The Referee's

 

The toughest job in football is getting tougher all the time with referee's and match officials under the microscope every single week in leagues around the world. In this day and age one decision can mean the difference between promotion and relegation, first and second, everything and nothing. The men in the middle who are bestowed with this responsibility and those around them have the unenviable task of ensuring that the game both you and I pay to see is run fairly and plays out in the right manor and spirit usually under the most intense of conditions.

This docu-film follows the journey of the referee's and their assistants throughout the European Championships of 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Never before has such intimate access been granted to the world of the match day official and what exactly does go on in a match situation in a major tournament. The film opens with swiss referee Massimo Busacca officiating a group stage match between current holders of the Euro title Greece and Sweden fully microphoned up and in the late stages of the game with Greece 2-0 down, After the game the greek players approach Busacca who explains 'I make mistakes, we are not god's' indicating that there has been an incident during the game to which the greek players show respect to the officials honesty.

Howard Webb then becomes the main focus of the documentary during a match with Poland and Austria. Official Mike Mullarkey allows a Polish goal to stand despite the attacker being in an offside position only noticing after the goal is replayed on the giant screens inside the stadium. Polish supporters are then in uproar after Webb gives a penalty in the 93rd minute as a result of persistent holding. During all this Howard Webb's family both proud and passionate about the referee's involvement within the tournament receive coverage reflecting on decisions and reaction from those whom the decisions went on to affect, resulting in threats from Polish supporters of retribution against Webb.

Post match analysis of the performances of the officials performance is undertaken on camera giving unique insight into the way the referee's perceive their own performance and that of those around them in addition to the selection committee's reactions to how they think the performance has been including the reaction of UEFA president Michel Platini. The dressing room scenes show a degree of solidarity between the officials as Mullarkey,Darren Cann and Webb come through their next fixture without controversy, in particular Mullarkey displays relief and joy having made a crucial error in the previous match.

The documentary also highlights the interaction between players and officials not just on the pitch but also in the tunnel post match and in the dressing rooms. With the referee's keen to implement respect and to challenge petulant and abusive behaviour from both manager and players. Other officials highlighted include Peter Vink, Roberto Rossetti, Peter Frojfeldt and Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez culminating in the selected officials for the final and featuring match-by-match coverage of the conversations between officials and reaction from both family and fellow officials to the decisions made during the game.

Overall this film is a must-watch for anyone considering becoming the man in the middle or even anyone interested in what exactly goes on beyond the comfort of the stands in the thick of the action. The film is currently available for purchase on play.com and with christmas fast approaching will make an ideal stocking filler.