Spanish eyes will be focused on Bucharest on Wednesday night but they will not be alone. When the UEFA Europa League final between Club Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Club kicks off, the 10,000 or so residents of a small Bavarian town will also be glued to their television sets.
After all, Ergolding is the home of Wolfgang Stark, the German referee charged with officiating the final at the National Arena Bucharest. "I think all the people in my small town will watch the game on TV," Stark told UEFA.com as he looked forward to the "first international final" of his career.
Stark was speaking after a training session with his team of assistants on the National Arena pitch on the eve of the all-Spanish showpiece. "The most important thing is teamwork," he stressed as he reflected with pride on his assignment. I am very proud to be here together with my team and to have been appointed for this important final.
fr. l: Mike Pickel, Wolfgang Stark, Jan-Hendrik Salver (c) ZIMBIO
They flew into the Romanian capital on Monday and their preparations will not differ too greatly from for a normal Bundesliga match although, as Stark explained, "it's a final and so the preparation is a little bit extra because the whole of Europe is watching". This includes studying videos of the two teams and he made a point of watching their semi-final matches.
For Stark, a Bundesliga referee since the mid-90s, this final follows his first German Cup final last season between FC Schalke 04 and MSV Duisburg. Will that previous experience help him? "Maybe it can help because there's always a special atmosphere in a final. But I think a Europa League final is a little different – it's international."
One of the referees selected for UEFA EURO 2012, he has an impressive CV already, which includes three matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 Olympic football tournament. Since 2001 he has overseen 51 UEFA Champions League games and 18 in the UEFA Europa League, including two in the knockout stages of this season's competition.
Stark, whose day job is in banking, was inspired to become a referee by his father, Rudolf. "He was also a referee in the second division, and an assistant in the first league in Germany." He remains an important sounding board. "He's one of the people who give me advice."
Something else that does not change is that feeling in his stomach in the minutes leading up to a game. "It's not nervous, it's a small feeling inside, and I think each referee has this feeling before kick-off." It will happen again on Wednesday before he leads the teams out on one of the special nights of his career – as his family and friends watch with pride back in Bavaria.
As I have already done it for UEFA Europa League, I want to issue thoughts about the question that interests us every season anew: who will have the honour to blow the UEFA Champions League final whistle?
At first, it might be sensible to outline the criteria which should be deployed for awarding a Champions League final referee. As UEFA has to expect from all their ELITE referees that they are able to adapt their style to the challenges and the type of the match, there is actually no real requirement with regard to the referee's style. Last season's appointment of the Hungarian Viktor Kassai certifies that UEFA consistently applies the performance principle, which means that they do not really care about experience or the referee's age. The performances, which naturally include permanently highlighted aspects like physical and mental awareness as well as a suitable tactical approach based on an authoritative personality, are all what counts, they are the basis for the final selection of the referee. Furthermore, one can expect from this high profile and well renowned UEFA Referee Committee that they have kind of feeling for the right referee for the tie between FC Bayern München and FC Chelsea London at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Someone called Pierluigi Collina will certainly lay more emphasis on his feeling, on his intuition and on the general impression he has received from the respective referee than on previous marks awarded by UEFA Referee Observers. One can also suspect that the final referee's call-up could be a preconceived resolve, so that the committee members have already exactly known that the concerned referee will referee the final a long time ago. Apropos observer: Vlado Sajn from Slovenia will observe the final referee.
Now, it is time to outline those referees who are generally, i.e. theoretically possible for taking charge of the Munich final, the only requirements are surely joining the ELITE Group of UEFA referees on the one hand and on the other hand - of course - that the referees may not come from Germany, England and Slovenia (involved teams/observer).
Then, the following men are remaining:
Kevin Blom (NED), Cüneyt Çakır (TUR), Jonas Eriksson (SWE), Viktor Kassai (HUN), Björn Kuipers (NED), Stéphane Lannoy (FRA), Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR), Pedro Proença (POR), Nicola Rizzoli (ITA), Gianluca Rocchi (ITA), Paolo Tagliavento (ITA), Alberto Undiano (ESP), Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP).
After that, many referees can be erased either because the performances during the last months were simply not good enough, or because at least one of these referees has not refereed more than one Group Stage match in this UEFA Champions League season, or finally because they have already refereed a semifinal (one of them, Kassai, was also the final referee of 2011).
Then, the following men are remaining:
Jonas Eriksson (SWE), Björn Kuipers (NED), Stéphane Lannoy (FRA), Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR), Pedro Proença (POR), Nicola Rizzoli (ITA), Gianluca Rocchi (ITA), Paolo Tagliavento (ITA), Alberto Undiano (ESP), Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP).
The Swedish Eriksson surely counts to the group of officials who were the best this season. He has overseen 6 matches, including the first leg of the quarterfinal between AC Milan and FC Barcelona. In addition to this, he has refereed the 1st leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinal between Sporting and Athletic. One may not forget him, UEFA seems to like him a lot, nonetheless, it is more likely unprobable that he will be the man in the middle.
The "flying Dutchman" Björn Kuipers has announced in a Dutch newspaper that he will not be involved in a final this time, so he can be "erased" as well.
French referee Stéphane Lannoy had a decent round of 16 performance, probably not enough for a final. Besides, he has already been assigned to accompany the German referee team in Bucharest's UEFA Europa League final so that he is no real candidate for it either.
Svein Oddvar Moen of Norway, certainly a good referee, a talent. He had many good matches in UEFA Champions League, but also some negative points, especially in Villarreal-Napoli. He is still very young, for this reason, a final would definitely come too early, even though, as I have already stressed, UEFA does not really care about that. However, the final referee should actually come from the UEFA EURO 2012 roster which Moen does not join.
The condemned live longer? Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP)
Everybody thought that the final would be definitely with Spanish involvement, either with Real Madrid, or with FC Barcelona, or - as many thought - with both. Now, no Spanish team is there and the chances of the Spanish referees, which were declared dead too early, are certainly rising again. Alberto Undiano however seems to have arrived at his highest level, Velasco Carballo has overtaken him, although the 38 year-old man from Pamplona is still observed by FIFA for the next World Cup. Velasco Carballo, having also been in charge of the 2011 UEFA Europa League final at Dublin Arena, received two CL K.O. stage matches in this season. At San Paolo, Napoli, he showed a brilliant performance in their match against Chelsea. He had however not only one final team, no, he refereed Bayern, as well, in Marseille, where he did not show his best performance (to formulate it kindly). For this reason, it is more or less impossible that he gets the final then - at least as main referee. He might have chances as Fourth Official, but if, at whose side?
Pedro Proença "vs" Nicola Rizzoli
To make it fast, Gianluca Rocchi and Paolo Tagliavento, both from Italy, surely showed good performances in this international season, but finally, they are neither the no.1 of their country, nor it is probable or even imaginable that one of them will take control over the final.
Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)
Hence, Rizzoli and Proença are remaining, who have a lot of international experience, but not as much as many other CL final referees had, if one only remembers Massimo Busacca or Lubos Michel at the point of time of their finals. This will be therefore no crucial factor. Proença participated in 2009 UEFA U21 EURO Sweden, which can be seen as one milestone for his impressive career. Last year, he received the first big appointment in UEFA Champions League's semifinal, even though this was already decided.
Rizzoli has more experience in UEFA Champions League than him, has already refereed many top clashes in important stages of the competiton. Along with his EURO team consisting of two of the best European assistant referees, Renato Faverani and Andrea Stefani, both Rocchi and Tagliavento as additional assistant referees standing at the byline, this is really a huge amount of quality and experience, of course also due to his final appointment in 2010 UEFA Europa League final. The Portuguese team however is clearly less experienced, their members of less classification. Bertino Miranda is certainly the most experienced part of this team, Ricardo Santos, Manuel de Sousa and Duarte Gomes surely good officials, but probably not on the same level like the Italians.
Pedro Proença (POR)
Nonetheless, there some kind of "soft factors" which clearly underline Proença's advantages.
Portugal has not been having a referee in the UEFA Champions League final for more than forty years (even though Italy are waiting for a final referee for quite a long time in UCL, too), now, it would be the time. Furthermore, Collina comes from the same city like Rizzoli, Bologna (Emilia Romagna). Perhaps, the former worldclass referee does not want to arouse the impression of nepotism in his very first season which is really of great importance due to the EURO tournament. Apart from that, Proença was observed three times by UEFA Referee Committee members: Vassaras from Greece, Sajn from Slovenia (the final observer, too) and Collina himself. As referee, you can win much if you show very good performances under their nose, however, you can also lose a lot. Proença struggled a bit under Sajn's observation, showed a brilliant performance when Vassaras observed him and performed still well under Collina. Surely a split impression. The Portuguese has also the advantage that he knows the stadium very well, he refereed Bayern two times at their home stadium, in 2010 and 2011. The fact that it will be a German-English tie also allows UEFA to appoint an Iberian referee without having any doubts. Moreover, Viktor Kassai also had a round of 16 match at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in 2011, Proença had the same this season...
Taking everything into consideration, both referees have many good arguments to offer.
Based on the previous analysis, the solution would be actually quite clear, especially due to the performance principle: Nicola Rizzoli. He is simply excellent, would finally deserve it. Nevertheless, he already had better seasons - I know, criticism on a very high level...
Based on my feeling, I would however predict Pedro Proença, also due to reading between the lines (i.e. trying to understand the course of events during this season). At this point, at this high level, I refuse to make a clear prediction, it would not be adequate and apart from that, UEFA has proved that predictions for finals are mostly impossible, although this year is much more clearer than last year.
You hopefully noticed the inverted commas framing the vs. If Proença will be appointed, it will have been a decision for him, not against Rizzoli. The same counts the other way round. Refereeing also means competition, but it is no battle at all. A small but remarkable difference to the teams and players.
Another thing should be mentioned again...Wolfgang Stark did not receive a CL K.O. stage match, which does not need to mean a lot, but which is nonetheless remarkable. In addition to this, UEFA's mismanagement, or, generally and more neutrally speaking, "appointment procedure", manifests itself in the fact that - independent from who of these two excellent referees will be nominated - at least one of them will remain with only one round of 16 encounter. That is a fact, that is a pity, because both should get as many opportunities as possible to show their quality in difficult matches.
German referee Wolfgang Stark from Landshut, Bavaria, has been nominated by UEFA to be in control of the all Spanish final of this season's edition of UEFA Europa League between Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club Bilbao at Bucharest's National Arena on Wednesday, 8 May.
Stark, who is working for a bank one day per week, will head the team of match officials destined for overseeing the final. He will be accompanied by Jan-Hendrik Salver and Mike Pickel (acting as assistant referees), while Florian Meyer and Deniz Aytekin will stand at the byline functioning as the recently established additional assistant referees. UEFA also announced the appointment of the fourth official, the French ELITE referee Stéphane Lannoy will fulfill this job at the coaching zones. Mark Borsch, who is normally Felix Brych's assistant referee, will accompany the team as reserve assistant referee. The team will be officially observed by Jaap Uilenberg from the Netherlands.
Wolfgang Stark may exhibit an amply high experience both on national and also and especially on international level. Apart from the fact that he was in charge of a total amount of 260 Bundesliga matches in Germany and of the 2011 DFB Cup final between MSV Duisburg and Schalke 04, he is leading the current roster of active FIFA referees related to the amount of insets in the most popular club competition of the world: he refereed 43 UEFA Champions League matches until now.
The participations in the 2007 FIFA Under 17 World Cup Canada and 2008 FIFA Olympic Games China may be seen as the basis for his achievements in recent history. After having been in charge of three matches at 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa including a Round of 16 match, he whistled the semifinal's first leg of UEFA Champions League in 2011 between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. In June, he will be one of the 12 match officials of 2012 UEFA EURO Poland/Ukraine. In addition to this, Stark is considered as probable referee for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, as he joins the official FIFA list of prospective referees for the next World Cup.
Final referee: Wolfgang Stark (GER) (c) Sportbild
The 42 year-old, who savours football and ice hockey as leisure time activities, is the incarnation of the active and predicting referee. Recent performances certify that Stark has an incommensurable feeling and way of how to deal with upcoming conflicts between players and the referee and also between players themselves. His tactical approach is always lenient, powerful speeches are the key for him to lead the match. Nevertheless, many red cards were the result of insults and complaints, Stark there applies a zero-tolerance-policy. This is more or less reinforced by the fact that he was - two times in a row - elected as the worst referee by the majority of the Bundesliga players. In fact, his approach is mostly successful, however leads to problems every now and then, too.
He basically does not rely on his cards, which does not however mean that he has a too negligent dealing with his leniency. A milestone for his success may be also found when considering his assistant referees. Jan-Hendrik Salver, who had already accompanied Dr. Markus Merk in his most important matches, is probably the most active assistant referee at this European level and made some vital decisions, which needed a lot of courage and self-confidence and mostly led to a good decision. Mike Pickel's strengths are especially the (non-)offside detection and his international experience in general, having been the assistant referee 1 of Herbert Fandel for many years in Germany.
As for Florian Meyer, one of the most experienced referees in Germany, this final nomination is probably the peak of a very successful career as referee, although he never managed the final step to finally arrive at Europe's top class. Deniz Aytekin has been being an international referee since January 2011 and managed to be promoted by UEFA into First Group of referees in only one season. In Bundesliga, he made an enormous step in the past season as well and was in charge of many top clashes which were refereed in a quite good way by him. Mark Borsch completes the German side in the referee team, a young, promising and - as proved in Champions League many times - a very good assistant referee. Stéphane Lannoy's nomination is surely a surprise, or even a historical decision: UEFA never appointed a fourth official coming from a different country than the rest of the referee team. With regard to the pending EURO, which Lannoy will join as well, this might be an exception or just a remarkable change in UEFA's refereeing philosophy, since former worldclass referee Pierluigi Collina has taken control.
World of Football Refereeing and its community wish the referee team all the best for a successful performance and a great match.
Overview
Atlético Madrid
-:-
Athletic Bilbao
MATCH FACTS: UEFA Europa League Final 2011/12, Wednesday, 08 May 2012, 20:45 CET
Referee
Wolfgang Stark (Germany)
Assistant Referees
Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany)
Mike Pickel (Germany)
Additional Assistant Referees
Florian Meyer (Germany)
Deniz Aytekin (Germany)
Fourth Official
Stéphane Laurent Lannoy (France)
Reserve Assistant Referee
Mark Borsch (Germany)
UEFA Referee Observer Jaap Uilenberg (Netherlands)
Before the upcoming finals of this season's editions of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, there might be predictions about the officials that will referee the matches based on the tournaments' course of appointments and performances.
The Champions League final will be played between in Munich - between the hosts of FC Bayern and the English side of FC Chelsea - on 19 May. The final of Europa League, being an all Spanish tie between Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, will be already kicked off in Bucuresti on 9 May.
Whereas it has already unfolded that the Slovenian UEFA Referee Committee member Vlado Sajn will observe the Champions League final referees and that his colleague Jaap Uilenberg from the Netherlands will function as observer in Bucuresti's Europa League final, the referees to be selected are difficult to predict.
UEFA Europa League
In general, one has to emphasize that one cannot be sure whether UEFA will appoint a referee who will participate in UEFA EURO 2012 or not. The semifinals in both competitions have underlined that both might be possible. Furthermore, the referee for the final certainly joins the ELITE Group and should not have refereed a final in this competition yet. It is also useful to erase those officials from the pool of possible final referees who have already whistled a semifinal, and perhaps also a quarterfinal in Europa League. Of course, no Spanish and no Dutch referee may be nominated due to the teams and the observer.
Having applied this criteria, the following officials are remaining:
Felix Brych (GER), Cüneyt Çakır (TUR), Mark Clattenburg (ENG), Viktor Kassai (HUN), Stéphane Lannoy (FRA), Florian Meyer (GER), Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR), Pedro Proenca (POR), Gianluca Rocchi (ITA), Wolfgang Stark (GER), Paolo Tagliavento (ITA), Howard Webb (ENG).
Cuneyt Çakır, EL final after CL semifinal? (c) FIFA
In general, one can say that Kassai and Webb will probably have no chance. Kassai did not show the best performance in his UCL Semifinal at Santiago Bernabeu, Webb had problems in Munich, too, and furthermore, it must be stressed that it seems quite impossible that a referee from England will get the final, they had already two participations in UCL/UEL Semifinals. For this reason, Mark Clattenburg should not be taken into consideration either, he also refereed Atlético Madrid in the Quarterfinals. The Italians Rocchi and Tagliavento could both had chances, Tagliavento has taken an immense rise in the past season. However, Rizzoli had the 2010 UEFA Europa League final, so that again in Italian could be quite unprobable. Stéphane Lannoy has shown his best international season so far, had overall good performances in both competitions but was not spared by problems especially in his match between Atlético Madrid and Hannover in Quarterfinals, so that it is more or less superfluous to take him into account as well.
Pedro Proenca counts as almost safe referee of the UCL final. He was observed by UEFA Referee Committee members three times, showed more or less satisfying performances in these matches. It is an all Spanish tie, a Portugues referee in it would mean the opposite of last year's final. He could be a candidate, but he already refereed a match with Bilbao's involvement: at Schalke Arena in the Quarterfinals. I doubt that he would be the best choice, the CL final match fits in more with his approach. Moen showed quite a good season, has however enough time to develop and to improve, what seems to be still necessary. It would be a high risk to appoint him for such an intense match, a risk, which could however reveal to be worth.
Cüneyt Çakir was able to impress us in his first UCL Semifinal at Camp Nou, where he showed an almost perfect match. Many - including me - considered him as possible final referee even at the beginning of this season, the impression has confirmed, he is a very probable option.
Finally, there are three German referees left. Florian Meyer can be forgotten, he is at the end of his international career and was never at the peak of UEFA refereeing, even though he has been joining the ELITE Group for quite a long time. Felix Brych and Wolfgang Stark both have big chances in the next years. Brych, a rising star in UEFA refereeing, who is also under FIFA's eyes and who has been nominated to referee matches at 2012 Olympic Games in Great Britain, showed a brilliant performance at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the semifinal between FC Chelsea and FC Barcelona. Remembering the procedure in the last season, when Carlos Velasco Carballo handled the EL final after having superbly refereed a Champions League Semifinal's first leg, Brych could be a very good option, too. Wolfgang Stark - to the surprise of everybody - did not receive a UEFA Champions League match in the K.O. stage. He had two good performances in important EL matches (ManCity - Porto; Sporting - Metalist), was however not observed by a high profile UEFA Observer. It is very unprobable that UEFA will not appoint him once again prior to the EURO, but after having stopped thinking in a rational way, even this is not sure.
Wolfgang Stark, a probable candidate for the final
Naturally, the tactical approach, personality and "style" of the respective referee who comes into question must perfectly fit in with the match. Spanish duels are always intense, the referee has to expect a lot, as Collina reinforced, he has to predict. Stark has shown that he can be a very good referee in intense, Spanish duels, although there was certainly a lack of control in last year's el clásico. Jaap Uilenberg gave him a very high mark for this match and is now the observer again. Stark would deserve the final after 13 years of FIFA refereeing, after 43 Champions League matches and 17 Europa League matches. But UEFA in fact knows Stark, there is actually no need to test him. At this stage, the only question is, who is able to show the best performance possible in this specific match and to my mind, both, Brych and Stark are able to do that. The same counts for Cakir, who however had Athletic Bilbao which could mean a small disadvantage for him.
Finally, my final prediction is:
9 May 2012, National Arena, Bucuresti, Romania
Atlético Madrid (ESP) - Athletic Bilbao (ESP)
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (GER)
Assistant Referees: Jan-Hendrik Salver (GER), Mike Pickel (GER)
Additional Assistant Referees: Florian Meyer (GER), Deniz Aytekin (GER)
Fourth Official: Manuel Gräfe
Reserve Assistant Referee: Mark Borsch (GER)
UEFA Champions League final predictions will follow next week.
The 42 year-old Jenny Palmqvist of Sweden will be in charge of this year's female UEFA Champions League Final between the German side of 1.FFC Frankfurt and the French Olympique Lyon that will be held in the venerable Olympiastadium in Munich on 17 May 2012.
UEFA has confirmed that the full team would be completed by Palmqvist's compatriots Helen Karo, Anna Nyström and Sara Persson.
Born in Korea Republic, the professional referee Jenny Palmqvist may exhibit a large extent of international experience after having participated in the 2008 edition of the Olympic Games, 2009 UEFA EURO Finland, 2007 FIFA World Cup China and 2011 FIFA World Cup Germany, where he went along with Bibiana Steinhaus as Fourth Official in the final match.
The German Wolfgang Stark, one of the 12 main referees acting at the pending UEFA EURO 2012, answered questions on the official media day for referees in Warsaw.
The German no.1: Wolfgang Stark (c) Berliner Zeitung
UEFA has imposed a strict ban on interviews for the match officials of EURO 2012. Are you glad about this measure or do you consider that as exaggerated?
Stark: "It is always a two-edged sword. On the one hand, I am glad, as our main occupation is to referee matches. The pressure will be immensely high. That is for this reason a good measure for the active referees who will be able to focus on what matters."
Has the pressure become bigger, also due to the internet? There are e.g. groups on facebook, which are solely aimed at dissing or rejecting you. Do you have a bearing on that?
Stark: "Of course, the public pressure is rising. However, concerning facebook, I have to say that this does not burden me at all. I do not have facebook myself and hence do not busy myself with that. Therefore, I do certainly know that is said there. The pressure has increased during the last year, but the referees, who are here, have enough experience to cope with that, I have managed that in the last years and I am confident that I will manage that again in Poland/Ukraine."
For the first time, the Additional Assistant Referees will be deployed at a big tournament. Is that the future or more likely the technology favourized by FIFA?
Stark: "We have to wait and analyze the things after the competition. Everybody is very, very good prepared and aligned to this tournament. Naturally, mistakes occur, but as soon as there is a good decision made by an Additional Assistant Referee, their inset was justified. I am not responsible for deciding whether it will be continued or not."
The Ukraine as state is heavily critized. There were voices which claimed a boycott. What is your opinion about the recent discussions?
Stark: "Of course one follows that in the media. But my task is a different one. Let me concentrate on my matches. My main task is to referee decent matches, to show good performances. I want to divide that in a very clear way, politics and sports. I am subserving the sportive part at this tournament."
Do you fear for a lack of safety in Ukraine?
Stark: "No. I think, everything is done to ensure that we will be safely lodged and that we will come safely to our matches. At home, something could happen, too, one is never invulnerable. But I do not think about a possible lack of safety."
Due to the age limit, it will be your last European Championship for sure. For whom are you rooting? The German national team or the referee Wolfgang Stark? Only one can get into the final...
Stark: "I firstly concentrate on my matches. We have to await the course of events in the tournament. Of course I keep my fingers crossed for the German team, as referee, you are too deeply a football fan yourself. But it does not automatically mean, if the German team fails, that then the German referee team will get the final."
Pierluigi Collina, for many the best referee in history (c) UEFA
UEFA has issued the UEFA EURO 2012 referees a series of guidelines to be followed this summer and reiterated its confidence in the officials' abilities to produce top-class performances in Poland and Ukraine.
On Wednesday, UEFA's chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina gave a comprehensive rundown at this week's EURO preparatory workshop in Warsaw of what is expected of the officials when the finals get under way on 8 June. Protection of players and the game's image, and punishment for mobbing the referee, as well as for incidents of mass confrontation, are among the instructions delivered by the UEFA Referees Committee.
The 31 games in Poland and Ukraine will each be handled by a referee, two assistant referees and fourth official, supplemented by two additional assistant referees as well as a reserve assistant referee. The additional assistant referees, who stand behind the byline and focus in particular on penalty area incidents, are being deployed as part of a continuing experiment, authorised by the International Football Association Board.
"One of the main goals is to protect players, and we have reminded the referees to deal with challenges that could potentially endanger the safety of a player," said Collina. "We don't want to have referees surrounded by protesting players. This does not give a good image, and yellow cards are to be expected. Nor do we want to see 20 players in a mass confrontation – yellow cards will be given to the initiators."
Collina explained that the referees selected in December were chosen on the basis of performances in UEFA's major competitions over the past couple of years, as well as on their experience. Twelve quintets – referees, assistant referees and additional assistant referees - have been picked from 12 different countries.
Preparations Winter training at UEFA's course in Antalya, Turkey is being followed by a dedicated preparation programme, and UEFA Referees' Committee members and observers have been monitoring the officials' progress in UEFA club competitions this spring.
In Warsaw, the match officials have attended 16 hours of lectures on various topics, and took a fitness test at the city's Agrykola Sport Complex. A coaching programme has also been tailor-made for the assistant referees – "Their role is crucial, as their decisions can affect the outcome of a match," Collina explained.
"EURO 2012 is the most important competition for UEFA – we have to have all of our match officials ready to give their best possible performance during the competition," the Italian added. "We need athletes, not just referees – being fit is important. We are taking great care of this."
Velasco and Stark talking to the media (C) UEFA
"The instructions given to the match officials will be exactly the same as those delivered to the players and coaches. I and members of the Referees Committee will visit each national-team camp to speak to coaches and players - we would like referees, coaches and players to be speaking the same language in terms of football, interpretation and the Laws of the Game."
"We will continue our preparations right until kick-off," Collina added. "Our referees are involved in major domestic and UEFA club competitions. They are at the end of a demanding season. It will be important for them to be ready. I hope what the referees do will be reported. They are dealing with their task very professionally and doing their best to be 100% prepared. UEFA is sure they will do a great job."
Confidence is high that the referees will cope admirably with public and media spotlight at the tournament. "The referees are used to refereeing important matches in their countries," said Collina. "They are ready to face any kind of pressure. We have referees who have refereed UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and FIFA World Cup finals. They are here because they deserve to be here…."
