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Referee Dick Jol lashes out at KNVB
Tuesday 29 July 2008
Dutch FIFA-referee Dick Jol, who
suddenly ended
his career as a professional referee this summer
has lashed out at the Dutch FA after they totally ignored
him when he led his last
game last Saturday.
"No handshake, no flowers.
There was no KNVB-official present. I did not even receive
a phone call, an e-mail or a letter. I think that shows
a total lack of respect," Jol told Dutch daily
De Telegraaf today.
Jol fell out with the KNVB this
summer after the referee committee appointed another
referee for Jaap Stam's testimonial, despite Jol being
asked by Stam himself to lead the match.
The referee and the KNVB later
agreed that Jol would lead the match, and the referee
then announced his good-bye.
Today he named some of the reason's.
"Despite the fact that I have
always represented the KNVB as good as I could they
show no respect at all. I refereed at a World Cup and
at Euro 200, I led the 2001 Champions League-final and
was the referee in 18 matches in the Japanese J-League.
Many top players, coaches and clubs have thanked me
recently. AC Milan coach thanked me Saturday and said
it's a shame to see another top referee go."
Jol thinks the fact that he was
often critical of the KNVB and the referee committee
led to his sudden and unfriendly departure.
"The KNVB say they strive
for openness and transparency. But I don't see it. If
we (the referees) would be critical in interviews we
would see that in the matches we were allocated the
weeks after. We were advised not to show up in certain
TV-shows that were not about football. But I thought
it was good when the public would see that there is
a human being behind that whistle and the black shirt."
"Now they told me that in
the coming season I was to lead mainly Jupiler League-games.
But I think I am too good a referee to work at the lower
level. So I decided to quit all together."
The KNVB say they are surprised
about Jol's dissatisfaction: "Dick Jol explicitly
asked us not to pay any attention to his last match
as a referee and so we didn't," the FA said in
a statement.
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