August 20 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes international referees are being forced retire too early under the current rules, especially when there is no age restriction for players or coaches.
At present elite refs stand down at 45 but Blatter says the best of them should be allowed to continue.
“There is no compulsory retirement age in football for players, coaches or all other club staff,” says Blatter. “Referees can also benefit from these significant freedoms. For the time being they are obliged to lay down their whistles in international football at the age of 45.”
“This regulation is in stark contradiction of competitive principles because performance must take precedence over age in all cases. The modern referee is a sportsman – a mentally and physically trained athlete.”
Writing in the FIFA publication The Weekly, Blatter said that just as age restrictions for FIFA members were voted down at the FIFA Congress in June, so the same should apply to refs.
“Removing age restrictions would open new horizons in the direction of professionalism. Highly pragmatic considerations have obstructed this path so far. I think it is high time to extend the resolution made by Congress to referees. This has to be discussed by the referee committee.”
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