What languages do the refs speak?

[illpucks]

With so many languages I'm wondering if the refs that are employed for the World Cup selected based on their language skills? Like South Korea vs Germany, do the refs for that game speak both Korean and German? I would think the players complaining to the ref would do it in their first language so I'm wondering this

Click to read more...

 

[JayKing]

Mostly English. If not Spanish. Russia vs Spain you could here the ref during the coin toss, he was speaking in broken English which both Ramos and Akinfeev responded to in similar fashion.

 

[Stray Wasp]

I find the temptation to answer 'Martian' irresistible.

 

[les Habs]

I find the temptation to answer 'Martian' irresistible.

I find the temptation to answer 'Madridista in Spain' irresistible, but I won't do it. I won't say 'in Spain they speak Madridista'. I mean I could post 'refs in La Liga speak Madridista', but I won't.

 

[HajdukSplit]

I think English is required if you want to become a FIFA/UEFA elite level ref

There was a documentary following 3-4 refs during Euro 2008 (used to be on youtube, not sure if its still up) and they were mic'd up during the games. The referee crews are usually from the same country and they talk to each other in their native language (Webb in English, Rossetti in Italian, Busacca in Italian). When speaking to the players it was 99% English, the only time it wasn't was when the ref spoke one on one with the player and he knew they understood the language. For example they mic'd Busacca for a Sweden-Greece game and he kept yelling at Karagounis in Italian



They actually mic'd Howard Webb during that infamous Poland-Austria match too

 

[HajdukSplit]

Here is the full video, not the best quality unfortunately

 

[Siamese Dream]

In hockey in IIHF they speak English and they are graded on their English speaking ability, someone once told me about a native English speaker from the UK being marked down because they spoke too quickly!

 

[Stray Wasp]

I find the temptation to answer 'Madridista in Spain' irresistible, but I won't do it. I won't say 'in Spain they speak Madridista'. I mean I could post 'refs in La Liga speak Madridista', but I won't.

The important thing is to be able to understand the phrase, 'We'd like to play our game-changing penalty joker card now, thanks' when you hear it.

 

[Prntscrn]

I think if both the teams and the refs are from Europe they speak European

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

I find the temptation to answer 'Madridista in Spain' irresistible, but I won't do it. I won't say 'in Spain they speak Madridista'. I mean I could post 'refs in La Liga speak Madridista', but I won't.

Generally true but if Barcelona is involved and the opponent is a smaller side they may also be very fluent in Catalan.

 

[illpucks]

Heard there was a complaint in col vs eng because ref didn't speak Spanish

 

[Ceremony]

I find the temptation to answer 'Madridista in Spain' irresistible, but I won't do it. I won't say 'in Spain they speak Madridista'. I mean I could post 'refs in La Liga speak Madridista', but I won't.

 

[Albatros]

I think English is required if you want to become a FIFA/UEFA elite level ref

Maybe in practice because seminars are typically held in English, but there are hardly any formal requirements or tests regarding language knowledge (English, French, Spanish, and German are official correspondence languages).

Last World Cup there was this little incident:

'He couldn't even speak English' - Croatia players slam Japanese

 

[Corto]

Last World Cup there was this little incident:

'He couldn't even speak English' - Croatia players slam Japanese

F*** Nishimura and f*** Fred.

Excuse the language. I just get triggered by that.

 

[philip]

I think if both the teams and the refs are from Europe they speak European

 

[Whiplash27]

...but what happens when the players don't speak English? I'm sure there are tons of players who don't speak English well or at all. I guess as long as there are a few guys around to translate, the other players stay away from the ref? IDK.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

...but what happens when the players don't speak English? I'm sure there are tons of players who don't speak English well or at all. I guess as long as there are a few guys around to translate, the other players stay away from the ref? IDK.

They don't have to talk to the ref. In fact, other than the captain, they aren't really supposed to. A ref can technically officiate a match just with his whistle and hand signals.

 

[Albatros]

The role of the captain in football is sometimes exaggerated though, the Laws of the Game state explicitly that:

"The captain of a team has no special status or privileges under the Laws of the Game but he has a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of his team."

So regarding communication it is not quite comparable to hockey where only the captain has the authority to speak to the referees when it comes to refereeing decisions.