EURO 2012 - Collina's axe makes best Refs' heads rolling as QF Match Official are appointed

'Not a single red card for violent conduct'. Head of UEFA Refereeing laudes EURO players' behaviour so far.

Lucio Menin in Warsaw

WARSAW. It's rest day for the Championship after yesterday's Group D completion with England and Spain qualifying to the next round, the quarter finals which will kick off tomorrow here at the marvel National Arena with surprise winner of Group A the Czech Republic hosting mighty Ronaldo's Portugal which sent the Oranje packing.

As the teams left in the championship and the impressive organized tournament's personnel were given a deserved rest day after an hectic week of hardly fought games and intensive travelling  - along the immensely vast but heavily cultivated lands of Poland and Ukraine whose regions in the past were respectively carrying such as telling names as 'Pomerania' and 'Granary of Europe' -  today was instead the day chosen for Match Officials report and for a press conference by the Head of UEFA's refereeing Pierluigi Collina and to show the media how the Referees training is held daily at the nearby Legia Warsaw's ground.

Showing his trade mark best stare in a blue coaching kid, (Pictured, courtesy of Uefa.com / Sportslife) the five consecutive times best referee in the world, debriefed the European media about the Tournament's goings so far.

Unfortunately for him the day chosen was just the day after what must have been ther 'Judgement's day' for UEFA President's Michel Platini Additional Assistant Referees experiment or otherwise called Extra Ass. Referees for those fifth and six men standing behind the goal line during the matches.

After quick introduction Collina went straight into the 'beef' by telling the 'numbers' as he called the statistics so far of his European Championship Review. 'We have been receiving good feedback' he said ' about the quality of refereeing both by the media and the football word itself' Collina continued 'and compared with the previous 2008 EURO in Switzerland and Austria we didn't have a single sending off for violent conduct' said the uncompromising Italian with pride for the remarkable achievement  adding that the 12 referees officiating in this tournaments are the best in Europe.


Than came the announcement- heavy like a thunderstorm lightening - that for the remaining seven games the twelve have become eight and when he announces the name of those dropped, it is clear what his message is 'Do not mess with me'. Among the heads fallen are in fact top European referees, the likes of  Stark, Kassai, Kuipers and Velasco. It is a ruthless decision by UEFA and a clear message to apply the best of interpretations for the Tournament progressing.


The Head of European Refereeing than named the Match Officials chosen for the next Quarter finals which are:

• Howard Webb (ENG) for tomorrow's CZE v POR
• Damir Skomina (SLO) for Friday's GER v GRE
• Nicola Rizzoli (ITA) for Saturdays' ESP v FRA
• Pedro Proenca (POR) for Sunday's ENG v ITA

EURO REFEREES's TRAINING DAY

 EURO Referee training; Watching defenders' line when ball's kicked / Cse Ltd



 The Hot Issue: Additional Assistants Training / Cse Ltd.




Staying level with players and running to the byline; not an easy task these days / Cse Ltd

 Additional Assistant Referees duties on Collina's hot revue after ENG v UKR blunder at the Referees  Training Ground

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