The 1 League and the controversial last decisions: The referees in their labyrinth | OPINION

Despite his tribune tone, Jean Ferrari’s request for foreign referees to direct academic It’s less crazy than you think. He represents, on the one hand, a necessary blow on the table in the face of the injustices that the judges commit all the dates with the complicity of Conar and the desperate lukewarmness of the federation. And from the point of view of the club, the focus of attention changes, toning down the criticism of the team in its first defeat since Jorge Fossati took over as technical director.

It is not the first time that a Peruvian club has made a demand of this nature. In 1991, the Argentinian Juan Carlos Loustau refereed a bland classic for the Descentralized Tournament and seven years later a Uruguayan shortlist led the finals between Universitario and Sporting Cristal. In both cases, the argument was the same: lack of confidence in the performance of the national referees.

However, it is difficult for Ferrari’s proposal to prosper, not only because of the costs it demands (about 11,000 dollars per game, excluding airfare, according to RPP), but also because of its almost null practical utility: it is of little use. to the cream to be refereed by foreign judges if the other parties will continue to be led by nationals (who, according to the narrative sustained by their fans, favor Alianza Lima).

The U has not been the only team victim of arbitration errors this date. They were also suffered by Vallejo in Matute, ADT in Juliaca and Unión Comercio in Tarapoto with a poorly disallowed goal when drawing 1-1 with Cristal. The same Alliance, which is accused of being benefited by these horrors, was harmed dates ago by a red card to Christian Cueva, without any reason to justify it.

The problem of Peruvian arbitration is structural and it is not going to be solved from one Sunday to the next, even more so if we do not begin to ask ourselves some key questions: How much progress has been made in its professionalization? Is the preparation optimal? Are the amounts of money they receive for their work adequate? Are payments made on time? Are integrity policies applied to ensure the transparency of their actions?

In the 1990s, during the presidency of Nicolás Delfino, Arturo Yamasaki was brought in as an instructor, an internationally recognized Peruvian judge who led the World Cup in Mexico in 1970. Little or nothing changed and despite his brilliant career, Arturo did not get rid of the fierce criticism that was already made at that time. Today, with a thousand cameras from all angles, it is almost impossible for a mistake not to be caught by a fan or on television. The zero predictability of arbitration decisions, a product of the very particular way in which they interpret the regulations, causes indignation to skyrocket and conspiracy stories flood the networks. Why did Menéndez expel Succar for his gestures after his goal in last year’s classic and on Sunday he looked the other way when Manzaneda did the same in Sullana? So there are many other stories.

Will the VAR help to improve the level of competition as Agustín Lozano maintains? The video arbitration system is a tool, not an act of magic which, moreover, will be handled by the same inept referees who spoil our afternoons every date. What comes next may be worse.

Ferrari’s move can help the FPF begin to see this problem more seriously. But the U is wrong if it blames the referee exclusively for its defeat in Sullana. Pointing out the mistakes of others does not free them from their own.