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The Football Association Invests Millions to Support Referee Enforcement
Referees in the Chinese Super League (CSL) and China League Two (CL2) will be equipped with the world's most advanced wireless two-way radios! This was a solemn promise made by Yu Hongchen, Deputy Director of the Football Management Center, to the referees during the Chinese Football Association's referee day event held yesterday morning at the Xianghe Base. These French-made "ear-mic" devices cost over 6000 euros per set, and the center initially plans to purchase no fewer than 20 sets of equipment, meaning that this technological introduction will cost at least 1 million RMB or more. A responsible person from the center explained this move: "To protect referees, we must first allow them to refine their enforcement duties. With the assistance of high technology, their errors and missed calls will decrease, their confidence and ability to control matches will improve, naturally enhancing the credibility of the referees."
Argentinian referee Horacio Elizondo, after officiating the opening match of the 2006 Germany World Cup, excitedly recalled, "The importance of the game made me a bit nervous, but what moved me most was how fantastic the new wireless two-way communication system equipped for me and my three colleagues was." Due to witnessing the success of the ear-mic system launched by a French company in both the 2006 Germany and 2010 South Africa World Cups, Yu Hongchen, who observed the South Africa World Cup on-site, communicated upon his return with the technical department and the referee committee regarding whether our professional league needed to introduce this technology.
However, what truly prompted the Football Management Center to initiate the introduction of wireless radio communication technology for referees were the disciplinary violations, even violent offenses against referees, that occurred on domestic league fields after the World Cup. Due to the employment of many young referees with no prior professional league experience this season, these referees, lacking the ability to control matches and the composure to remain calm under pressure, made quite a few errors and missed calls, severely damaging their own enforcement confidence and inviting much criticism. In Xianghe, how to avoid psychological harm to referees became a common concern among the referees. To their relief, Yu Hongchen represented the center and promised to soon introduce the world's most advanced "ear-mic" system for CSL and CL2 referees. Yu Hongchen stated, "Protecting referees and respecting their enforcement will not merely stay as lip service; if they can use it in the World Cup, why can't our league? The center will certainly make every effort to implement this matter." Although the ear-mic system has been widely used in the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League, and the World Cup, such technology is still relatively blank in Asia. Currently, apart from the UAE league using handsets sponsored by a local telecommunications company to support enforcement, no other member association countries or regions have introduced wireless communication means for referees.
Insiders revealed that although the import procedures for such equipment within the General Administration of Sport are strict, the Football Management Center still intends to overcome all difficulties and strive to officially introduce this equipment in the final stage of this season's league. Regarding the operation of the equipment, the insider joked, "In short, this equipment is a tool for wireless communication among the four referees enforcing the same match, and its operation is very simple."
Besides providing technical equipment support, Yu Hongchen and the technical department also gave affirmation to the performances of CSL and CL2 referees so far this season. Yu Hongchen particularly encouraged the young referees, "As long as you pass ideologically, go ahead and do your job. The Chinese Football Association will certainly continue to boldly appoint referees." Additionally, the center specifically encouraged referees to bravely combat violence on the field, suggesting that referees boldly report irrational behaviors of fans on the field, and show no leniency towards rule-breaking athletes and coaches who "bully the inexperienced."