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Referees will wear special jerseys to highlight UEFA’s ‘Be a Referee!’ campaign at the UWCL quarterfinals this week, following an initiative which aims to attract 40,000 new officials each season.
As the Bilbao final gets closer and closer, match officials will wear unique shirts during some of the first and second legs of the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final matches to promote the new ‘Be a Referee!’ campaign.
Launched last year, the campaign is UEFA’s first-ever refereeing recruitment drive and is designed to inspire young people across Europe to take up officiating and be at the heart of the action. Working together with member associations, UEFA aims to recruit 40,000 new referees each season.
This week, top officials will be wearing special Macron shirts with ‘Be a Referee!’ written on their backs to raise awareness of the programme and inspire people to take up refereeing. Special on-screen messages are also set to feature in TV broadcasts ahead of games, just as they did during the group stages of the men’s competition earlier this season.
Hungarian referee Katalin Kulcsár said, “Refereeing is a type of career where you can be a part of football, attend matches, and be at the heart of the action. Perhaps this is the closest to football after being an actual player.”
Referee to reach your next level
To promote the campaign, leading referees Michael Oliver and Stéphanie Frappart starred in a unique video campaign designed with a gaming-inspired style. Through their eyes, fans can learn the necessary skills to be a top referee and experience the thrill of officiating matches at various levels, from grassroots to major international finals. This video was created in 35 languages and distributed by UEFA to all 55 European national football associations, which are responsible for recruiting and training new referees.
This campaign holds crucial significance for the future of football, as referees play a pivotal role in safeguarding the game on the field of play. In addition to improved fitness and a deep understanding of football, refereeing can equip young individuals with invaluable life skills that will serve them both on and off the field.
Roberto Rosetti, UEFA chief refereeing officer, said, “Being a referee is a very difficult job and courage is the most important value for refereeing. Protecting football and protecting the image of the game is our common goal.”
