The Cyprus Referees’ Association issued a statement expressing its concern regarding recent public comments on refereeing. It emphasizes that criticism of decisions is legitimate, but personal attacks and the disparagement of referees are not.
He refers to excessive pressure that affects the work and mental well-being of referees and calls on the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) to intervene whenever such excesses are observed. At the same time, it expresses its support for the CFF, Antonio Damato, and the Cypriot referees, with special mention of the young referees who were promoted to the First Division this year.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In conclusion, the Association calls for trust, support, and respect, urging all parties involved to help reduce tensions and create a better environment for Cypriot refereeing.
The full statement reads as follows:
“The Cyprus Referees’ Association has been following with concern the public statements made in recent days by officials and press offices of First Division teams on both sides regarding refereeing.
We recognize the right of every club/team and every official or press representative to express disagreement or criticism regarding refereeing decisions. Criticism, when exercised with evidence, respect, and within the institutional framework of soccer, constitutes constructive criticism aimed at improvement rather than serving ulterior motives.
However, it is one thing to offer legitimate criticism of a refereeing decision, and quite another to make public statements—whether written or spoken—that are personally directed against referees, call their authority into question, insult them, undermine, and diminish their dignity and character, or generally foster a climate of disrespect toward refereeing.
The Association believes that such practices do not merely harm the specific referee who is the target of a public attack. Any direct or personal attack, especially when it takes on a tone of distrust, consequently affects the prestige and credibility of all referees and members of the Cyprus Referees’ Association.
The extreme pressure referees are currently under has exceeded the bounds of reason and sportsmanship. The constant questioning and tension surrounding their decisions burden their work and, by extension, negatively affect their mental state.
As a soccer governing body, we expect the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) to monitor such behavior and, where it is determined that established limits have been exceeded, the relevant procedures be implemented and, where necessary, that the individuals be referred to the Sports Judge.
At the same time, the SDK questions whether the constant and excessive focus on refereeing in certain cases constitutes a long-standing practice, through which an attempt is made to divert the fans’ attention from other competitive or administrative problems that the teams may be facing. In any case, refereeing cannot serve as a permanent excuse or an easy way out when it comes to assigning responsibility….
The SDK believes that, at this stage, the intensity and scope of certain statements are excessive and exceed the limits of permissible criticism.
We call on the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) to actively support Cypriot refereeing and to continue to trust Cypriot referees, evaluating them based on objective and game-related criteria.
Temporary pressures and interventions must not lead to the undermining of our referees’ professional capabilities, nor to a persistent perception that the solution necessarily lies in the selection and deification of foreign referees.
The SDK expresses its confidence in the actions of the Cyprus Football Association and its support for the immediate supervisor of the Referees’ Committee, Mr. Antonio Damato, as well as to all Cypriot referees. Special mention goes to our young referees who were promoted to the First Division this year and are taking their first steps at the highest level.
Cypriot referees need trust, support, and protection so that they can carry out their work with independence, confidence, and dedication, while developing their skills and making a meaningful contribution to the progress of Cypriot soccer.
At the same time, it is essential that everyone—and especially team representatives and officials—contribute to creating an environment free from excessive pressure, tension, and conflict, which often spill over onto the playing fields.
A change in mindset is required, along with a move away from the prejudices, practices, and ills of the past. Through mutual respect, trust, and responsibility, we can create the conditions that will allow refereeing to develop and become an even more essential pillar of Cypriot soccer.”
