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A Note from AFC Asian Cup: Are the Referees Fair Enough?

The AFC Asian Cup is on the go. Four selected hosts have organized the running of the

biggest football tournament in Asia. All participants have performed for at least two

games.

This football event is supposed to show the aura of beautiful and fair-play games.

Therefore, the good combination between the players, the officials, the supporters, and

the leadership of a referee is a must. If one component is not dealt with this fair play,

quality football is still questioned.

In the case of on-going Asian Cup, the problem doesnt exist on the players and

supporters. Instead, it lies on the referees leadership. Some decisions are obviously

strange. Though there is no hard protest by the disadvantaged sides, if we saw the game,

the mistake made by the referees is quite silly.

If I have to say frankly, why some referees did it is because they come from the same

races as one of the teams. Just take a look at the game between Indonesia and Saudi

Arabia. The referee of this match is from United Arab Emirates, who have the same race

as the Saudi Arabian. Can you believe it? Another example is the game between Korea

and Bahrain which is led by a slanted-eyed referee. Is it only coincidental? I supposed

not

The AFC as the highest board in charge of this tournament should consider the referees

race background. It is good to consider the background country of the referees, but it is

best if it is combined with the races the referees come from. This is because it is natural

and human if one from a certain ethnicity or race tends to favor his/her race fellow. A

person can be fair and just at a time, but can he avoid the tendency of favoring one group

upon another if dealt with races? Maybe NO.

Recently Indonesia has just protested the referee to the AFC. Perhaps the other countries

will follow. If the AFC do not reform the referee recruitment, I think the tournament is

not worth seeing because there will be more possibility of unfair play, not only by the

referees but also by other parties such as teams and their supporters who are not

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disappointed with the decisions of the referees.

It is true that a referee is supervised by the AFC commissariat. Yet, can the bad decision

taken by the referees be revised? It is likely not. It is hardly possible to change the final

result of a match once the referee blows the final whistle. If this happens, there will beunproductive protests.

In brief, fair play game can be achieved if all possibilities of unfairness are diminished.

And to revise the regulation related to referee recruitment is one way to hold on the fair

play game.

Sport Salute!!!

Sunday, July 15, 2007 22:12:28 a6/p6 A Note from AFC Asian Cup.rtf

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