Captain rule is for the good of football

Anyone who does not follow the captain’s rule will receive a yellow card in the future – just like at the European Championships in Germany. (IMAGO / ANP / IMAGO / MAURICE VAN STEEN)

It was a first at the UEFA European Championship in Germany: only the team captains were allowed to discuss things with the referees. This new rule was intended to prevent the referee from forming a mob, which would make it difficult for him to make decisions in such a situation. Any player who did not follow this rule received a yellow card.

The new regulation has been so well received by referees, fans and the media that it now applies to all German football leagues, both professional and amateur, for women, men and youth.

“It became clear relatively quickly that this had to be introduced in Germany as well,” said Alexander Feuerherdt, media expert for the DFB referees, in an interview with Deutschlandfunk. The German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League did not have much to discuss and quickly came to an agreement.

The aim of the nationwide introduction of the regulation is primarily to strengthen the referees and give them more respect. The net playing time would also be increased as a result, and the professional sector would serve as a model for the amateurs, says Feuerherdt.

FAQ and explanatory video for smooth rule introduction

In order to ensure that the captaincy rule is smoothly introduced, implemented and accepted in the amateur sector, even though there is often only one referee per game, a detailed press release has been issued and an FAQ has also been written.

It also states: “It does not mean that the players are no longer allowed to speak to the referees in general,” the referee expert clarifies. “It is about the fact that when important decisions are made, only the captain is authorized to get an explanation from the referee.”

A new hand signal has also been established for this purpose: an outstretched arm is meant to indicate: stop, now the communication takes place between the referee and the captain.

“Please keep your distance, don’t come too close to me. That has always been the signal and basically always resulted in a yellow card if the players overdid it,” Feuerherdt recalls. The signal is now just more formalized. To avoid any misunderstandings, an explanatory video was also made with typical example scenes.

“And let me make it clear again: That doesn’t mean that the captain can do anything. Even shout at the referee or whatever, but if he goes too far, he’ll get a yellow card.”

IFAB actually wanted to start with a test phase with amateurs

Rule changes in football actually go through the desk of the IFAB, the International Football Association Board, which actually advises on changes to football rules and can also decide on them. But since the IFAB actually wanted to test the captaincy rule for suitability in a test phase with amateurs anyway, and the European Championship in Germany has already gone so well with it, there is agreement with the IFAB on the current introduction throughout Germany:

“This is not a regulation by the DFB alone, just as it was not a regulation by UEFA alone,” Feuerherdt confirms. The IFAB is now looking for ways and means to introduce the captaincy rule in several national leagues. Its aim is to curb unsportsmanlike conduct, so it is in favor of the new regulation and its introduction because it serves football and protects the referees, says Feuerherdt.

Regulation specifies the captain’s role as contact person

However, because the captain is given the sole right to speak to the referees in decision-making situations, he also takes on a certain special role, which actually contradicts the guidelines that he should not have a special role or privileges in the team, but only bears responsibility for the behavior of his team. Feuerherdt contradicts this: The new captain’s rule is a clarification of the previous definition of the captain’s role:

“In a certain sense, it’s true, he is given a special role because he is given the right to be the only one who can ask the referee about an important decision, why did something just happen? But you could also say that it makes his role as a contact person more concrete.”

And since the new rule is “certainly for the good of football,” the referee expert sees no conflict there.

The DFB has been trying to strengthen the position of referees for some time. The fact that this regulation was not introduced earlier is due to the football tradition that is associated with emotions:

“It has to do with the culture of football, it is not accepted. There has always been a lot of argument based on emotions, which would then be removed if such a rule were introduced. Well, now they are all very positive.”

Feuerherdt sums up that sometimes it just takes someone to step forward and try something on the big stage. And it also takes a change in mood, so that the discussions and the disrespectful behavior towards referees are seen as a disruptive factor and criticized. The reactions from the professional clubs have been accordingly: they think the introduction is good and welcome the fact that the positive momentum from the European Championships is being carried over straight away.

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