In the long and rich history of football, it is easy to quote a particularly recognizable footballer with a capillary in particular. Carlos Valderrama, Taribo West, Radja Nainggolan or Jules Koundé. We can also talk about tattoos aficionados, such as Neymar or Djibril Cissé. But on the side of the referees? Apart from the bald skull of Pierluigi Collina, who has become legendary, nobody really stands out.
That's anything but a coincidence. Marca took care of this subject, that of the physics of football referees. And sums it all up: there is no official rule imposed by FIFA or UEFA, but rather a kind of unwritten law, use.
“The referee must not only be impartial, he must also appear”This is what is the maxim, advocated in arbitration schools all over the world. And who explains why the whistles often have a fairly neutral appearance. “The referees aspire to be invisible, explains Marca. Go unnoticed. That their presence does not condition the history of the match, not even from a visual point of view. »»
A referee must embody seriousness and neutrality
This is why the referees do not have visible tattoos because it would display their personality a little too much. The long beard is also not recommended. A close shaved face transmits more authority, more visual clarity, and therefore more serious, according to some studies. This vision of things may seem a little outdated, even retrograde, but that is.
Marca Add that some European academies teach young referees to take care of their appearance. Hair, shaving and even nails, everything must be impeccable. The idea is clearly to tend towards physical neutrality, if such a concept can exist.
