A referee who comes on TV to explain his decisions right after the final whistle. That’s historic. I’m weighing my words.
It’s in Spain. The league and the referees’ committee are testing it this weekend. After the Basque derby Athletic Bilbao-Real Sociedad, Sunday at 9pm, and in a second match, since DAZN and Movistar+ will each get one interview with a referee. Then they’ll roll it out gradually, if they’re happy.
I sent it to “Sunday Devils” before I’d even finished the article. Twelve members, eleven replies in four minutes. My brother-in-law wrote “finally”. For once we agree, I pointed it out, and he wrote nothing more.
Because from seat 14 in stand 2, I have questions for a referee. I’ve always asked them. Nobody ever answered. Mr Referee, did you see it, yes or no? I stay formal with him, it’s more effective for contesting.
Then I read the rest. They’ve already been speaking before matches since the start of the season. There’s an agreement between the referees’ union, the AESAF, LaLiga and the Spanish federation. And 500,000 euros set aside to pay them for taking part in the broadcasters’ content.
So the referee gets his post-match interview, like a gaffer. He’ll say he’s reviewed the images, that he lacked a bit of luck, that there are positives. I’ve been recycling those lines for twenty years, and now the referees are going to overtake me. A disgrace. I’m weighing my words on that one too.
I checked, and the referee has no supporters. Who will he talk to, actually?
To me, Louise. He’ll talk to me. Historic, really. Well, not bad. Now we take it one game at a time, you know.
It’s true, we checked: RMC Sport.
