Referees don different colours,take to the field to stay fit

Referees these days have to undergo a lot of tests to prove their ability and playing matches,officiating in games are one of the few options to improve their fitness. Rizwan ul Haq,a qualified FIFA referee said,“The job of a referee is tiresome. A referee has to run more than a player and on the wrong side of forty,I have to go through the drills,which could involve playing a local football match. I don’t mind a referee playing among young boys since he also has to maintain his fitness. Every year the physical tests get a level tougher,so if a referee does not spend time on his fitness,he might end up losing his job”.

But not everybody is impressed as they see it an unnecessary risk,since picking up an injury could keep them out of the game for months.

“Being an official on the field,I am totally against playing a football match. One should not play as the chances of injury are more and nor are we full-time footballers who can cope with injuries. If a referee succeeds in performing his duty,it’s more than enough,” said another national referee,S Saha.

The referees not only rub shoulders in the field but also have been known to take duties at the dug outs for clubs. There have been instances when the referee-cum-coach have gotten into altercations regarding the decisions made on the field. “Being referees,we forget that the person officiating on the field has a better view to everything. It is true that when we play the role of a coach,we sometimes get angry with the decisions made on the field. But after the match,we realise our mistake,” added national referee Jagdish Malhotra.