The head of the judging committee of UEFA, Roberto Rossetti, sent encouraging messages about the development of Macedonian football referees. During the visit to Football Federation of Macedonia, he noted that progress is obvious, both in physical fitness and in the professional approach and use of VAR technology.
Rossetti emphasized that UEFA is closely monitoring several Macedonian referees and that the possibility of delegating to major European competitions is real, but depends on their dedication, attitude and continuous work.
How satisfied are you with the progress of Macedonian judges in recent years, both domestically and internationally?
„"You know, the essence is in quality. We need quality referees from everywhere, from all European countries. One of the reasons for my visit is to convey this to them as feedback. They must believe that in the top competitions we hire referees from all over Europe, including from smaller football countries. Macedonian referees are making progress. We are following several referees from Macedonia and we are expecting them. Our door is completely open and I really hope that this visit will be a support for them to take that additional step in the near future.".
According to In your opinion, what are the biggest improvements you have noticed among judges from Macedonia?
„"There have been improvements in many segments of refereeing. First of all, they are now training and are physically prepared at the highest level. They are much more prepared than before. This season they also started using the VAR system, which is great. It is good for football, it is good for them and now they will get used to its use. They are working very seriously and I really hope that in the future we will see quality personnel in our top competitions.".
How significant is the institutional support from the Football Federation?
„"It is crucial. The support of the national association for the referees is the most important part of refereeing. The referees need support, they need trust and strong cooperation with the federation. Refereeing is also very important for the federation itself, because it makes it stronger. This is about integrity and investing in the future.".
How do you evaluate the implementation and development of the VAR system in Macedonia?
„"I just visited the VAR center at the Federation yesterday and I want to congratulate them on this major investment. I know they are doing a very good job and that they are following UEFA's guidelines. This is a significant step for football, it is a very important tool not only for referees, but also for players and fans. It is about transparency and many other benefits.".
What is it that distinguishes a good judge from an elite judge?
„"It's about attitude. It's about wanting to improve every day in some way. It's about motivation, hard work and being willing to do whatever it takes. You have to be almost obsessed with what you do, but also have a love for football.".
Do you see the potential for Macedonian referees to be delegated to major UEFA tournaments?
„"We look forward to delegating them to major tournaments as soon as possible, but that is up to them. We are completely open. We have top referees from all over Europe and we really hope that we will soon see Macedonian referees at the most prestigious competitions.".
If you had to send one clear message to Macedonian judges today, what would it be?
„"Stay focused on the next game, work hard and give your best every day.".
What must change immediately if we want faster progress?
„"There is no shortcut to success in football. It all comes down to hard work.".
