In view of various topics such as racism, sexism, etc. etc. and now "ageism" being the current "flavour of the month" the European Parliament have directed UEFA to "lobby" FIFA into abolishing the mandatory age retirement for referees, in line with other employment directives on being "too old for the job". The bottom line now is, "if you're fit enough, then do it". No date or deadline has been set, so it's a question of "watch this space". (The only thing that I hope does not happen is in the "marking area", and "suddenly" marks and assessments fall "short of the mark"). I don't want to see the "more than one way to skin a cat" approach brought into this contraversial subject. We all know a particular (Italian) ref, who won't get worse the day after a particular birthday arrives!
ALBERTO; I hope FIFA agree to it if only for that!!! (LOL). (You have "carried the banner" for this so I hope that they give YOU credit for your perseverance).
CONCACAF to push for longer 'life' for top referees CONCACAF intends to ask the FIFA Referees' Committee to abolish the present ruling, which dictates that referees are removed from the official FIFA list at the age of 45. "This is an arbitrary and artificial dismissal," CONCACAF President Jack Warner will argue in support of his Confederation's request for change. He alluded to the fact that, as others have also made note, Pierluigi Collina, who did such an outstanding job in the 2002 FIFA World Cup final, will no longer be able to referee in FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 - because he will be 46! http://www.concacaf.com/news/article.page/1014