Here is a bit of referee news from here in Thailand. The Football Association of Thailand had all of the top level referees swear before the Emerald Buddha, the most holy and sacred Buddha statue in the country, to 'do their jobs with honesty and justice. ' There's been some, well.... let's just say.... interesting refereeing here, so maybe this will help? Full story in the link: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/th...=thai-football-referees-swear-perform-honesty
Here are two more new stories. The one from the Nation (first link) has the oath the referees took. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/sports/Referees-swear-before-the-Emerald-Buddha-30239712.html http://bangkokpost.com/news/sports/422953/wayward-referees-swear-oath
One of my friends is a referee and a Catholic priest from Nigeria. He told me that it is not unusual in Nigeria for priests and seminarians to be soccer referees. The level of corruption in the society is so pervasive that it is assumed that the referee has been bribed even in a Sunday afternoon amateur game in the park. Players feel that at least with a priest or seminarian doing the game, they've got a better chance at getting a fair shake. So when will players be asked to swear that they won't take dives or exaggerate injuries?
"Place your left hand on the Laws of the Game and raise your right. Do you solemnly swear that any injury you claim and any fall you take will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you Collina?"