AS the 2022 FIFA World Cup gets set to kick off in Qatar, all eyes will be on the game’s biggest stars – Neymar, Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne, Karim Benzema, Vinicus Jr, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane. Flair, creativity, vision and goals – all hallmarks of the beautiful game – will be on show from November 20 to December 18.
While young footballers dream about representing their country at the World Cup, there are some who wish to be involved in a different capacity. The beautiful game is not just about star players, in fact, it is not just about the players.
What would football look like without the referees and assistants to keep the game within the legal parameters.
For some, the performance of the referee is equally important to ensure a good spectacle.
A whistle-happy referee could ruin the flow of a game, curb end-to-end action and deprive fans of a special moment.
However, a referee that isn’t firm in enforcing the rules could result in a game descending into chaos and danger to players.
Trinidad and Tobago did not qualify for World Cup 2022 but we will still be represented in Qatar.
Assistant referee Caleb Wales was named among 129 match officials (36 referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video match officials) to officiate in Qatar. Wales will be the fifth TT official to represent at a FIFA World Cup, following Douglas James (assistant referee, 1994 in the United States), Ramesh Ramdhan (referee, 1998 in France), Merere Gonzales (assistant referee, 1998 in France) and Michael Ragoonath (assistant referee, 2002 in South Korea and Japan).
Sangre Grande referee Nicholas “Pele” Augustus told Newsday he is delighted to see Wales on the big stage.
“He’s one of our own...I’m really glad Caleb is there, but I would like to see more referees from the Caribbean, especially in Trinidad, make it on the World Cup stage. We have Caleb Wales – kudos, I’m proud of that, but I’d like to see more than just one.”
Augustus believes referees deserve more respect as they have the hardest job on the field.
[caption id="attachment_985944" align="alignnone" width="825"] Nicholas Augustus -[/caption]
“If a player goes out there and takes a shot that went straight over bar, yuh go say, ‘Hard luck.’
“But if a referee doesn’t make a precise call or correct decision they won’t say hard luck, they go say, ‘Referee, yuh doing...”
Local referee Crystal Sobers, 41, a 2018 nominee for CONCACAF Female Referee of the Year, said Caribbean referees have it tough as they balance refereeing duties with their regular jobs.
“I work 8am-3pm, then I have to go and train. I train like an elite athlete. You have strength, conditioning, speed; different days you allocate to do something different, because it’s different muscles you working with.”
She said referees always have to get better through sessions hosted by the TT Referees Association and Concacaf.
“FIFA also implemented this new portal, so as the game develops the referee has to develop too.”
Asked about being cognisant about what she consumes, she added,
