Top European referees meet for UEFA course

Europe's leading referees – including 14 who have been chosen for this summer’s 2002 FIFA World Cup finals – gather in Monaco this week for UEFA's annual refereeing courses.

Advanced course
The match officials selected for Japan and the Republic of Korea will be attending the UEFA Advanced Course for Top and First-Class Referees, which takes place between Tuesday and Thursday.

53 referees
The advanced course is being staged for 53 referees – 29 from the top UEFA refereeing category and 24 members of the first-class category.

Introductory course
Another 34 referees, who are all recent additions to the international list, will be travelling to Monaco to attend the UEFA Introductory Course for International Referees from Wednesday to Friday.

Season review
UEFA's annual referees' gathering serves as a review of the first half of the current season, as well as preparation for the remaining weeks of the European campaign. The World Cup referees will also be consolidating their fitness for their summer assignment in the Far East.

Fitness test
All of the referees will undergo a fitness test and attend theoretical and practical sessions ranging from dealing with the media and a uniform approach to holding and pushing for the advanced referees, to preparation for UEFA matches and how to fill in the referees' report form for the new referees.

Video reviews
The referees at the two courses will participate in video reviews, while discussion groups will give the match officials the chance to exchange views and ideas on their experiences of officiating at matches at the highest European level.

Physical contact
"This year, the video reviews will concentrate in detail on physical contact in the penalty area," said UEFA's refereeing manager Yvan Cornu. "Under the guidance of the UEFA Referees Committee, the referees will establish the criteria to help them to take decisions on what represents proper contact, and when they should have the courage and conviction to punish fouls."

Expert training
"We also hope that the weather conditions will be favourable, enabling the referees to train outside with Belgian expert Professor Werner Helsen, assisted by Jean-Baptiste Bultynck."

Personalised programmes
"They have worked together with UEFA since EURO 2000™, and have been providing referees with personalised training programmes," he added.