Richard Trutz will whistle with the Gold catcall

08. 03. 2010 21:47:32
   In the beginning of March took place a special ceremony in Žilina where the football individualities were awarded. We are glad that several awards obtained referees as well. Ľuboš Micheľ was awarded for his successful career and the representation at home and abroad. Also Miroslava Migaľová was awarded as a women assistant referee. Gold whistle as an award for the best Slovak referee in 2009 obtained Richard Trutz. It was a result of the ballot between sport journalists and football experts. Such a achievment is a good reason to put several questions to the best Slovak referee in 2009.
I am sure it is a very good feeling to get Gold whistle award. What does it mean for you?

Of course it is a big pleasure when you get between the best. The moment when you reach the top presents the biggest award also when we talk about the sport. And the football refereering is also the part of the sport. If I try to reply to your question what does this award mean for me the answer will be very simple. I am sure that my colleagues would give you a similar answer. I wish that my decisions on the field of play would be addition for the football. I wish that people would feel I am a part of the game. I realize „the success is not allowed“  and  each my mistake will be judged stricter but this is the part of the sport. Refereeing is my hobby, it makes me pleasure when I am on the field and manage the match. I do not want to disappoint pepole who gave me a vote and during the next seasons I want to persuade that I appertain to the best.

Your career as a football referee has started quite late because you were professional football player. Why did you decide to become the referee and not a coach as the most of the former players?

I had to quit my player´s career because of my serious injury and the leaving of the fields was very sad for me. After the operation I started to think about my comeback in football but not behind the line but again on the field of play. I have two sons and my father told me I should not risk another injury if I want to play a football with my sons. He gave me a reccomendation that if I want to stay on the field I should be a referee. I have tried it and I am back on the field.

What should have done to gain more followers between professional football players?

It is very difficult question. When we look back there were just a few professional football players who tried it as a referee but after a short time they gave it up. I think such a case is very rare when former professional player becomes professional referee. Usually players finish the career when they are 30 and older. To start something anew is not very tempting, to start with children´s matches and a struggle through lower leagues requires a big patience. And there is also an age limit for the referees. Especially for these who start late. But there are also other reasons. To be a good referee requires more than knowledge of the Laws of the Game. A talent is also very important.

Try to tell us 3 most important things what the followers should think about before they attend the first referee course?

I have already answered partly. Firstly, the refereeing must be hobby and it must makes you pleasure. Then it is a talent that you have to work up continually. Finally the backround and the other conditions that are necessary for the refereeing. Professional referee is like a professional player.
 

You have sons, will they be a football players or the referees?

I have 2 sons, 9 and 6 years old. Older son Richard already plays and seems younger son Alex likes the ball as well. I think they prefer to be a players now if we already can talk about it in this age. I passed Faculty of Physical Education and Sports focused on football training so in case they want to play a football profesionally I am ready to use my qualification and to help them.

Your job is performing in front of people and the refereeing is very similar activity. How can you coordinate it with your private life?

Professional sport life takes a lot. It is very difficult to coordinate work, refereeing and family. I am lucky I do not have stable working time and I can coordinate my duties at work with the refereeing. I can not forget to thank to all my colleagues in television for their help. When I talk about work I have to say that my job is for me more fun than work. All the time I have to absorb a new information, I am under the pressure and at the same time I must be concentrated. I can compare such a situation with the situation on the field so I have permanent training. My family life is separate chapter. As a former football player I am used to move. I can not imagine to be a referee without understanding of my wife and sons who miss me sometimes. Calm family life is the most important for the human psychic.

We can hear more frequently about the new ways how to avoid the referee mistakes during the match. We have to say there is a progress. Referees use referee paging system, communication system, ball with a chip. Recenly, the experiment with 2 additional referees started and you have already been the part of this experiment for 3 times. Tell us little more about this.

The football by himself requires these new forms of the decisions. Nowadays the football play athlets in a high rate and there are a lot of blind situations. This is the reason why there are new forms in refereeing. And one of these is the experiment with 5 referees. I can say during 3 matches I was with Vlado Hriňák we did not make any serious mistake. I think there are some matches when 5 referees are useless. On the other hand the players realize they are under the bigger control and they do not try so many tricks how to cheat the referees. The communication system helps a lot. I am sure we shal use telerecording more frequently in a future what can help in decision at crucial moments in penalty area for example.

(rm)