World Cup to have the 'best referees ever,' FIFA says

Jun 5, 2006, 19:10 GMT

Frankfurt - The 2006 World Cup will be officiated by the most skilful and best-trained referees in the tournament's history, the head of FIFA's referees committee said Monday.

'We are sure that the referees of this World Cup will be the best we have ever had,' Referees' Committee president Angel Maria Villar Llona told a press conference near Frankfurt.

The Spanish-born official said FIFA had spent the past 18 months closely monitoring the performance of all of the tournament's 78 match officials.

Since their arrival in Germany last week, 26 refs and their assistants have been training at the exclusive Kempinski Hotel in Gravenbruch, just outside Frankfurt, where they are to be based for the duration of the tournament.

A team comprising physiotherapists, psychologists, trainers and instructors has helped them to get into the right physical and mental shape during the run-up to the tournament.

'Never before has FIFA spent so much time and effort and has worked so professionally to ensure good refereeing,' Villar Llona said.

The committee head also sought to reassure public opinion shaken by a string of recent refereeing scandals that have taken place in Italy, Germany and Brazil.

'I am totally and utterly convinced that our referees will act honestly and transparently and I have no doubt about their neutrality,' he said.

One of the biggest innovations introduced by FIFA in the 2006 World Cup involves the so-called 'trio system', whereby each referee will be assisted by two linesmen from his own country in all of the matches they are called to officiate.

FIFA believes this will foster collaboration and result in better refereeing.

'It is not enough to have a good referee. He must be assisted by a similarly-endowed team. We are very happy with the trio system,' Villar Llona said.

And unlike four years ago, refs and their assistants will also be able to talk to each other during the match via a set of microphones and earphones.

FIFA officials also reaffirmed their intention of clamping down on dangerous tackles, elbowing, simulation and time-wasting.

'We want to see fast, attractive and clean games,' he said

Unsporting ways of celebrating a goal will also be sanctioned, as well as any form of racial abuse.

Players who ask the ref to book an opponent will be shown a yellow card. And while there has been talk at FIFA of sending off players caught diving, such offences will still only be sanctioned with a yellow card, Villar Llona said.

'The teams are very aware of what the rules are. And though they haven't changed compared to four years ago, they will be enforced more strictly than ever,' said FIFA spokesman Andreas Werz.

Match officials taking part in Germany 2006 are to receive 40,000 dollars from FIFA.