Ex football referee, and now the head of FC Shakhtar International Competition Department Ľuboš Micheľ has been answering the questions asked by visitors of Donetsk team’s site in detail for an entire hour. 

- Ľuboš, for the half year that you are working in Shakhtar, did the idea of the club change in any way?
- I would say that nothing has changed. Work at the club is well established and set up. I am in no way surprised as Shakhtar structure is built according to the pattern of Western European clubs.

- You are a referee with years of experience. Which of the rules of football would you like to have abolished or changed?
  - I wouldn’t say that there is something I do not like. I want football to be less rude, and the referees, if you will, to protect players like Zidane and Messi from getting injured, because players of such level attract fans to the stadiums. What would I like to change? I have been asked this question many times and I answered that it would be a slight increase of the goal. Although when I talked with Andriy Pyatov about this he did not like my idea. The size of the goal has remained unchanged over a hundred years. During this time, the average height of goalkeepers has dramatically increased to two meters. Besides, some 40-50 years ago, the height of goalkeepers was about 170 centimeters. And for the sake of more spectacular football it would be better if the match ended with the score 4-2, it is what fans look for in a game. Every goal for them is a new emotion: a joy for some and the opposite for another.

- Would you like to increase the height or width of the goal?
- Both: 5-7 cm upward, and 20-30 cm in width.

- Share your opinion about the episode with the penalty kick in the Ukrainian championship match of round 20 Zakarpattya - Zorya?
- Yes, the situation was complicated. Just a right moment for the help of fifth or sixth referee who would have seen the whole situation. After all, the camera showed the episode because from behind the goal, and the referee at the field sees everything from a different viewpoint. Chaikovskyy played the ball, and then there was physical contact, but the moment, I repeat, was complicated. I understand the decision of the referee made after seeing the action from his position on the field. A television broadcast with its reruns from different angles and what sees the referee are two different things. Even fans present at the stadium felt that the penalty was clean in their mass. And then, reviewing the recorded match, they are saying: "It is quite another pair of shoes, I never saw this at the stadium."

- Do you still internally simulate enter the field instead of the referee?
- No, I am already over it. To be honest, I would like to be a little aloof from refereeing in and to look at football from a different standpoint. Referee sees the game with one point of view, that of from his position. Now my job requires that I look at the game in a different way. While at the training camp I umpired three games. For me, it was additional training, an interesting exercise, doing which I had an opportunity to exchange jokes with the players.

- Do you exchange jokes with players on the pitch?
- In training games, I think, it is permissible. If I know the players from both teams, why not tell a joke: "There has been a foul," "There hasn’t," Ľuboš, call a penalty! "...

- And had you ever had a laugh on the field when you were a referee?
- Yes, such moments have occurred. Even in those games when everything is clear even before the final whistle. I remember the quarter-finals of the Champions League between Manchester United and Roma. Score was 7-1, and before the halftime the British had been winning 4-0. Roma footballers in the second half did not want to leave. I remember Totti approaching me 20 minutes before the final whistle and jokingly offering: "Finish the game already, don’t go wasting time!".

- Do referees ever turn to you for advice?
- Yes, they do. Most of them are young referees that ask how to succeed in referee career. Sometimes they want to discuss things to do to become a top referee in Europe.

- How do you think, why are the Ukrainian referees rarely called for European matches? In this regard, would you want to open a school for refereeing? And if you spot a decent referee in Ukraine, you would be able to introduce his candidacy for the UEFA judiciary?
- Those are pretty tough questions. I believe that the level of refereeing is not as bad as described. Some referees have what it takes to go on the international arena. But to achieve results in this case is only possible with certain professional qualities. One of them is knowledge of English. I think this is the most important of their problem. I was assisted by referees from Ukraine, and from Georgia. But they spoke English. I hope the younger generation of referees, which is coming to the scene now, will look at the world through different eyes. They are motivated to learn foreign languages. I am confident that in this new generation within five years there will be a referee who makes it at least for important matches of the UEFA Europa League.

- How do you feel about the UEFA experiment with six referees?
- I have already shared my opinions in this regard. I take this positively. Although there is a negative side to it: in fact, it is rather an expensive experiment. It is necessary to pay for flights of the whole pack of referees, etc. I think that they will dismiss this idea in future. Although remember the Zakarpattya – Zorya game mentioned above. There was a situation for the fifth referee.

- That goes to say that the experiment justifies itself?
- One can say it does. Not in every game, but in some episodes such referees are needed.

- Share your opinion on reruns. Do not you think that at least in the points of principle it may be worthwhile to seek the assistance of technology?
- Yes, such experiments have been carried out. In Denmark, the reserve championship match referee could see replays on the screen. But the FIFA and UEFA leaders believe that it might interfere with the game. They believe that because of this there will be many delays in the match nd for the fans it will not be interesting. In general, it is rather difficult time, especially in episodes occurring in the penalty area. I think in the top games - the finals of the World Cup or European Champions League and the Europa League - could be to use it. After all, technology helps to reduce referee errors, and it always works for football.

- At the training camp in Spain, when you refereed training matches for Shakhtar, you said that you did not have a whistle, and had to borrow one from Oleksandr Spyrydon, Mircea Lucescu assistant. Do you always have a whistle with you now? And say whether there is a fashion for referees whistles?
- When I started refereeing, it was a big problem to buy a good whistle. Very few companies were engaged in their production. Now 80-90% of the referees use the whistles produced by a Canadian company. They are the best in this field. Back then the whistles used to be made of metal, then they were black to match the color of referee uniforms. And now they make whistles of different colors, to match any uniform: yellow, blue, green. I always enjoyed black whistles, classic ones. As for now, after that incident, I threw one in my bag, and I go to a match with the team, I have a couple of whistles. I can use one of them when needed.

- Can you whistle without using your fingers?
- Yes, each referee must be able to whistle with the help of his fingers, for example. But I never really had to. One must be ready for anything: whistle can be suddenly dropped or something else might happen. This is a mandatory condition for the referee - to be ready for anything.

- Ľuboš, please name three of the best referees in Ukraine?
- There is the older generation of referees, who have achieved good results even on European level. They ate Orekhov and Ishchenko. And among the younger generation I can name five or six referees, talented and gifted. I like Mozharovskyy, to name one. In general, 10-12 Ukrainian referees are able to work at a very high level. I hope there will soon appear a referee respected throughout Ukraine

- Ľuboš, are there any distinguishing features of behavior for national football players on the field? Or are all the footballers the same?
- A very interesting question. Often you can hear coaches say that football habits of particular country reflect the culture of this country... It is connected with the climate - say, the Scandinavians are calmer. The more to the south a player’s motherland is, for example, Greece, Turkey, the more emotional they are. The same applies to Latin America. Footballers from Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay are very funny. Look at the game of their championship teams, their referees have very tough job. Regarding attitudes towards referees, I think, referees are treated best in England and Scotland. There players and coaches perceive a referee as part of the game. So there are no claims for their work there. There is such a thing as a football code. One of its paragraphs is respect for the referee and rivals.

- And what can you say about the Ukrainian football?
- They are all Slavs. It happens that in the decisive game it is hard to find a football player who wants to take responsibility. In the same match Ukraine - Greece there was not a player who took to decide the fate of their would-be trip to Africa, to score a goal and have it over and done with. This I would bring out as a characteristic trait of Slavic mentality.

- Are referees proposed to choose the color form?
- Each year, the referees of the top-level hold summits in winter and summer. They are always visited by representatives of the technical sponsor who offers some options. Referees express their opinions, their wishes. Uniform changes every two years: for the World Cup and European Championship. This is a commercial issue.

- Did you support any team while working as a referee? If yes, which one? Have you ever referee a match with them?
- I’ve always said that supporting teams that show entertaining and aggressive football. But I've never been a fan of any club. A referee must be neutral and independent from his emotions and passions. At the level of teams I’ve always been anxious for Slovakia performances. In general I have always supported spectacular football.

- Back to the question about football mentalities. You have seen many manifestations of joy or disappointment. Have you observed any particularly unusual emotions expressed?
- They play very emotional football in Arab countries. I refereed teams in Qatar, Lebanon, seen the whole team crying after losing the final. Their Sheikh, the owner of the team, walked out on the field, and they mourned their defeat together. They always express their emotions explicitly, wear their hearts on a sleeve. And the joy is also expressed in different ways. Some players even prepare some dance performances. But it is difficult to distinguish one thing. Most of all I like watch all the team being happy. So it was, for example, in Istanbul, when Shakhtar won the UEFA Cup: players with children in their arms, beaming with happiness ...

- Do you ever regret giving up your referee career for the sake of working for Shakhtar?
- Frankly, I don’t. You know, I'm wouldn’t call refereeing a job. It's rather a hobby, passion. Referees do not sign contracts like football players. Therefore, I would call very difficult such a hobby with lots of negative emotions to it. Referees are always blamed for everything: the media, coaches, players, fans ... After a difficult game it is hard to spread a newspaper and read what they write about you. Most often, there is lots of bad stuff. So my present job is easier in the sense that there is no amount of negativity. I am very glad that I joined Shakhtar staff. I am a part of a team that constantly plays in the Champions League, Europa League.

- Do you maintain your physical form somehow?
- My fellow referees frightened me that as soon as I give up refereeing I immediately gain 10-15 kilograms. I try to keep myself in good form. Still I gained 5 or 6 kg, although I believe this is normal. I do not want putting on more. Moreover, I'm a teacher of physical education and have always been closely connected with sports. So after work I either go to a gym or have a workout at the base.

- Did you come to like the Ukrainian cuisine yet? Did you like anything in particular?
- Yes, of course. I tried it before moving to Donetsk to work for Shakhtar, as I had to be referee for games with the participation of Ukrainian teams. The most famous Ukrainian dish is, of course, borshch. I think there is no one who would not like it. I lived in eastern Slovakia close to the Ukrainian border - about 70-80 kilometers, and we have many similar dishes such as stuffed cabbage, varenyks, dumplings. Therefore, I have no problems with Ukrainian cuisine.

- Ľuboš, where do you live in Donetsk? Does your family live with you?
- I have an apartment in Donetsk. Family comes to spend some time with me, and then we're going together for a few days back home.

- What grade is your daughter in?
- She is in the third grade.

- And where does your son study?
- The son graduated from high school and next year he will be a student of a college in Slovakia.

- Once you mentioned that keeping a car wash must be a very profitable business in Donetsk because of our coal dust. Didn’t you think of starting a business here?
- No, I didn’t, I am fine with business in Slovakia run by my wife. I came to work in a football club, and I do not have any other interests here.

- There are many things related to football in your bar in Slovakia. Which one is more memorable and dear to you?
- Probably, my shirt is; I wore it while refereeing the Champions League finals. And signed shirts of players.

- How do you communicate with Brazilian newcomers of Shakhtar who do not speak neither Russian, nor English?
- Football is an emotional language, and you can always explain with your hands, feet or smile (smiles).

- Ľuboš, is it difficult to walk the streets in Donetsk being so popular?
- I take attention to myself as a result of what I have achieved in the football world, therefore it is always flattering.

- Is there any entertainment venues you like to go to, except for the Donbass Arena? Maybe a movie theatre or Dolphinarium?
- I don’t go to movies for now, because at home I have a Slovak television, and want to go to the Dolphinarium with my daughter when she arrives.

- Ľuboš, there was mentioned a possibility of abolishing offside rule in the football press. How do you feel about it?
- I think they confused some things in the media. I understand that the president of FIFA has a lot of press conferences, and, perhaps, he something said in jest, and then it got so hyped. Football wouldn’t be football without offsides.

- What is your attitude towards the rule changes and do you think they are associated with the television picture?
- Yes, I think all the rules that were changed in the last ten years were aimed at the acceleration of the game and providing a more aggressive football. Remember that it was possible before to pass the ball back to goalkeeper so that, winning with 1-0, a team could keep time. Now it has been canceled. People come to the stadium to see a spectacular game with interesting moments and combinations, so FIFA only supports this idea.

- What are some of the European championships comparable the Championship of Ukraine?
- Maybe you can compare the championship of Ukraine with the Championships of Holland, Belgium, Scotland where there are two or three teams fighting for the championship. As for the opponents in the UEFA Cup... there can be mentioned Tottenham, CSKA, Marseille. CSKA still play in the Champions League. I think after Shakhtar beat CSKA in Moscow, the guys realized that they could make it for the finals. Shakhtar showed their level. Guys added to the technical qualities their commitment and got that team spirit.

- You have been living in Ukraine already for 1.5 years. I remember at first you said that some of our realities surprised you, like the 8th of March. After all this time is there still anything that surprises you?
- I believe that if a person goes to another country, he or she must take its customs and culture and respect the traditions of its people, so I have no surprises. You never know where you will find yourself tomorrow, so you should be ready for anything, to learn languages.

- Are you psychologically tired of the constant change of location? Do you get this feeling of wanting to get away from everything?
- I sometimes do, but I'm used to it. As an international referee for FIFA since aged 25, I’ve spent 18 years talking to suitcases and changing my whereabouts.

- Is it hard to referee the final match of the Champions League?
- Yes, it is difficult. There played two grandee of the English football. Before that there had been a conflict in the championship match between stewards of Stamford Bridge,who said something to the players of Manchester United ... I have always envied those referees who umpired the final match without additional time.

- How do you think a Ukrainian referee can umpire a match of such a level?
- Any referee can umpire a game like the Champions League final. But for this he needs to go all the way to the top group of the UEAF referees.

- What is the greatest number of yellow and red cards you had to show in one match?
- I've never been fond of statistics. In 1994, after the World Cup in America, it was decided: if you drove from the back, you got a red card. I remember that on Thursday we went for training on the subject, and on Saturday I went to the game, the theory in my head still. As a result - 12 yellows and two reds. After 2 rounds we had new summits and they told us: "Guys, take it easy!" This goes to show that theory is one thing, but practice on the field is quite another.

- Players have their signs before going on the field, how about referees?
- True, some walk on the field with their left leg first, some do not change the shirts, some use the same card, some use their charms ... I had gift from my children - they were like guarding me.

- Ľuboš, what is your job now?
- Our department deals with contacts related to UEFA, FIFA, the organization charges, visas for the players, the adoption of the guests who come to Donetsk, the club presentations at various events. Working in football does not mean work from Monday to Friday, as at a factory, one should be ready to change every day.

- If they asked you to give a master class for Ukrainian referees would you agree?
- I could give a lecture and talk about their experiences in this regard. I think it would be more useful for the young referees that have serious plans to become international judges.

- What did you have to give up for the sake of referee career?
- Working as a referee takes a lot of time and means a lot of traveling... The most difficult is to combine it with having a family.

- I would like to know how do referees get appointed for the final match of the Champions League? Is a blind draw among the top referees, or anything else?
- I think that every year there is picked a group of senior referees, among which whom there are chosen referees for the finals of the Champions League and the Europa League.

FC Shakhtar
Press office





 

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