The Euro (June 14-July 14) in Germany is fast approaching and UEFA is making decisions. During an interview with our colleagues from L’Equipe, the president of the referees’ commission, Robert Rosetti, announced a new measure. “The referees will be firm on bad gestures and protests in order to protect the image of the game and leave a sporting legacy for future generations,” he told the French daily.
To do this, the captain will be the only one who can discuss with the referee and thus avoid crowds: “We ask all teams to ensure that the captain is the only player who speaks to the referee. We ask captains to ensure that their teammates do not come around the referee, which will allow a direct conversation to be had so that the decision is relayed in a timely and respectful manner. It is the captain’s responsibility to ensure that his teammates respect the referee, keep their distance and do not surround him.
In the event of non-compliance with this rule, the player will be penalized with a yellow card. “Any player who ignores the role of his captain and/or who approaches the referee by showing a lack of respect or a challenge will be warned,” explained Robert Rosetti before clarifying a specific situation. Obviously, if the captain is a goalkeeper, it will be necessary to designate an outfield player to fill this role if an incident occurs at the opposite end of the field.
