Referees to be tough in Euro 2004

Soccer players who simulate injury or dive will be yellow-carded, as will those who take off their shirts to celebrate goals in the forthcoming Euro 2004 to begin on June 12.

The 12 referees and assistants who will handle the 31 matches, were given their final instructions by UEFA on Thursday with strict orders not to tolerate tackles from behind or "brutal play" which, as ever, will be an immediate red card offence. Volker Roth, a former international referee and now chairman of UEFA's Referees Committee, said the safety of the players on the field was the ruling body's paramount concern.

"We have the 12 best referees in Europe here, and there are only another four or five referees in the rest of the world of their quality," he said.

Referees will also be seen to measure out the distance players must stand from free kicks, 10 yards (9.15 metres), while smoking is now banned in the technical areas and dugouts.

Collina to whistle opening of Euro 2004Italian referee Pierluigi Collina has been appointed to take charge of the UEFA EURO 2004 opener between tournament hosts Portugal and Greece in Porto on June 12.

UEFA on Thursday morning announced the referees appointments for the first 12 group matches at the Hotel Solverde, which was headquarters for the 40-strong team of match officials appointed for the Euro 2004 finals.

Collina, the 44-year-old financial adviser from Bologna, will be accompanied on Saturday by assistant referees Marco Ivaldi and Narciso Pisacreta, also from Italy. Alain Hamer from Luxembourg will be the fourth official.

Source: Xinhua