Men in charge who hate to make the headlines
WORLD CUP 2018 REFEREES get ready for the biggest assignment of their careers and hope for an errorfree month in Russia
An employee in a municipality, an owner of a hair studio, a lieutenant colonel, a doctorate in law, an actor and a former maths teacher will put their day jobs on hold and head to Russia. Each will want to be there till the end of the World Cup and yet, to a person, they will not want to be noticed. Because only that guarantees job satisfaction for football referees.
Some like Alireza Fagnani, who works in a municipality, walked in their father’s footsteps. Uzbekistan’s Ravshan Irmatov was aspiring to be a coach — after injury ended his football career when he was a teenager — when he took up the whistle in a youth game because the referee didn’t turn up. Mark Geiger started refereeing when he was 13 because he wanted to earn a few dollars more and Szymon Marciniak began lessons after being shown the red card by a referee who asked him whether he could do any better. Geiger used to school children in mathematics for 17 years before becoming a full-time ref. When he has the time, Geiger assists his brother who is a school cross-country coach. The much decorated Cüneyt Çakır sells insurance and Malang Diedhiou is with the customs department where he is a lieutenant colonel.
Many of the players and coaches who bow to their authority are multi-millionaires and that doesn’t make the job of the referees, who could be paid up to $70,000 and $3,000 as match fee according to goal.com and the website Quora, any easier. The pay packet is a raise from the $35,000-$50,000 they got in 2014.
So, like players and coaches, they often do their own quirky things as they get ready for a game. Part of Geiger’s preparations is throwing up. Brazil’s Sandro Ricci removes his wedding ring before every game and gives it four kisses.
One each for the four most important women in my life: my mother, my wife and my two daughters, he told FIFA.COM before the 2014 finals.
Soon after the names were announced, the referees attended a two-week preparatory camp in Coverciano, Italy. Getting ready for the World Cup is an almost two-year project during which they have to maintain fitness standards, meet diet requirements and stay up to speed with the laws.
No one knows how many games they will get yet --- initial postings will be decided on June 4 after another seminar ---- but for each one this is a dream assignment. One where a nightmare is never far away. referees on the World Cup panel were also part of the U-17 World Cup in India: Ryuji Sato (Jap), Mehdi Abid Charef (Alg), Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Eth), Jair Marrufo (US), Ricardo Montero (Csr), John Pitti (Pan), Enrique Cáceres (Par), Sandro Ricci (Bra), Clément Turpin (Fra).
More have officiated in Indian Super League (ISL) games. They are: Matthew Conger of New Zealand and Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan.
To record events during the match. Because e ppens may malfunction. Usually two pencils. For toss. To decide which team kicks-off, start extra-time and toe-breakers. Again twwo in case one is misplaced and is usually kept in the vest pocket. Usually two t in case one is misplaced and is usually kept in the bac kpocket k of shorts to ensure that it is not mistaken nly taken out instead of a yellow card.
To earmaark the spot for free-kicks. To commuunicate with assistants and the fourth official. It is usuuallyy worn on the body at the waist and comes with ann earpiece. Around 25.2 km/h A spare onne in case the oneo being used malfunctions. Usually thhese days, pea-less whistles are used. Refereesf uusuallyll hhave theh whistle on a strap attached to their haand or neck to ensure it doesn’t fall 19.9 to 25.2 km/h Usually twwo in case one malfunctions. Both shou ld have stopwatch facilities 0 to 7.2 km/h 7.3 to 14.4 km/h 14.5 to 19.8 km/h Brych Felix (GER)
Cakir Cüneyt (TUR) Karasev Sergey (RUS) Kuipers Bjorn (NED) Marciniak Szymon (POL) Mateu Lahoz Antonio Miguel (ESP)
Mazic Milorad (SRB) Rocchi Gianluca (ITA) Skomina Damir (SVN) Turpin Clement (FRA)
Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata was left out of Spain’s World Cup squad, announced Monday. Morata paid the price for a disappointing debut season in the Premier League as Spain coach Julen Lopetegui picked Iago Aspas and Rodrigo Moreno up front, along with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa. Marcos Alonso and Cesc Fabregas were not included.
NAINGGOLAN RETIRES AFTER BELGIUM SNUB
TUBIZE: Radja Nainggolan has announced his retirement from international football after the Roma midfielder was left out of Belgium’s provisional World Cup squad. Roberto Martinez named his provisional 28-man party, explaining his decision was made purely on tactical grounds.
Officiated in 2016 Olympics final. In 2017 Confed Cup final, he denied Chile a penalty ignoring VAR. Is a customs inspector holding the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel. Was a high school mathematics teacher for 17 years and got a presidential award for teaching in maths and science. Physical Education teacher who has acted in a film. Doctorate in law specialising in sport. Professional insurance agent. Al Mirdasi Fahad (KSA)
Faghani Alireza (IRN)
Irmatov Ravshan (UZB) Mohamed Mohammed Abdulla (UAE)
Sato Ryuji (JPN)
Shukralla Nawaf Abdulla (BHR)
Aguilar Joel (SLV)
Geiger Mark W. (USA)
Marrufo Jair (USA)
Montero Ricardo (CRC)
Pitti John (PAN)
Ramos Palazuelos Cesar Arturo (MEX)
Bascuñan Julio (CHI) Caceres Enrique (PAR) Cunha Andres (URU) Pitana Nestor (ARG) Ricci Sandro (BRA) Roldan Wilmar (COL) Studied business administration, owns supermarkets and a hair studio in hometown Oldenzaal. Abid Charef Mehdi (ALG) Diedhiou Malang (SEN) Gassama Bakary Papa (GAM) Grisha Ghead (EGY)
Sikazwe Janny (ZAM) Tessema Weyesa Bamlak (ETH)
Conger Matthew (NZL) Hauata Norbert (TAH) Known for his designer shades.
Once he led a protest of passengers against a flight delay.