Referees face exciting challenges

UEFA has been looking back and looking forward with its top female match officials in recent times. A pre-season course in Nice, attended by 40 elite and first-category referees, provided a perfect opportunity to assess this summer’s Women’s EURO in England, as well as to set the course ahead for an intensive UEFA Women’s Champions League programme.

“The course helped us to make sure that everyone is on the same page for the season,” UEFA refereeing officer Dagmar Damková told UEFA.com. “We analysed various key topics, checked the referees’ fitness and, importantly, took the opportunity to pass on instructions and review incidents and decisions from the most recent competitions.”

A key target for the coming season will be for Europe’s female referees to strive to match the bar that is being raised by the growing number of outstanding players in UEFA’s elite women’s football competitions.

EURO memories and impressions

The Women's EURO 2022 refereesUEFA via Getty Images

Special focus in Nice was devoted to July’s Women’s EURO from a refereeing viewpoint. “We presented a video at the Nice course which reviewed the EURO,” Damková said. “And it brought up a lot of emotions for those who were there. For the rest of the referees, I’m sure that it provided great motivation and underlined the challenge facing them – ‘I could be part of the next EURO’. The video reminded everyone of what we shared as a ‘family’ in England.”

UEFA had plenty of cause for satisfaction at the referee teams’ performances at the tournament in England – especially given the heightened exposure and pressures posed by a high-calibre tournament which attracted huge global attention, set new benchmarks and enjoyed record attendances.

“They coped well with the pressure,” Damková reflected in analysing the referees’ contribution to the EURO. “We gave them crucial advice about handling matches in front of big crowds – for example, it would most likely be easier for them to referee a match watched by many thousands of spectators rather just a handful of fans when you can usually hear every comment directed at you.”

UEFA refereeing officer Dagmar DamkováSPORTSFILE

“We asked them to be confident and focused, and to trust in their ability – they were at the EURO because they were good enough to be there. We didn’t want them to just try to do their best…we asked them to really do their best, and I think they showed their quality throughout the tournament.”

“We gave an important message to the referees in Nice,” Damková concluded. “We reminded them that, because this recent EURO was delayed by one year, the next EURO is now just three years away. We want our referees to show us over that period that they deserve a place in the referees’ team for the next tournament. Everyone is a potential candidate – so the onus is on them.”

Keeping pace with the game’s evolution

UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto RosettiSPORTSFILE

UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti continued on this theme. He stressed the need for Europe’s top-level female referees to keep pace with the constantly evolving technical and tactical development of the elite women’s game.

“From a footballing point of view, the EURO was fantastic,” he said. “And our top referees are aware that they must also constantly improve, so that they can match these standards – especially in terms of fitness, mental strength and pre-match technical preparation.”

“We’re looking for our referees to continually aim to better themselves, work hard, analyse their performances and never be afraid of being self-critical,” Rosetti added. “We have to aim for this to stay on the same level as the players.”

Referee-player dialogue reinforced

Ex-England international Karen Carney exchanged views with the referees UEFA

A new departure for UEFA in its female refereeing activities saw two former top female players – England’s Karen Carney and New Zealand’s Rebecca Smith – attend the pre-season course to exchange opinions and ideas with referees and UEFA refereeing leaders. The presence of two iconic figures with a combined total of over 200 appearances for their respective national teams proved to be instructive and inspirational, and reinforced UEFA’s overall refereeing objective to further develop dialogue between referees and experienced footballers who have played at the highest levels.

“We’d been thinking about doing this for some time with our female referees,” Damková explained, “and I’m very happy that it happened. It was extremely important for the referees to be able to listen to Karen and Rebecca’s experiences and opinions and give their own feedback. We had some excellent exchanges, especially in the group discussions, on what players expect from referees, and vice-versa.”

Women’s Champions League targets

The start of a new UEFA Women’s Champions League season this week – the second to feature a 16-team group stage and increased global TV and commercial exposure – brings important challenges to the referees, given the greater number of matches and enhanced profile enjoyed by the competition.

Referees also reviewed incidents and decisions from recent competitionsUEFA

“These factors should motivate all of the referees, in particular the first-category referees who will initially be appointed for group-stage matches,” said Damková. “This will be a big step forward for them – and if they impress, they know that they can look to reach out for greater things.”

Associations urged to step up referee support

With the dust settling on the Women’s EURO, a crucial next stage in ensuring a lasting legacy from the event is, among others, to improve the quality and quantity of female referees at all levels across Europe. Damková called upon national associations throughout the continent to strengthen their referee support and development work.

“Since the EURO, I’ve visited various national associations, in particular the smaller FAs,” she says, “and I’ve asked them to give every support they can to referees in their countries. If that support isn’t forthcoming, then their referees might find it difficult to make progress.”

“UEFA will give its own backing through our referee development work, and we’ve assured the associations that doors are open and opportunities are available for match officials in every country to reach the top levels – but it’s also up to the associations to help their referees to realise their full potential.”