WORK WHILE YOU WHISTLE
CHAMPIONS
LEAGUE
It's the old dilemma. Refereeing, these days, has become a very professional job of
work. Yet how can you ask a man to dedicate his life to a job that, between reaching
first-division status and retirement, might be very temporary indeed?
At the recent workshop of top-class referees in Sevilla, the subject was of such
great interest that Emilio Soriano Aladren, a member of the UEFA Referees'
Committee, was persuaded to explain how things are being done in his native
country and, after listening to him, the general feeling was that the Spaniards have
got it just about right.
Modesty prohibits them from saying it, but the recently-published FIFA blueprint for
semi-profesional referees is based on the concepts written into the Spanish rule-
books in 1993. The Spaniards insist that their major achievement has been in
encouraging and helping referees to attain compability between whistling and wor
king. "Nobody," says Soriano Aladren, "has had to withdraw from a game because
he cannot get time off work."
The Spanish federation (RFEF), led by the dynamic and enthusiastic president,
Angel Maria Villar, has offered the referees incentives for them to give priority to
football over their jobs.
They are full backed by a large staff; they are covered against all risks by a very
comprehensive insurance policy; training facilities are made available; and the refe
rees get together four or five times every season for physical and "tactical sessions.
There is a squad of 22 referees to cope with the weekly load of 11 first divisions
matches and midweek Copa del Rey fixtures. This guarantees at least one game
per fortnight and a total of between 40 and 50 during the whole season gives the
referees a very decent level of income. Although Spanish league football is run by
the Professional Football League, all referees' and linesmen's fees are paid to the
RFEF who thus retain overall control and avoid direct payments by clubs to match
officials, "We are happy with what we have achieved so far," admits Soriano
Aladren, "but this has been possible because Spanish football turns over enough
money to make the system viable. So I'm not advising all countries to imitate our
formula without making sure
that it is applicable to their own
individual circumstances. But I
do feel that we're on the right
road."
One of the top-class Spanish
referees, Manuel Diaz Vega, flan
ked by Joaquin Olmos Gonzalez
and Selas Chacon.
6
