The referees have been under pressure all season. A lot of mistakes are made and that does not bode well for the play-offs.
The Football Association has had difficult months. It was not a time for Piet Vandendriessche, who has only been CEO of the football association for two months, to quietly familiarize himself with the company he works for.
There was a lot of work to be done, especially with the file surrounding the referees. “The referee leak may have been a good reason to push through some things in that regard,” Vandendriessche tells Het Laatste Nieuws.
A new head of the Referee Department was appointed in Peter Willems and he must ensure that peace is restored. “Ultimately it’s about putting the right people in the right place. And you need team players, people who can work together with others.”
No foreign refs in play-offs
Vandendriessche also feels the support for the referee corps after the ruling of the BAS in the matter of whether or not to replay the match between Anderlecht and KRC Genk around the penalty kick to be retaken.
“They supported the referees. ‘They are not überhumans who are flawless.’ Of course, those big mistakes have to be removed. They overshadow the many good work that receives much less attention.”
Vandendriessche is convinced that the referees are of a good level. That is why it has been decided, according to the CEO, that no foreign refs will be used during the Champions’ Play-offs, even though this was advocated this season.
