Van Meenen explains why referees rarely speak publicly after matches
Officials may address exceptional, widely debated incidents when further explanation can clarify the decision-making, but a simple admission of error is considered insufficient.
Raymond van Meenen says referees should only appear before the cameras in exceptional circumstances, rather than routinely responding after matches. The approach is intended for widely discussed incidents where an official can provide meaningful clarification about what happened and why.
Van Meenen told Voetbal International that an agreement has been in place since his arrival to explain decisions publicly when they have caused confusion. However, he does not believe a referee merely acknowledging a mistake offers enough value. In his view, any media appearance should also set out the reasoning and context behind the error.
He cited PSV player Ruben van Bommel’s challenge on Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman as an example of a moment on which he was prepared to give a public assessment. Van Meenen believed the offence should have resulted in a red card and said the important issue was being able to explain why the original handling of the incident was wrong.
Van Meenen has also consciously chosen to be more visible in the media than his predecessor, without passing judgement on the previous approach. He argued that providing clarity can be useful when an incident has generated substantial debate, particularly when a technical interpretation of the situation can help explain the officials’ perspective.
Reported first by
- Waarom scheidsrechters nauwelijks nog voor de camera komen— VI Eredivisie Vrouwen
This English write-up is our own summary of the reporting above. Full details remain with the original publishers — please read them at the source.