Futsal Euro final referees selected

The UEFA Futsal Euro 2014 final on Saturday between Italy and Russia will be officiated by Fernando Gutiérrez Lumbreras (ESP) and Saša Tomić (CRO), with Marc Birkett (ENG) acting as third referee and Timo Onatsu (FIN) the timekeeper. Though their bid for a fifth successive continental title was ended in the last four by Russia, Spain will be represented in the Sportpaleis showpiece, kick-off 20.30CET, by Gutiérrez Lumbreras. The 43-year-old, like his Croatian counterpart Tomić, has overseen three matches in Antwerp, including the tournament opener between Russia and the Netherlands. Tomić, 38, and Gutiérrez Lumbreras – who has been on duty at one previous Futsal Euro and was among UEFA's ten officials at the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand – took time out of their busy schedule to discuss their experience in Belgium and what it means to have been given such a prestigious appointment.

UEFA.com: Congratulations, how does it feel to have been selected to oversee the final?

Fernando Gutiérrez Lumbreras: It's very, very good. It's an honour for me to be a referee for this match because on many occasions my national team have been in the final. 

Saša Tomić: It's a good feeling, it's my first Euro. Yesterday I had a good match, a classic, between Russia and Spain [4-3]. During the tournament I have been focused for every game and it's a great feeling.

UEFA.com: Where will this rank in your refereeing career?

Gutiérrez Lumbreras: Three years ago I refereed in the [UEFA Futsal Cup] final four in Kazakhstan, where there was no Spanish side, but on a national-team level it's the most important match for me. I'm very happy.

Tomić: It's at the top. I've been a FIFA referee since 2009 and this is the biggest event for me. I'm very proud to be here and to referee the final. It has been my dream.

UEFA.com: How much have you enjoyed the experience of being in Belgium?

Gutiérrez Lumbreras: The most important thing has been the hospitality of the people. I've been very happy with Saša too. We've been together in the same hall, same hotel, experiencing some of the same emotions and matches. It has been very good for us, both on the pitch and off it. 

Tomić: We've had a nice time, everything has been excellent. The hospitality – the hotel, the food – has been nice. The Lotto Arena and Sportpaleis are great halls. Everything has been good. 

UEFA.com: How important is it going into the final that you worked together previously during this tournament, for the Ukraine v Belgium fixture in the group stage? 

Gutiérrez Lumbreras: I'm very pleased to whistle with Saša – the level of our refereeing is similar. Both teams had a chance to qualify in that match. It was challenging and, though there were no goals, it was very good for us. We had no problems, it was perfect. 

Tomić: Yes, of course. It was a decisive match that ended 0-0. I had a very good feeling refereeing with Fernando and I'm happy we'll work together tomorrow. I'm relaxed and focused. 

UEFA.com: What would represent the ideal game for you and your colleagues on Saturday? 

Gutiérrez Lumbreras: The best thing would be if the referee was more or less 'invisible'. I hope next year nobody remembers anything special about the referees. I understand we are in charge of the final, but for futsal people it would better if they do not remember who the referees were. 

Tomić: I hope to see a good game with many goals, but the most important thing for me is fair play and respect. 

Source: UEFA

Referees working hard at Futsal Euro 2014

The first week of UEFA Futsal Euro 2014 in Antwerp has been hectic for everyone involved – not least the referees. "I've been very busy in this championship; up to Sunday I'll have had five games [in six days]," English official Marc Birkett told UEFA.com. "I've had one day off since arriving, so it has been quite demanding. Physically for the games but mentally to get yourself up to whistle the games then drop yourself down a bit to be third referee on the table, but then all those roles and responsibilities change. So to move between the roles without having a day to switch off in between has been quite challenging but equally enjoyable".

Birkett is one of 16 referees from as many nations at this tournament, overseen by four instructors, themselves former top international officials. "The tournament so far has been a really good experience," said Birkett, who also refereed at UEFA Futsal Euro 2012 in Croatia and officiated at the FIFA Futsal World Cup final in Bangkok later that year. "We've had some very good games, some very challenging games. The organisation has been very good, the halls are spectacular and the show UEFA has been putting on for us has been brilliant. Staying together on a floor at the tournament hotel, Birkett says of the referees' set-up: "To be in a camp is good because we are bouncing off each other all the time. We have the opportunity to relax with our colleagues and the chance to talk about the games, but also talk about other things as well. To get to know our colleagues a little bit more as people. What they try to do here with the training programmes and technical meeting, we're engaged as a group from first thing in the morning all the way through the day, including the games. Our training's been specially designed for us as futsal referees to maximise our efforts in the game. Not just physical preparation but mental preparation as well, which has most definitely helped us, leading into hopefully being more successful on the pitch".

An innovation in Antwerp has been pre-tournament meetings between the referee instructors and the teams, something common in UEFA football tournaments in recent years but a first for futsal. Instructor Pedro Galan Nieto of Spain explained: "We wanted them to know that in November UEFA organised a course with these referees in Belgium just to unify the criteria or the futsal laws. And the same instructions we gave to the referees, we gave to the teams."

Birkett added: "That definitely helps and helps build relationships between the refereeing family and the playing family. Futsal is more of a family anyway and we are all here to learn off each other to take the game to where we want it to go". 

Source: UEFA