- Being the head of referees for the FIFA World Cup made you happy?
- It is a completely different task compared to the past, when I was a referee myself and was able to concentrate on the two or three games I got in a tournament. Now I had the role of a trainer, a coach. I worked for the referees, not for me. Every day I was busy with various scenes that occurred in a game, and yes, I was tense, because I wanted us to deliver the best possible services.
- Were your expectations met?
- At the end I was proud because I knew that the three years of preparation for the World Cup were not in vain, even if there were certain errors. But that cannot be avoided in 64 games.
- Were you able to relax and enjoy the World Cup Final?
- I tried it. Until an Argentinian goal was canceled due to offside and my heart was beating like crazy. Imagine if that would have been a mistake! We would have been broken, I cannot express it differently. During the second half, I left my place several times in the stadium, because I needed a TV to watch replays after some contentious moments.
- Have you lived in Brazil with the constant fear of serious wrong decisions?
- I was enormously tense. That is the life of the coach of a referee team but, in any case, no one laughed on the sidelines. There is too much at stake to have fun as a direct participant can. Who goes home earlier than expected will be received unfriendly by the whole nation, sometimes with scorn and derision. Nobody wants that. And if we make a blunder as referees, we have not only a country against us, but the whole world. In spite of that, I could still sleep peacefully, because I knew that I had made big efforts in preparing everything.
- Why are not selected the best referees from the best leagues for the World Cup?
- Firstly, we had the best referees in the world. Secondly, it would be a lack of respect for other confederations if all referees must come from the major European or South American leagues.
- What performances did you expect from your team at this tournament?
- Good to very good.
- But what happened in the opening game, when Fred pulled out a debatable penalty?
- Yes, it was a debatable decision. There was a contact with the hand of a Croatian player on the upper body of Fred. The referee saw that, but he could not see the impossible, which forced him to act at the moment.
- So you say that it was no obvious wrong decision?
- Yes. If the hand would not have been up there, we need not to discuss. But it was there, so I cannot blame the referee. There are situations that are black and white, and then there are situations that are not so clear. The opening match was the case. I have not criticized the referee after his decision, but supported it because there were arguments.
- Discussions sparked the two goals of Mexico against Cameroon, which were cancelled because of alleged offside. What did you say to the referee in the analysis?
- Even if we are only talking about centimeters, it was not correct. I could not say anything else to him but: if in doubt, it has to be decided for the attacker. That worked at this World Cup usually very good, because of the work done by my employee Manuel Navarro (former FIFA AR) with the assistants for three years. Now, concerning this one game, Mexico won. Fortunately! For me it's divine assistance, not happiness. I told the referee that it would be good if they would pray more in the morning because we, as humans, eventually reach the limits.
- Not a single team went home because of the wrong decision of a referee?
- No. You can always discuss individual errors, but there was no scandal, not a single one.
- At least the Brazilians shouted once, as Neymar was seriously injured in the quarter-finals by the Colombian Zuniga and the tournament ended for him.
- It was an unfortunate situation. You can discuss a yellow card, but no more than that.
- There were many different opinions and some said that a red card would have been mandatory.
- As it happened, nobody could have said that for sure. And the players went on.
- After you had seen the foul more than once, you still do not consider it as a red card?
- No. The TV experts express themselves differently, according to their cause and their job. It is easy to imagine the camera with a microphone and judging.
- Former World Cup referee and currently TV expert Urs Meier criticized FIFA, saying that referees lacked a clear line at this World Cup.
- He saw it that way. I see it differently. Nowadays, the referees must show tact; they must be able to read the game. 80 or 85% can, but there are a few who are still working on it. The majority of the 1930 decisions taken by referees were correct. And this is impressive. If an expert has so many solutions for the refereeing, why is he working for the television and not for the referees? I take my responsibility seriously.
- Also in the final, when Manuel Neuer rushed out of the goal and hit Gonzalo Higuain… No Penalty? No red?
- Never. Firstly, the ball was played clear. Then there was an unavoidable normal body contact. It was a natural movement of the goalkeeper.
- What was the bite of Luis Suarez against Giorgio Chiellini for you? Assault?
- I did not quite see the bite even after three or four days. At first, I thought Suarez had pitched only with the teeth. The TV images allow for a different conclusion, but one thing is clear: the referee had no chance to see that on the pitch.
- The Mexicans complained about the referee who evaluated the intervention of Rafael Marquez against Arjen Robben as a foul leading to an important penalty kick.
- And rightly so. And in injury time! It was a foul.
- But Robben fell theatrically.
- That was not necessary.
- How much criticism do you accept?
- I can handle it as long as it is constructive. My father always told me: "Forget about the polemic; ensure that you do your job well".
- Why did you emphasize the importance of prevention in your work?
- It is important in any job. We must anticipate, act; not just react. We, referees, are small, so small compared to the players. That means we have to be clever - not willing to compromise, clever.
- Did the prevention work at the World Cup?
- A few complaints, few unsporting conducts, only a warning for simulation, no card for exaggerated goal celebrations. There were situations where a referee could have cautioned a player strictly by the rule book, but he refused. Why? Because he felt that it was not necessary at that moment. Of course, that did not always work and we can still improve, for sure.
- In what way?
- Before the World Cup I was convinced that everyone has understood the ideas and plans I have, as the requirements are. But I made the experience that will be better in the future to work individually with referees not only in groups. In the second part of the World Cup we already did that. I chatted with referees on game days, looked at them, told them what to expect, especially with regards to tactical alignments of the teams.
- Should FIFA inform the public better to promote understanding?
- Yes. On the other hand, we must also be honest: the referee is shown interest only when mistakes are made. Do we get praised when we take the correct decisions, no matter how difficult it was to see?
- That is the life of the referee.
- I know. Nevertheless, I would hope that the referees will be praised, same as with the players.
- In Brazil, the referee had first aid. There was a spray for the free kicks and there was the goal-line technology.
- The investments have paid off. Let's just take the spray: We had not a single yellow card because a player has not complied with the distance. And the goal-line twice saved our lives in France - Honduras and especially the goal by Bryan Ruiz of Costa Rica against Italy.
- Is it for this reason why there is not enough technology in football?
- There are already limits, especially in regards to fouls. Take the penalty in Brazil - Croatia. The game is stopped, the referee goes to the line, consult the TV images. What does he see more than before? He cannot figure out whether the Croatian player has not drawn against the Brazilians from the pictures. The problem is not resolved. But for offside I can imagine the use of an auxiliary tool, similar to the goal-line technology.
- Why for offside?
- Because we just do not want to risk in a World Cup that a team is eliminated due to an incorrect offside decision. That would be disastrous. Therefore, it might be worth considering the technology even for offside.
Source: Tages-Anzeiger
