Football Refereeing, A Nightmare In The Philippines

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We need referees who are fit and well-trained–prepared to execute their job competently.


Something is wrong when youth coaches in the Philippines think more about football referees than the game and the opponent.

For sure, there are great referees in the Philippines. But a lot of referees need more training and education in order to official games proficiently.

We sometimes forget that the referee is the most powerful person on the field. Nobody has power over their authority. The decisions they make are final.

To develop the game, we can’t just develop the players. We need to develop the referees, too.

Because of the importance of this position, referees are usually selected carefully. They undergo a number of trials before being certified. They also need to be fit physically to keep up with the action.

One of the problems in the Philippines is that some young referees are officiating higher-level competition before they are ready. Some are not in top physical condition. And some aren’t fully cognizant of the rules, especially as rules apply in a variety of game situations.

It’s simple and straightforward: We need referees who are fit and well-trained–prepared to execute their job competently. It’s for the good of the game.

About Lerche Njang

I’m Lerche Njang, an AFC-licensed coach and scout who specializes in soccer. Originally from Nigeria, I now live in the Philippines.



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