The President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, held a meeting with the referees and assistants of the First Category, as part of preparations for the new season and with the aim of conveying important messages on responsibility, standards and professionalism in refereeing.
Also present at the meeting were the Director of the Arbitration Department at the Albanian Football Association, Bernardino González Vázquez, as well as the president of the Albanian Football Referees' Union, Tahir Kastrati.
In his speech, President Duka emphasized the central role that the referee has in the development of a match, underlining the responsibility that the refereeing body bears to guarantee the smooth running of the game and respect for the rules.
"I don't undertake to give technical lectures on how to referee, but at least I know one thing and we all should know and obey it, the one who commands the game is the referee on the field. The responsibility for every mistake that occurs lies with the referee on the field. Everyone else is an accessory to help the main referee.
"It doesn't matter in which category you referee, a match is a match, it's a confrontation, it's a competition, it's an education, whether in the superior category or at the amateur level, you have to do your best," said the head of the football government.
President Duka also focused on the importance of knowing and correctly implementing the new rules, as well as the need for the entire refereeing body to function as a team, in cooperation with the refereeing management structures.
"Being at this early stage of the championship, I wanted to remind you of the new rules that have been introduced. You cannot underestimate them. A rule that is not respected is worse than a rule that is not imposed. It is very important that they are respected and learned by everyone.
"Bernardino's successes always depend on the desire and support. First of all, from the Arbitration Committee, secondly from you, the referees, the entire refereeing body in Albanian football. Ultimately, this is also a team, just like football teams, if it does not function as a team, success is very difficult to achieve, almost impossible", - said President Duka.
He further emphasized that standards and accountability must be the same in every category, while warning that disciplinary violations will be handled in accordance with the relevant regulations.
"There will be no public punishments for technical reasons, except for disciplinary ones as provided for in the regulations, but there will undoubtedly be long-term or permanent suspensions, because the one who does it does not have to suffer for everyone."
"I wish us the best possible edition. An edition with beautiful games, with spectacle, with as few or no mistakes as possible," said the President of the Albanian Football Association (AFHA) in his speech, among other things.
