FRANCE 98 – Team France comments on referreing

Refereeing is once again a hot topic. At the training centre for FRANCE, the National Coaching Centre in Clairefontaine (south of PARIS), the suspension of Zinedane ZIDANE (10) during the FRANCE-SAUDI ARABIA match (no. 21) has fueled the debate over the difference in refereeing between the first and second matches of the first round.

Fullback Bixente LIZARAZU (3) explains the consequences: “in the first matches of the first round, we expected more severe sanctions on dangerous play and they never happened.” Did Michel PLATINI’s comments on refereeing influence the tide of cards that were handed out during the first two matches? “He just anticipated before the referees,” quips Youri DJORKAEFF (6). On a more serious note, the figures for Thursday 18 June demonstrate the referees “reaffirmation”, as eleven players were booked and five players were sent off in just two matches. The referees must have seen “red.”

“The refereeing has not been that easy for us to deal with. There is hesitation in every move we make, and the fine line between what’s allowed and what’s not seems a bit fuzzy,” states LIZARAZU (3). “Plus, he says, there are situations where the players are in real physical danger. A player who jumps in with both feet, or one who doesn’t play the ball, thereby becoming dangerous, should systematically be shown a red card.” “Liza” is apt to comment on the subject, since he received a questionable yellow card. “Referees never change their decisions, so why protest? But after the match the referee did admit that he’d made a mistake by booking me. Too bad it took him so long to realise it.”