Starting next week, a new rule introduced during the last European Championship will come into force: direct communication between referees and team captains will be extended to all UEFA competitions. This new approach, which has proven effective, has been appreciated by European football's governing body, leading it to implement it widely.
In an official note, the UEFA said: "Referees will have an open line of dialogue with the teams to explain key decisions, including those to VAR. Information and explanations will be provided only to the captains, who will be the only players authorized to speak to the referee and ask for clarification in a respectful manner."
UEFA also underlined the crucial role of captains: Captains must take responsibility for maintaining respect for the referee among their teammates, asking them to keep their distance and not surround the match officials. If the captain is the goalkeeper, who is often far from the action, teams are encouraged to nominate another outfield player as the only one authorized to speak to the officials. To ensure compliance with these new directives, UEFA has specified that "Players who do not comply with these instructions and approach the referees to show dissent or act disrespectfully will be cautioned."
Leave a comment