossky
E.A. Turbin
V.N. Olshevsky
A.V. Lexakov
A.A. Kirillov
V.P. Antonov
The All-Russian Association of Public Associations "Center-"Football Referee" (formerly the "School of Young Football Referee" under the Regional Public Organization of Football Referees of Moscow - ROOFA) was registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 22, 2002 under No. 4140
The first intake within the framework of the “School of Young Football Referee” was made in 1998 and was initially focused on studying the Rules of the Game by ROOFA referees who were young in age and experience, the number of whom in the first year was 45 people. The initiators of such a course were the then president of ROOFA Yuri Viktorovich AVDEEV, philanthropist, a person who was probably one of the first to understand the importance of building a system of judicial education for young referees, judge of the All-Union category Andrey Dmitrievich BUDOGOSSKY, member of the Presidium of ROOFA Vladimir Nikolaevich OLSHEVSKY, judge of the republican category Vladimir Pavlovich ANTONOV.
The program, as such, was focused exclusively on the study of seventeen sections of the Rules of the Game, the basics of refereeing techniques and was designed for 72 hours.
With the support and active assistance of the head of the Department of “Theory and Methods of Football” of the State Center for Physical Culture and Physical Culture (today the Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sports, Youth and Tourism), candidate of pedagogical sciences, professor (now technical director of the Russian Football Union, director of the Center for Training Specialists in the Field of Football) Andrey Vladimirovich LEKSAKOV, FIFA referee, candidate of pedagogical sciences, associate professor of the Department Alexander Alexandrovich KIRILLOV The first classes of young referees began, which continue today.
As we completed the educational material in 1998, the idea of improving and building a system of education for judges with a focus on a four-year cycle began to form.
For this reason, further work was continued with the judges of the 1998 recruiting group, with an emphasis on in-depth training, conducting specialization classes, practical refereeing, and organizing training camps. At the same time, in subsequent years, recruitment of aspiring judges for the first training courses was organized.
At the same time, the training program existed in the form of separate thematic plans for sections of training, for example, “Fundamentals of physical training”, “Training camp program”, “Fundamentals of football arbitration methods”, “Rules of the game as a universal guide for referees”.
Of course, certain adjustments were made to the content of these programs as the arbitration system improved. But, probably, the most important decision was the understanding of the need to transform the existing School of Young Football Referee from a public association without forming a legal entity, the provision of which was approved by ROOFA in accordance with the Federal Law “On Public Associations” of 1995, into a legal entity. This is how the All-Russian Association of Public Organizations “Center-Football Referee” was implemented on the basis of the Charter approved by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. A 23-year-old graduate of the Young Referee School provided great support in the development of this project Evgeniy TURBIN, then still a judge of the Republican category and an assistant referee of the second division, who went to work at the Football Referee Center, which was just taking its first steps, leaving a very prestigious position as a master of one of the modern technological production facilities in the field of aircraft manufacturing.
Yuri Viktorovich AVDEEV did not ignore the work of the Center without attention and support.
With the accumulation of experience in organizing and building a system of referee education, the main task of the Center was formed - the search, selection, education and basic training of football referees for their subsequent nomination and inclusion in the lists of referees serving Russian football competitions among teams of professional football clubs. In essence, this was the goal of training referees for professional football, taking into account the existing significant shortage of referees of this level.
Other primary tasks of the organization remained training referees for mass amateur football, developing and publishing special educational and methodological literature, manuals, including those created on electronic media, on the problems of refereeing and inspection, providing practical assistance to territorial panels of judges in the preparation of novice referees.
All this required new qualitative approaches to the development of a general training program for judges, the first of which was created in 2002. Its curriculum was focused on 608 hours, but the main content of the document was the implemented idea of judicial education within the framework of a three-four year cycle, which, as it turned out much later, was laid down in the UEFA Convention on Referee Education, significantly ahead of this document by almost 10 years .
As the Center developed and football improved, the training program for primary categories of referees itself changed, and the volume of its hours increased.
Today's four-year training program for primary categories of referees, created by the Center's specialists, is designed for 1,118 training hours and is recommended for all football referee training structures in the Russian Federation.
“The Center - “Football Referee” conducts its work in close cooperation with the Department of “Theory and Methods of Football” of the Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism (RGUFKST), the Center for Training Specialists in the Field of Football, the Department of Refereeing and Inspection of the RFU, the Referee Committee of the RFU , Russian Football Premier League, Football National League, Moscow Region Football Federation, Moscow Regional College of Football Referees, Academy of Sports Referee of St. Petersburg and other organizations related to the issues of refereeing football competitions.
To date, cooperation agreements have been concluded with eleven republican, regional, interregional and regional judicial organizations of the country.
Since 2012, a cooperation agreement has been in force between the Russian Football Union and the “Football Referee Center”.
The center has accreditation certificate No. 1 from the Referee Committee of the RFU to carry out work on training football referees.
The training of young arbitrators is carried out by leading teachers, former and current highly qualified arbitrators, among whom A.N. should be especially highlighted. Spirin, international category referee, UEFA referee observer, RFU inspector at Russian Championship matches; A.P. Butenko is an international referee, deputy chairman of the Referee Committee of the Russian Football Union, inspector of the Russian Football Union at matches of the Russian Championship; Yu.V. Baskakov, international category judge, UEFA referee observer, RFU inspector at Russian Championship matches, All-Union and All-Russian category judge, who conducted 225 matches in national championship competitions; E.A. Turbina - General Director of the Center - "Football Referee", Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, All-Russian category referee, Premier League referee, leading specialists of the Department of Refereeing and Inspection of the RFU All-Russian Category Referees V.V. Kulagina, L.S. Kaloshin (the latter is an instructor at UEFA referee development courses).
FIFA referees and assistants A.V. actively participate in working with young referees. Nikolaev, T.V. Kalugin, Doctor of Psychology, consultant psychologist of the Department of Judging and Inspection of the RFU L.V. Yasenevskaya.
FIFA referees and assistants who previously graduated from the Center, referees and assistant referees of the Russian Championship S.G. generously pass on their rich experience to their beginning colleagues. Karasev, A.I. Eskov, I.A. Demeshko, V.P. Meshkov, A.V. Sukhoi, V.V. Seldyakov, I.A. Fedotov, A.I. Bogdanov, A.V. Kobzev, A.K. Petrosyan and their other colleagues.
Leading Russian trainers, judges, and specialists L.V. give interesting master classes to senior students. Slutsky, Yu.P. Semin, V.G. Lipatov, S.S. Lapochkin (junior), V.G. Lipatov, N.V. Levnikov; Honored Master of Sports in Athletics, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor M.V. Vdovin and his colleague, Professor A.Yu. Kruporushnikov.
Over the twenty-year period of its existence, the Center has prepared and published 280 titles of special educational and methodological literature and manuals, including materials on electronic media.
Based on the results of scientific research carried out at the Center, its teachers defended two dissertations for the degree of candidate of pedagogical sciences on the topics: “Organizational and pedagogical aspects of building the process of professional training of football referees of the primary category” (A.D. Budogossky); “Formation of special skills of initial training football referees” (E.A. Turbin).
Since the start of the Young Football Referee School (“Football Referee Center”), there have been 16 graduates of referees who have completed a four-year training program. 180 graduates successfully defended their theses.
Today, the lists of professional football referees include the names of 76 referees who graduated from our Center or are completing their training there, which is 23.2% of all recommended referees.
Only in the competitions of the Russian Championship among teams of Russian Football Premier League clubs today, 40% of chief referees and 32.4% of assistant referees who completed training at the Center participate. Of the 9 Russian referees included in the FIFA list for 2018, 4 referees (44, 4%) - A. Eskov, S. Karasev, A. Matyunin, V. Meshkov graduated from the “Football Referee Center”.
Women judges have also achieved great success. FIFA referee A. Pustovoitova was among the ten best referees in the world. FIFA referees and assistant referees A. Ponomareva, Y. Eleferenko A. Kurochkina successfully conduct international matches.
Russian futsal competitions in the highest class today are held by I. Shabanov and G. Zelentsov. All of them are also FIFA referees, and Ivan Shabanov is the only Russian referee to participate in the 2008 Futsal World Championship in Brazil.
Today, the training of referees is carried out within the framework of the Fourth All-Russian Training Program “Football. Rules of the game 2017-2018" (work is being completed on the fifth such program for 2019), as well as a special course program "Theory and Methodology of Refereeing", jointly developed by the "Football Referee Center", the Department of "Theory and Methodology of Football" of the RGUFKST, the Training Center specialists in the field of football.
Persons accepted for training are, as a rule, no younger than 17 and no older than 26 years old, regardless of place of residence and citizenship (however, it should be borne in mind that we do not provide students with accommodation).
Listeners first year of training They study once a week from the beginning of September to the end of December inclusive.
Listeners second and third years Preparations are carried out from January to April from one to three times a week. One of the classes takes place in the classroom of the Department of Theory and Methods of Football. The other two are practical - on weekends at stadiums in Moscow and the Moscow region. One of the classes is specialization topics for judges and assistant judges; another is practical refereeing of control matches of children's and youth teams of sports schools and KFC teams.
In theoretical classes for second- and third-year students, current problems of modern arbitration are discussed, the quality of refereeing of control games is analyzed, with viewing of their video recordings.
In specialization classes, professional arbitration skills are developed by simulating game situations and practicing specific exercises.
Classroom classes are held in the evening from 17.00 to 20.30.
As a rule, in the third ten days of March, the Center holds training camps in Anapa for senior students who successfully master the curriculum, which allow them to test and consolidate the acquired skills and knowledge.
Participants in the training camp receive extensive refereeing practice at matches of all-Russian youth competitions within the framework of tournaments and test matches of professional football clubs organized during this period. Their work is comprehensively analyzed and reviewed by a team of experienced specialist teachers at the Centre.
In addition to practical arbitration, participants of the training camp undergo in-depth physical training according to special programs that take into account the peculiarities of the work of judges and assistant judges.
The most promising referees who have a real prospect for refereeing professional football competitions, after completing their third year of training and following the results of the training camp, are selected into the fourth year group, called according to the UEFA classification “Talents and Mentors”.
Classes for fourth-year students are held from October to April and are divided into two stages.
In the first (October-December) they are trained through a system of master classes organized by the Center, which are organized according to a separate thematic plan. At the same time, the lecture part is carried out by current top-level referees, FIFA referees, All-Russian category referees, who carry out practical refereeing of international and national competitions. In addition, the most high-status specialists in the field of football arbitration, leading teachers of the country, are involved in conducting master classes.
Our teachers use the latest educational materials and programs related to refereeing issues.
After completing classes in the fourth year, students write a thesis and defend it at the final exam before the certification commission.
The best fourth-year graduates are presented to the Department of Refereeing and Inspection for inclusion in the initial stage “Young Prospects” of the “Four-level All-Russian Program for searching, training, supporting and promoting referees of the initial categories “Talents and Mentors”
The center has all the necessary modern technical and special equipment to organize an effective and high-quality training process for young judges.
Within its structure there is a Sector of Medical and Functional Support, headed by our graduate, and now a candidate of medical sciences, an associate professor at one of the medical universities, a surgeon at one of the capital’s clinics Evgeniy Aleksandrovich NOVOSELOV.
The sector is equipped with modern equipment that allows determining the functional readiness of arbitrators and their physical potential.
Extensive and high-quality work is carried out by the Department for the preparation of educational and methodological programs of the “Football Referee” Center, which is engaged in the development and production of the entire range of manuals for referees.
After completing each course, students take a theoretical exam on the Rules of the Game and refereeing techniques. Particular attention is paid to the physical training of referees.
So, based on the results of the first course, it is necessary to fulfill the control standard of 12 minutes. running (Cooper Test) with a minimum standard for men of 2950 meters; for women - 2450 meters.
At subsequent courses and training camps, judges will have to perform more complex standards, for example, the FIFA interval test at a distance of 12 laps; Yo-Yo test with overcoming the minimum level of 18.4 for men; 16.5 for women.
In addition, since 2018, as part of the collection, a new special test for ULS participants “Tu-Test” has been implemented.
Judges who have not passed at least one of the exams
are expelled from the Center. Retaking exams is not allowed.
Enrollment for the first year of the “Football Referee” Center begins at the end of April and continues until September, before the start of classes. Recruitment conditions are published as separate information on our website.
The basis for enrollment is a standard application form sent to the Center. The list of those enrolled in training is published in September before the start of classes.
Training at the Center is paid and is determined annually before the announcement of enrollment by the Center Administration. The cost of training also includes the price of specialized manuals and materials on refereeing issues, issued to students.
The Center provides discounts on training fees for arbitrators representing the judicial structures of our partners, with whom cooperation agreements have been concluded and are in force. Significant discounts are provided to female judges.
Each student must submit upon admission a photograph measuring 3x4 or 4x6 and a mandatory medical certificate from a medical and physical education dispensary.
Our doors are always open for those who want to start preparing and watch their favorite game through the eyes of a football referee.
We are waiting for you, dear colleagues, but each applicant must keep in mind the very high requirements for those coming to study and for their physical readiness.
"Center-"Football referee"