Israeli Referee Assigner Addresses VAR Errors and Referee Pressure
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israeli referee assigner Alon Yefet admitted to an increase in VAR errors this season due to a directive to lower intervention thresholds, stating the association is working to correct it. He also addressed the severe personal pressure on referees, noting one is unable to officiate due to threats against his family. Yefet explained assignment criteria and the process for handling referee requests to avoid specific teams, while also highlighting improvements in net playing time.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Referee assigner Alon Yefet acknowledged increased VAR errors this season.
- Yefet revealed referees' families have received threatening calls.
- One referee, Dekel Tziono, is unable to officiate due to the pressure.
- The Israeli Football Association is working to correct VAR intervention thresholds.
- Referees' requests to avoid specific teams are temporarily honored.
Alon Yefet, the referee assigner for the Israeli Football Association, acknowledged an increase in VAR errors this season, attributing it to a directive to lower the threshold for interventions. He stated that the association is working to correct this, with new instructions issued this week to bring referees to the monitor if a decision is clearly incorrect. Yefet defended the overall quality of refereeing, noting that while mistakes occur globally, the number of errors in Israel is not disproportionately high when compared to the number of games played. He emphasized the association's transparency, admitting to errors and reviewing them after each round.
Yefet also addressed the intense pressure and personal attacks faced by referees, specifically mentioning Dekel Tziono, who is currently unable to officiate due to the situation. Yefet revealed that Tziono's family's phone numbers were contacted, which he deemed unacceptable and stated the association supports Tziono. He also noted that referees who request not to officiate certain teams, such as David Foxman with Maccabi Netanya and Yigal Fried with Hapoel Kfar Saba, will have their requests honored temporarily.
Regarding referee assignments, Yefet explained that decisions are made based on the game's nature, the referee's recent performance, and physical condition, citing examples like Shnir Levi not officiating Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Gal Levi not officiating Ashdod due to their proximity. He stressed that referees are not disqualified for making mistakes and that the association focuses on teaching them to self-correct rather than imposing lengthy suspensions. Yefet also highlighted improvements in 'net playing time' this season, surpassing English and German leagues, due to stricter enforcement of rules.
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