TMW Exclusive
Present at the 25th Vannucci Memorial, currently taking place in Florence at Viola Park, the referee Mark Guide he made some statements to TMW regarding the refereeing season and not only: “When can a referee be defined as a “good referee”? I think that a referee should be seen little. Then the good referee is the one who tries to decide in the best way through experience, personality and above all technical ability”.
What kind of season does it look like for referees? “Complicated like the others, but from a personal point of view and as a group we feel ready to face any kind of difficulty”
Experience is not lacking. “Yes, I have to say that many young people are also doing very well.”
How was the European Championship? “A beautiful experience that I shared with another great referee like Daniele Orsato, but above all with my team and his team. An important experience for me, also from an emotional point of view, it will be something that I will keep among my best memories. The best moment? Beyond the games, it was living the daily life with my team”.
By the way, how does it feel to succeed Orsato as the new contact for all active referees? “I don’t know if I’ll be able to do what Orsato did for our association. He did a lot, I consider myself one of the many expert referees who make themselves available to the younger ones. We’ll do our best to try to pass on our experience”.
Have you taken any measures with VAR? “Yes, quite a few years have passed. And then let’s dispel this myth: the referee continues to decide as if VAR didn’t exist. Then he remembers VAR once he has made the decision, whether it’s right or wrong. The referee must continue to decide based on what he sees. Then, I repeat, if sometimes we can make bad decisions, help from VAR is welcome. It’s a huge service for football in general.”