July 5 – UEFA said that it will roll out its communications protocol that only allows captains as to approach the referee across its club competitions starting next week.
The new policy has been trialled at Euro 2024 in a bid to change the too-often confrontational relationships between referees and players on the field. UEFA said an objective has been to “enhance communication around referees’ decisions and encourage mutual trust”.
“The success of this new approach at UEFA EURO 2024, understood by the actors of the game and welcomed by the public opinion as unquestionable progress for the image of football, boosts our confidence that this is the way forward. Fair play and respect are values that football, the most popular game in the world, must convey to our societies,” said UEFA.
The protocol has given referees a calmer and more open line of dialogue, through captains, with the teams to explain key decisions, including those involving VAR.
Captains in turn have to take responsibility for their team-mates, asking them to respect the referee, keep their distance and not surround the match officials. It has been a huge success in Germany, removing the ugly confrontations and abuse of match officials from players that were a blight on the game and its image.
The rules stipulate that where a captain is the goalkeeper, the teams are requested to nominate an outfield player to speak with the referees. Players who insist on approaching referees “to show dissent or to act disrespectfully” are yellow carded.
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