| Officials announced for UEFA EURO 2008� final tournament - 23 December 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The UEFA Referees� Committee today announced the full line-up of referees, assistant referees and fourth officials that will make up the team of experienced match officials for next year�s UEFA EURO 2008� final tournament in Austria/Switzerland. Twelve referees have been appointed to handle the 31 matches of the final tournament and will work together with 24 assistant referees in teams of so-called �trios� of the same nationality. They are joined by eight appointed 4th officials. The teams of �trios� are composed of referees and assistant referees from the same country and as a unit they have been active in UEFA competitions for the past year, mainly in the UEFA Champions League, and therefore have a good understanding of working together. Chairman of the UEFA Referees� Committee, Angel Mar�a Villar Llona, said of the appointments:
"It is never easy
to select the final list of names to officiate at a tournament as
prestigious as the UEFA European Football Championship. However
these officials are currently the best in the business at the moment
and deserve their chance. The idea of appointing �trios� began at
UEFA EURO 2004� as it enables the officials to work closely together
in their own domestic competition and at UEFA level for a longer
period of time before the tournament. We wish them all the very best
in their appointments at UEFA EURO 2008�."
The ear-piece communications system between the officials, as currently used in top European matches, is also authorised for use at UEFA EURO 2008� and should facilitate quick and efficient communication. The 44 selected officials for UEFA EURO 2008� will now begin their preparations in earnest and will attend a preparatory seminar in Switzerland from 14 � 17 April 2008 at the M�venpick Hotel in Regensdorf, Switzerland, where they will take part in a physical test and be given specific instructions for the final tournament. From 3 June 2008 the M�venpick Hotel, Regensdorf, will act as the base for the referee teams at UEFA EURO 2008�. From 26 June, those still involved in the tournament will move to the Renaissance Penta hotel in Vienna. During the final tournament any injured referee will be replaced by the 4th official at the match, and any injured assistant referee will be replaced by a 5th official who will come from the list of assistant referees not officiating at a game on that day. The officials will continue to officiate at European club competition matches but will not be appointed to any international friendlies concerning the 16 teams qualified for the final tournament. Support for the team of officials will include a physio, a doctor, and a fitness coach who has devised a specific programme for the tournament.
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