Abandoned game after Eriksen drama ?: “A responsibility that can hardly be shouldered”


Abandoned game after Eriksen drama?
“A responsibility that can hardly be shouldered”

Christian Eriksen’s collapse shocked people far beyond the European Football Championship. After the Danish international received medical care and, according to the first reports, is “awake” and “stable” on the way to the hospital, the group B game between Denmark and Finland has been suspended for the time being. The fact that the game is then played to the end triggers approval from some and incomprehension from others. How this decision came about, which considerations influence it and whether referee Anthony Taylor the teams’ wish to continue playing could have refused. We talk about this with our referee expert Alex Feuerherdt from “Collina’s heirs”.

ntv.de: The continuation after more than 90 minutes caused discussions, after all, according to the Danish team doctor, Eriksen had to be “brought back” to life. But at such a moment who actually decides whether a game like this will continue?

Alex Feuerherdt: Basically the referee, according to the rules only he has the right to abandon a game if, in his opinion, a continuation is no longer possible or is not responsible. But on the one hand, in a deeply depressing case like yesterday, he will of course seek agreement with the teams and not simply decide. On the other hand, UEFA, as the competition organizer of the European Championship, has de facto the last word. Their on-site officials ultimately make the decision, also in consultation with the referee and the teams.

Finnish scorer Joel Pohjanpalo said after the game that Eriksen “wanted us to continue playing. The Danish team and we respected that wish.” Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand said: “It was better to say: We’ll get it over with now.” But what would have happened if a person from the referee team or the entire referee team had found themselves unable to lead the game?

If the referee is unable to resume control, the fourth official will replace him. If an assistant or the fourth official is absent, the reserve assistant, who is there at every European Championship game, steps in. If the whole team is unable to continue the game, the game is aborted.

Eriksen’s collapse, treatment and transport to the hospital is an absolutely exceptional situation, especially for his teammates and his coaching team. The teams complied with his rumored wish to continue the game. Is it conceivable that the referee – or also the organizer, in this case UEFA – disregard this in order to protect those involved from themselves?

I can hardly imagine that, to be honest, even if you think it makes sense in principle. Because you would then act against the declared will of the player and his team. But how can you as a referee determine that the players need to be protected from themselves? On what basis would you tell them that while they want to keep playing, it would be better for them not to? Perhaps it actually would have been better, but I still find it difficult to oppose the express request. It would also burden the referee with a responsibility that could hardly be shouldered.

Is the preparation for such exceptional situations part of the basic and advanced training of referees?

Collina’s heirs“- this is Germany’s only referee podcast, founded and run by Klaas Reese and Alex Feuerherdt. It deals with the football rules, the decisions of the referees and the backgrounds and depths of refereeing.” Collina’s heirs “write every Monday on ntv. de about the referee services of the Bundesliga matchday. Our author is Alex Feuerherdt since 1985 referee and directed games up to the league. He is responsible for education and training in Cologne, referee observer in the DFB division and works as a lecturer and freelance journalist.

The referees are made familiar with the regulations and at the same time they are told: Show empathy, seek mutual agreement, talk to those involved, and discuss possible solutions. Make yourself aware of what a psychologically stressful situation this is. Nevertheless, referees can only be prepared to a limited extent for such situations, because they always have their own dynamic and of course do something with the referees themselves. But it is also clear that if a team cannot and does not want to continue playing, that must be respected. What happens after that is not up to the referee anyway.

Then who decides? And is there a scenario in the event that both teams agreed to cancel?

The competent authorities of the competition organizer decide how to proceed after the game has been abandoned. In this case, according to UEFA regulations, abandoning the game would have meant that the game would have resumed the following day. The possibility to rate the game as it was at the time of the abandonment is not provided for a case like yesterday.

Torben Siemer spoke to Alex Feuerherdt

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