The Insanity Continues

From the other day I shared a story about a former FIFA referee who was arrested attempting to smuggle 6kg of heroin through a US airport.

I also commented how some became unhinged about associating acts (8) years ago, with an act in 2010. As another example of just how wild the imagination of some of these folks are, read the following about "the worst refereeing decisions".

Funny thing is ... I did not count any attributed to a referee. Many of these were from bad acts from players. Read on, it is a sorry testament to just how far people will go to blame referees.

Byron Moreno & the top 10 worst refereeing decisions in World Cup history
Official has been detained for drug smuggling in the USA

The disgraced former Fifa referee Byron Moreno was jailed this week for attempting to smuggle six kilos of heroin into the United States. The Ecuadorian is infamous in Italy as a result of his barely credible officiating during the South Korea - Italy last 16 match at the 2002 World Cup. Goal.com remembers that game and looks back at some more shocking calls from the history of the showpiece event ...

Full fantasy fictional piece editorial, continues here courtesy of goal.com.

... and after viewing the video of the incident here, I don't completely disagree with the send off to Totti (at the end of the video ... even one of the offsides is razor close). He sure fell awfully easy with such little contact. I don't know ... not so far fetched to me. In fact may have been real courage to send him off after a second caution. Gee, I wonder what the first one was for? Well, here is the report. Looks like he was booked in the 22'. Was that a good caution? Clearly if Totti did not have that, there would be no send off. Whose fault is this really? The referee? Totti?

Why did Moreno choose to send of Totti, but Webb did not choose to send off DeJong?

The other comment I see over and over speaks of "Italy's revenge" on Moerno ... this one is a "ponte vecchio" too far for my taste. One of the best parts is Ty Keough's "analysis" of the situation. For a guy who has some pedigree and at one time skill in the game, boy does he get this one wrong.

But like I said the other day ... We report, You decide.

We Report, You Decide

Photo Courtesy Associated Press

Kicking Back Comments:
In almost every news story that I have read on this topic, I get confused. What exactly does an arrest for smuggling 6 kg of heroin in 2010 have anything to do with refereeing in 2002?

These articles, and some of their quotes seems to imply, and in some cases, just states, that this referee had a substance abuse problem that led to his on the pitch issues.

The following quote from the AP story below shows this willingness to blame the referee then, for what the man has done today:

Franco Carraro, an International Olympic Committee member and Italy's soccer federation president at the time of the South Korea game, said the arrest proves Moreno had problems.

Ladies and gentlemen, I urge great caution with these assertions. This one strikes a nerve with me as there have been folks in my career who have made erroneous assumptions about my past on pitch performance and incorrectly connected it to some present, off the pitch issue. Some of these comments smack of this rubbish.

While I don't discount that connections between on and off the field can and should be made, when it comes to something so serious, caution is advised. For me personally it was one of the larger data points in my choice to end my career when it did. I hope Mr. Moreno gets the fair shake he deserves as he traverses what would appear to be a difficult road ahead.

These comments are also momentarily ignoring the sheer lunacy of the physiology of blaming the referee after (8) years has past in what I would consider a pathetic search for vindication from Mr. Carraro. That alone makes me seriously question the competence level from this former coach and IOC member.

But as I state in the title ... we report, you decide.

Ref Moreno's arrest sparks anger in Trapattoni

ROME — Former Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni is hoping fans will look back on his reign in a different light after the arrest of former referee Byron Moreno in New York.

The Ecuadorean, blamed by Italian fans for the Azzurri's elimination from the 2002 World Cup, was caught on Monday at John F. Kennedy Airport with bags of heroin attached to his body, according to U.S. federal prosecutors. A judge jailed Moreno without bail on a drug smuggling charge. ...

Full story here, courtesy of the AP.

To play or not to play, that was the question

A few days ago I was at a match where the conditions were such that the match was "abandoned" as the Laws Of The Game (LOTG) describes it. It got me thinking about the first time I abandoned a match, and what the reasons were, and where in the LOTG supports this action.

An excerpt of a wonderful treatise by Jim Allen can he found here at Ask A Soccer Referee.

We need first to differentiate between “abandon” and “terminate” a match. The difference between terminating a match and abandoning a match is a subtle one, but it is historically correct and supported by traditional practice. (Research into the history of the Laws will reveal this clearly; the IFAB now uses “abandon” almost exclusively, most likely just to confuse us all.) The referee may abandon a match if there is an insufficient number of players to meet the requirements of the Law or the competition, if a team does not appear or leaves before completion of the game, or if the field or any of its equipment do not meet the requirements of the Laws or are otherwise unsafe; i. e., for technical (Law 1) or physical (Law 4) safety. ...

This article is a must read for folks to be prepared for such an event which can happen quite often due to inclement weather. Ask yourself what you should be doing "when lightning strikes." (Sounds like good post material)

There is a second side to this coin, and that is how abandoning a match can leave a referee feeling. This is distinct for the proper reporting and procedures you must follow (note that some are league specific) after abandoning a match.

Some abandonments are easy to deal with after the fact. For example, lightning strikes off in the distance. You abandon. Case closed. Easy peeze. Similarly if a team has only (7) players and one gets hurt, do you abandon? Does it matter if they are only slightly hurt and can return, or when they leave is that it? The LOTG are clear about this, as is the Ask A Soccer Referee article. Abandon when the Laws say so, easy.

Some are very difficult. Players get into a fight? Benches get into a fight? Stands get into a fight? They all get into a fight? Things thrown from the stands? Things thrown from the benches?

All of this crazy stuff seems to fit into the other reason for abandoning a match under the "grave disorder" heading. This can leave a referee feeling empty and often asking the question, "What did I do wrong?"

Of course the answer may be that the referee could have done absolutely nothing to prevent the grave disorder from occurring. There are times when the players just don't want to play, or other events so far out of your control that not even the soccer gods themselves could have prevented what happened.

That should not prevent a referee from asking "why" however, as the answer they work to may indeed may hold some other clues for their match control.

All this for what you may ask? Here are a few concise points.

1. Understand where the laws require a referee to abandon a match, and be prepared to do so should that scenario arise.
2. Have an idea in your own head what "grave disorder" is. I have no definition to give except to say that if the safety of you, your team, the players, or spectators are involved, it may be time to call the match.
3. Discuss these scenarios with your refereeing team and have a plan to deal with it, should the scenario arise.
4. Write a report to the competition authority no later than 24h after the incident. Be objective, thorough, and precise. DO NOT SUGGEST AN OUTCOME. LET THE LEAGUE DECIDE. You are a reporter of facts only.
5. Reflect on what happened and how you can improve. If for example the field was under water. Not too much to reflect on. If however the match ended in a fight from the players that would up getting a stadium of fans involved, some reflection may be warranted.
6. Don't beat yourself up. Lean what you can and move on. These situations are often unique and very emotional for those involved, even the "simple" abandonments (e.g. unplayable field). Use it to improve on the next abandonment that may happen.

In these cases there are often no easy answers. Follow the laws, and keep everyone safe is all anyone sould ask.

Upgrade Kudos

Congratulations to Sam Mokalled on his upgrade to a grade 5 referee.

This particular move brings back very fond memories. Moving to, or retaining a grade 5 badge put you on the precipice of the heralded National Badge in the US and all the rights and responsibilities thereto.

Per aspera ad astra!

Referee's to blame?

CFA Chief says China Referees to Blame for Bad Reputation

Comments from Wei Di, chief of the Chinese Football Association, raised eyebrows prior to the friendly international match between China and Iran on Friday 2 September 2010 at the Tianhe Stadium in China. ...

See the full post here courtesy of HK Referee.

UEFA GETS IT RIGHT !!!!!

WOW IS THIS REFRESHING!

Thanks to a loyal reader (thanks Jeff) I was pointed today to the UEFA refereeing page to find a story and video explaining the new five referee experiment made for the fans.

My initial reaction is how well done this is. A professionally produced spot that will run in stadiums and broadcast prior to a Champions League match.

Take a look at the video and story here, and tell me that this video banging on the "jumbotron" at your local stadium is not cool. Finally, finally, finally, something to get your blood going about refereeing. The closing line with Collina (who heads the UEFA referee program) is just fantastic.

Now, whether or not the experiment will succeed is a whole other story, and time will tell.

For now I am happy to see such a positive and public advertisement of what is going on. No need to keep it under the covers for folks to try to figure out. Well done!

Also, not lost on me was the quality of the materials provided on the site, as compared to FIFA on the same topic. While not surprised, I am amazed at just how wide a rift exists in the quality of materials. More on that soon.

For now, check out the article and video here.

What Will Solo Do?

WWSD?

For those who follow the US WNT, you may recall the tirade by Hope Solo, not Han Solo, National team GK, not smuggler turned hero, (background here, official web site here) back in 2007 against Greg Ryan after losing to Brasil 0-4 in the World Cup in China that put the US into the 3rd place match.

Her comments were aimed at Ryan's decision to replace her with Briana Scurry the night before the Brazil match. To be sure Solo was not the only one being critical of his decision. Other notables such as Brandi Chastain were also particularly vocal. A full account of the events can be found here courtesy of SFGate.com. It is worth noting, she offered somewhat of an apology on her Facebook page over the incident ... to her teammates.

Flash forward to August 2010 when Boston played Atlanta where Solo serves as GK where she accused Boston fans of being sexist and racist through their comments, which were apparently later validated and a very civil exchange of apologies occurred (source) between the teams, fans, and players. The whole incident was apparently chalked up to a handful of unsavory fans.

So while I believe there is no place in the game, or life, for such epitaphs, I also believe participants at that level have to grow a bit of a hide and be ready to suffer some public criticism, even some insulting behavior. The article talks about songs sung, and other organized chants. Well gee folks, when does it have to be sunshine and lollipops all the time, or in the alternative, silence? Has anyone gone to a match where the crowd chants "you suck" before the taking of a goak kick? How about this classic "A rope, a tree ... ." How many times has a 14 year old referee been told to go packing by a group of adults?

Flash forward to the other day where Solo goes after the league and referee. This one is almost laughable as her comments were odd, to say the least. [I have to admit a bias here as I have worked with Kari (Seitz) a number of times and found her to be a tremendous professional.] One of the more memorable quotes was:

"Its official, the refs are straight bad. Its clear the league wanted dc in playoffs. I have truly never seen anything like this. Its sad. ... I am done playing in a league where the game is no longer in control of the players."

What?
You can see the whole mess here on Twitter.

Now I am curious to see what the disciplinary committee will decide this week about the tweeted comments (and please see the full story for the whole thing) as it would seem that there is a threat of sorts in there that she won't play if she can't get her way. We will see how serious about the league is regarding such comments about referees, and frankly the league itself. 

Imagine if nothing happens and YOU are the next referee who gets the pleasure of seeing her. Imagine further for a second if the shoe was on the other foot. What would the league, or US Soccer do against a referee who shot their mouths off about a player?

It may seem inequitable, but it  is the reality. Keep in mind too, that THE game is bigger that any individual.

In any event, given the string of incidents it would certainly seem there is a loose cannon on deck. I am curious to see how this is dealt with as it effects the womens league, the WNT, and the referees as well.

Upgrade Kudos

Here is another referee that has performed exceptionally and has received an upgrade for their efforts.

I want to take just a second a recognize this individual that has distinguished themselves in this regard.

Congratulations to Max Perkins for his recent upgrade to Grade 7!

Opening Day in Wrentham

With corruption week over, I am happy to move on to another topic. Today is an exciting day in our small town, fall opening day for the youth teams. It is a time to exercise my "cat herding" skills as assistant coach, but also serves as a great reminder about where the future of the game comes from.

Youth players and youth referees are not that far away from being the finished products we watch at the famous venues around the country, and the world in the big tournaments. Players and referees alike.

If you are out today watching a match, take a second and cheer an opposing player for a well played ball, or thank a youth referee for the job they did regardless of the result. It can make a difference in their career ... a big one. After all, you may be looking at the next US National team player, or FIFA Referee.

Corruption week continues

I think MLS Rumors is turning into one of my favorite sites for some local flavor and fun stories. While not corruption per se, it somewhat seemed to fit. I caught this one the other day, how a faction of Seattle fans are upset about officiating in the league and are planning a protest on Thursday to demonstrate their displeasure.

Apparently this group runs a blog called the 12th Minute blog and has done a podcast to talk about how just how bad the officiating is in MLS. I could only get through the first few minutes, but will listen to the whole thing, I promise. Audio can be found on MLS Rumors and on the 12th Minute blog itself.

I have formed an opinion. I leave it to each of you to form your own.

THE quote however came form a comment to the story which stated:

Sounders FC Says:

Posted on September 7, 2010 at 2:58 pm

I love all these people saying something needs to be done. What do you think they can do ?? Do you think there are better quality referees who are sitting at home waiting to get the call or do you think we are going to somehow persuade the better referees from around the world to come and referee in MLS ? Despite all the training in the world there is always going to be an element of mistakes in soccer refereeing – it’s actually part of the charm of the game (although I agree it’s very annoying when it goes against you). There really isn’t much they can do in the short term. You could all help by not yelling obscenities at the 14 year old kid refereeing your childs rec game at the weekend as he/she may grow up to be part of the solution if you don’t put them off

Pure genius, and one who is clearly thinking beyond MLS to understand what it will take to get referees advanced in this country.

Well played Sounders FC, well played!

Once More unto the Breach, Dear Friends, Once More

Brilliant prose from one who recognizes where we are in our development as officials, and a stark reminder where we still need to go ...

See the article and video of the brutal event here, courtesy of For the Integrity of Soccer.

"I had a poor view of that particular incident." - Howard Webb

I should have shown Nigel de Jong a red card, says Howard Webb

Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

When Howard Webb took the field for the World Cup final at Soccer City last month, he was cheered by the sight of a small banner amid all the orange and red, the flags and the vuvuzelas, a message of support from home, no less. "It must have been English," he recalled. "It simply said: Can't play, can ref."

That statement was to be tested in Johannesburg in a way that nobody could ever have imagined, with Webb issuing 14 yellow cards. "On the day of the final we had several briefings from Fifa technical and psychological staff, and I don't think anyone foresaw the game being the physical encounter it turned out to be. We talked about the emotion, the styles of play, but no one said anything about it being so physical. ...

Masterful article continues here, courtesy of guardian.co.uk.

Developemnt Night at the Revolution - Total Success!

The MSRC hit the ball out of the park on the 28th at the Development Night at the Revolution!

In a tremendously creative approach, the SDI (Nigel Bright - a contributor here on Kicking Back) designed a recertification program to include not only observing and reporting on video clips, as is very often done, but extended this to the same on an actual professional match.

Classroom work was very well done with interactive portions along with the video clips. Also there was a surprise visit from the match officials who were gracious enough to take questions and hung around for about 15 minutes. The venue was tremendous. It was a first class event in a private section of the Fidelity Clubhouse at Gillette with a packed house of more than 200 people in attendance.

From there each referee had the assignment to observe the match, and report back via an online form, the incidents they observed and why they believe the referee took that action. These results will be gathered and compared to the comments of the assessors in attendance and published to that community to see how similar the observations were.

While unfortunately not a great night for the Revolution, it was for the 200+ referees in attendance.

I have been sworn to secrecy regarding my observations about the match, but it suffices to say I respectfully disagree with Mr. Nicol's opinion about the referee performance as he alluded to in the article today from Frank Dell'Apa.

Ready ... Steady ...

An old axiom often cited is that "Piss Poor Preparation Produces Piss Poor Performance". So in my preparing for the development night at the Revolution, (to avoid poor performance) following is a general template about how I would prepare for matches.

Please note, do what works for you. Some people would do more, some people would do less, and get the same result. Take this with a grain of salt and make it your own. Your mileage may vary.

Now the focus on this particular discussion is at the professional level, but many of the general points apply in local matches as well. Keep in mind too that some of these resources will not be available for the matches you are doing. Again, make this form work for you.

I generally begin by taking a self inventory and making sure that I am prepared for the match. I would wind down my training for the week and make sure to get some rest around match day minus 3. Lots of fluids, lots of rest. I would push this back if I had to travel to the match as travel itself can be tiring.

Have you made contact with your team? Have a ride? Need a ride? Local hotel? Flying in? Where are the teams staying?

I generally would look at the history of each team separately. Simple things like win/loss any roster changes of late, general news about the team, place in the standings, etc.. All to get a general idea what is going on and if there is anything at issue that this particular match turns on. An example would be playoff implications, a new (and famous) player joining the team, etc..

From there I generally look into the injuries on the team. Who is hurt, how they got hurt, and their status. A player nursing an injury can be a difficult management situation and to know this up front will help.

Still looking at the individual teams, I would then look at statistics. Some referees that I know don't like to do this as there is a concern that it taints the opinion. I respectfully disagree, but also am careful to not let the bias creep in. For example, lets take the Revolution (stats here). What is this page telling me?

• Schilawski and Perovic are the goal scorers and Dube is right there in assists. These are players that might be marked hard and should be protected.
• Niouky stands out as committing the most fouls, yet does not produce (no goals, 1 assists, and a handful of fouls suffered).
• Cautions ... Niouky tops the list.
• Send offs ... there were 3 ... and Niouky has one. (Ed note ... he is a midfielder too, not a pure defender).

So from this I am starting to paint a picture of who may be at issue, and what is at stake in the match. Who are the coaches? Trainers? Know their names? Are they a problem? How would you deal with it even before stepping into the field?

From there I move on to the opposing team, and take great note of who is playing where and what the venue is.

How big is the field? Altitude? Local traditions? (Have you ever heard the cannons fire in Raymond James stadium in Florida after a goal? - Scared the crap out of me the first time ... and every time after that). Weather? Field Surface!! (I got bit by that one in NY once ... cost me $100 for a new pair of Copa's 3 hours before the match) By the way, traveling teams expect a "better" that fair shake.

Same approach for the opposing team. General to the specific.

Now, I move to head to head. Have these teams played before? What was the result? Were there problems in the match? Is payback coming?

I may actually try to get my hands on the match if possible and review it once to get a flavor. Also I would check the Week In Review for that week and see what happened.

How about calling that referee? Why not!

I believe there are two main points to consider when doing such research:

1. Get all the information you can about the teams themselves, head to head, and the venue. Synthesize the match from this. Who are the goal scorers, bullies, what's at stake?
2. Don't be a slave to the information! You are just looking at a two dimensional picture. Adapt the knowledge to the reality of the match, which is played in 4 dimensions.

With all this info, and thinking about how to apply it, you will be ready for many things that get thrown at you, and can say you are well prepared for a match ... assuming the knowledge of the game and fitness pieces are there too, as without those pieces peril awaits at that level.

More Upgrade Kudos

Here is another pair of referees that that performed exceptionally and have received upgrades for their efforts.
I want to take just a second a recognize these individuals that have distinguished themselves in this regard.

Keep it up guys!

James Moriarty & Frank Bagnardi

A time to celebrate

August has been a bit of a whirlwind for me personally for a variety of reasons. None the least of which is the work many have done surrounding my father's name that has occurred. Here is a very brief synopsis.

Stephen A. Kokolski Assessor of the Year.
This was a truly humbling experience. When first told about this honor of the renaming the MSRC Assessor of the Year Award to the Stephen A. Kokolski Assessor of the Year Award, I was shocked speechless (a rare occurrence unto itself). Even more humbling was the privilege to say a few words and present the award in the honor of the individual who received it. Mr. Pete Robinson truly embodies the values of this award for everything he does both for the program, and the referees and assessors it services. An honor well earned, and one I truly enjoyed delivering.

Photo courtesy MSRC

Stephen A. Kokolski Scholarship Awards.

August was also the month that the recipients of the 2010 Stephen A. Kokolski scholarships were awarded. A hearty congratulations to Mr. Christopher Fitzgibbon and Mr. Peter Reis, each a 2010 SAK scholarship award recipient.

Mr. Fitzgibbon came to us with not only solid refereeing credentials as he begins his career, but also a clear affinity for the sciences. Well rounded is probably the best way to describe Chris, as he seems to be equally comfortable in his role at MIT, as well as his ever expanding exposure to the finer details of music.

Mr. Reis also comes with some serious credentials as well. An honors student of chemical engineering at Northeastern University, in his off time is working at P&G and a recognized ability in the refereeing world as he attended at Region I President's Cup, and was an alternate for the National President's Cup in Nashville, TN.

Congratulations to both Chris and Peter!

We are in the process now of creating a web site for this ongoing foundation. It can be viewed here. Work is progressing and changes are coming.

A busy month so far indeed ... and one that will be topped off on the 28th by working with the instructional staff at the Development Night at the Revolution, where your humble author has been transformed from reporter, to quasi-instructor. Don't miss it ... it promises to be outstanding.

Week In Review - Week 20: A MUST READ

Kicking Back Comments:

For those who are not familiar with the "Week In Review" from US Soccer you should make it a regular read on a weekly basis. This week was particularly insightful as it talks about the "puzzle" that needs to be put together regarding Persistent Infringement (PI). Take the ten minutes and read it ... an excellent read.

Week In Review 2010 
Week 20 – Ending August 15, 2010 The ability of a referee to feel the game and piece together the various scenarios in a game (much like building a puzzle) has been reviewed in multiple “Week In Reviews” during the past two and a half seasons. This feel and the ability to piece together the big picture is one of the vital aspects of being a top-class referee. This version of the “Week In Review” will examine four clips requiring both feel and an understanding of the big picture to successfully navigate each scenario and make the optimum decision (guided by the Laws of the Game).


Full post here, courtesy of US Soccer.

Upgrade Kudos

It is always a special occasion when a referee attains a new grade. It is a very clear signal of accomplishment and commitment to the craft many of us have dedicated our lives to.

I want to take just a second a recognize a few individuals that have distinguished themselves in this regard.

I wish them well on this next phase of their journey.
James Cormican

John Fontes

Randy Ellis

Ben Stillwell

Yeah, but it's just a friendly ...

So this evening I was watching the New England Patriots play the New Orleans Saints in a pre-season gridiron football game. While not a gridiron football junkie, I do enjoy watching sometimes ... and certainly the home team whenever I can.

It got me thinking about fall and all it has to offer, including some tune up matches for some colleges or other amateur teams in the late summer, maybe even a high school match or two. It was then I remembered some advice I received a long time ago regarding such matches:

There is no such thing as a friendly match.

During these matches a referee can be at their most vulnerable. It is here that everyone involved can have the best of intentions in getting the teams together to "get the cobwebs out" or to prepare for an upcoming season. It is here however that players can lose their perspective and while not aiming to, really forget they are under the auspices of a referee.

If you accept a pre-season, scrimmage, or exhibition match, understand before hand what the expectations are. If it is a formal friendly or exhibition that is under the control of some state organization or league, chances are there is some understanding about what the expectations are and how they should be enforced. If not, you may want to find out before accepting the assignment.

That said, just because the match is not a league match does not give license to abandon the Laws Of The Game. For example, I was asked once to referee an O-30 scrimmage in my youth and "... not give any cautions". Well, you can guess what happened. I tried to oblige ... right up to the point there was a (2) footed, over the ball tackle that wound up in a fight.

Not so friendly after all.

Don't misunderstand me, there is a place for tuners. Not every match has to be a league game of some sort. Players need real game situations for practice too, and having a referee there helps. Friendlies are an essential part of what needs to happen for a team to prepare for a season or tournament.

My only point is to go into that match prepared like any other, and exercise the Laws as we have all been trained to do. Otherwise unwanted results may occur, for everyone.

Brains ... and Body

Kicking Back Comments:
The other day we briefly discussed the topic of referee performance regarding what ones brain can handle, today we look briefly at the body.


There is symbiosis in refereeing where the mind and the body must be in concert to be at peak performance. Note that this "peak" can change from level to level. Clearly one will not need the fitness and training of a World Cup referee to perform optimally at a typical youth match.


That said, fitness is required for every level match, from the in-town small sided matches all the way up. There is no exception to that. One must be fit to referee, and I would opine that that fitness should be obtained before the referee enters the pitch to do the match. Game situations are not the place to improve fitness. Tactical awareness (i.e. match experience) is a different story, there is no other way to get experience except with, experience. Fitness however is different.


That said, below is an article from FIFA that details some of the plight of the referee and fitness intersecting. An interesting, quick read. Again for the record, I am not a doctor, but if you want a medical opinion go here (this one is for you Elie).

Protecting the ref

Refereeing is highly demanding, both physically and mentally, and injury prevention is as important for referees as it is for players. A referee needs to be as fit as, if not fitter than, the players, since he or she may be up to 20 years older, is rarely a full-time professional and cannot be substituted during the match. On top of the physical stress, there is also the mental strain of being in control of the match for 90 minutes under the ever watchful eye of both the bench and the public.

With this in mind, the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) has taken a close look at referee injuries and complaints. Its most recent study - Injuries of amateur football referees: a representative survey of Swiss referees officiating at all levels of play - focused on the extent and type of injuries sustained by referees at all national levels. ...

Full article continues here, courtesy of FIFA.com.