Kathmandu, 26 January : Referees are responsible for the general supervision of the game and have the final authority on all rulings. A referee is assisted by other officials in the game. The number of supporting officials varies according to the rules of different games. They are known by several other titles as well, including judge, umpire, linesman, arbitrator, timekeeper, and technical official. Their responsibilities usually include starting or stopping the game whenever necessary and resolving infractions of game standards. Before starting the game, they may check the equipment to ensure that it adheres to safety standards and game regulations.

It is said that a good referee should not be seen; they are constantly under a microscope when they make decisions. As referees, they must be experts in rules. They must be perpetual students of their sports. They should be calm and confident, even when the crowd is loud. Confidence is the number-one skill a referee should have. If a referee doesn’t have a high level of self-confidence, he or she is not going to do well. With every call a referee makes, it is necessary that they be confident, even if they are unsure of the call. Confidence is the key to a good referee, because if a referee starts questioning himself, then the players will notice that and begin to question the integrity of the referee itself.

Referees need quick observation skills, excellent concentration, patience, and the ability to thrive well under pressure. A referee has to watch the game carefully, track time, call out faults, and communicate with players and other officials. It’s a challenging job, from passing the entry-level exam to advancing to higher levels, getting the best assignments, and doing a good job under pressure in a big game. 

These are all challenges for every referee, and when these goals are met, it creates a great deal of satisfaction. Refereeing keeps the mind sharp. Whether you are a basketball referee moving along with the players or a volleyball umpire watching from a set location, acute mental focus is a must. Oftentimes, the mental demands can be much tougher than the physical demands.

In the context of refereeing in Nepal, academic qualifications aren’t given much importance. But to be eligible for international refereeing, one must possess a basic level of English-speaking skills and other qualifications as well. As compared to other countries, we are very far behind in terms of resources and technology in various games.

Even though a referee is a crucial part of the game, they aren’t given much respect in Nepal. The service, incentives, and facilities for referees are extremely limited. They themselves have to cover all the costs and airfares, excluding lodging and meals, even for a big international game while representing Nepal. The government should be taking care of these things as they have been doing for athletes; the government needs to set aside a platform, training, seminars, and equipment for referees as well.

Outside of international tournaments, their pay is very nominal. By doing only this job, they cannot sustain their lives. It seems like it is for pocket money only. It is also said that if you are in this job just for the money, you’re in the wrong job. Of course, being a referee or umpire is not the primary means of employment for most. However, for a part-time job too, the rate of pay should be reasonable.

In a spectacular game, fans of the winning team feel joy, and those of the losing team feel sadness. And with sadness comes the need to place the blame on someone or something. The referee of the game often turns out to be an easy target of outrage. In many instances, teams and fans cite the reason they lost as poor officiating, referencing the few mistakes they made during the game. No matter at what level, the referee is going to receive all the criticism if he or she makes a mistake, and one should be mentally ready to accept that. Even in friendly games, many participants harshly criticise referees for their calls.

There are several incidents in which the referee misbehaves during or after the match. Even in our national- or local-level games, we see such immoral activities time and again. In the 2079/80 Martyr’s Memorial A Division League, the controversial match between Church Boys United and FC Khumaltar is an instance in which the referee got attacked by the players and officials. Referee Prajwal Chhetri gave red cards to four officials of Khumaltar after they attacked the referee for not giving a penalty in the injury time of the controversial first half. Such a situation repeated itself in the match between Sporting Ilam FC and Birgunj United FC of the Nepal Super League 2080. In the match, the goalkeeper got a red card after misbehaving with the referee. Security personnel protected the referee from the outraged players of Ilam FC.

Referees are also humans, so they can make mistakes. In the volleyball match between Nepal Police Club and Help Nepal Sports Club in the 3rd NVA Cup in 2016, it was blamed that the referee took the decisions looking at the supporters. 

The referee had executed her decision, but she changed it. The organisers were helpless, and the hour-long break hampered the match rhythm. Instances of biassed decisions by referees and judges are not uncommon in Nepali sports. Personal affiliations, regional biases, and political interference often cloud the judgement of these officials. Such biases can be detrimental to the morale and motivation of the athletes.

Even in court, the judge withdraws from participation in a legal proceeding to avoid any appearance of bias or impropriety. But there are so many examples in Nepali sports where referees and judges are appointed from the same club. In such circumstances, spectators and athletes may have lower expectations of a fair decision. So in such cases, they should withdraw their name from a particular competition by themselves.

A significant contributing factor to the presence of unsafe referees and judges is the lack of accountability and transparency in the system. Inadequate oversight and regulation allow these officials to operate with impunity, evading punishment for their misconduct. Many coaches and players say that they are punished for misbehaviour, but there are no punitive measures for referees. So, there must be a good mechanism to monitor the decisions of referees as well. Unfair decisions and biassed officiating can demoralise athletes, hinder their progress, and discourage their participation in sports.

There must be comprehensive reform in the officiating system, including vetting procedures, regular training, certification programmes, and refreshment courses. And of course, there should be a responsible body for overseeing referees, which promotes transparency and accountability. Winning or losing is obvious in a game, but the referee’s decisions should not hamper the player’s confidence.

Definitely, referees cannot be beaten because of a decision they make, even if it’s wrong. There should be other measures to penalise them. The unsafe state of referees in Nepali sports casts a dark shadow over the country’s athletic achievements. By implementing robust reforms and promoting a culture of integrity in sports, we can ensure the fair, transparent, and conducive growth of athletes, where referees can also feel safe. The environment should be created where all referees get good respect and feel proud of being in this profession.