Title: Pierluigi Collina Calls Out Hostile Treatment of Referees as a Troubling Trend in Football
Pierluigi Collina, the former FIFA referee commission president, voiced his concerns about recent incidents involving physical and verbal attacks on referees, branding them as a significant issue plaguing football .
The most recent incident drew the attention of the football world when Faruk Koca, then-president of Ankaragucu, assaulted referee Halil Umut Meler following a Turkiye Super Lig game between Ankaragucu and Rizespor . Koca backed up claims that he attacked the referee in response to a disputed call and claimed no serious injuries were inflicted. Meler, however, insisted that Koca had threatened his life following the game .
Collina expressed his disappointment in the attack and stated that referees do not deserve such treatment, as they are simply fulfilling their duties and service to the game . Collina hinted that the incident was not an isolated event but part of a larger issue of aggressive behavior towards referees, which has persisted despite public outcry against such conduct .
The troublesome trend of referee abuse extends beyond massive football leagues, as countless referees on lower levels faced both verbal and physical abuse without drawing significant attention . A BBC and English Referees Association report suggested that 293 out of 927 surveyed referees reported experiencing physical abuse .
While Collina has not explicitly labeled the issue as "cancer," his references to referee abuse as an ongoing plague within football, and the broader impact on young referees, reflect the gravity of the situation . Collina, as a former international referee, recognizes the challenges faced by responsible referees in the modern game .
