Hours after Andris Treimanis has been selected as one of the 20 referees to take charge of 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup matches I publish a translation of an old interview with the Latvian referee. Ilvars Koscinkevičs from Latvian Football Federation was the one who interviewed Treimanis. The interview was published in the federation's publication 'Latvijas Futbols' #19 on 20 March 2017. I know that the interview is quite old but I thought it would be good to give a chance for you to compare Treimanis then and now. Click Read More to read my English translation of the interview or here to read the original publication in Latvian. A new experience and opportunity One of Latvia's best football referees, Andris Treimanis, spent three days between January 30 and February 1 in an intensive camp of theory and physical readiness in Malaga, along with all the best European referees of the moment. “The previous one was a good year for me, but it doesn't guarantee anything,” Treimanis is aware that there is no time to relax. To go forward, keep working hard! "They were interseason courses for the best referees in Europe, bringing together the Elite and Category 1 referees, who are now entrusted to lead UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League play-off games, " in conversation with Latvian Football Federation (LFF) indicates the 31 year old Treimanis. “Our health was checked in-depth. For example, eyesight, but not just whether you see well, because eyesight must be perfect for referees, but also visual memory, peripheral vision. The whole body was tested – a fat test was even made. Why? The higher the fat level, the higher the risk of getting injured. For me all the figures were OK!" Treimanis is currently in the 2nd Category. In total there are four categories – there is also a 3rd Category. Generaly, Treimanis shouldn't have been in these courses because he is neither in the Elite Category, neither in the 1st Cateory /at that time he wasn't\, however UEFA sees a potential in the Latvian. He received an invitation to these courses after three successfully refereed games in this season's UEFA Europa League Group tournament. Along with the Latvian, from the 2nd Category there were also a representative from Azerbaijan and Sweden. “The last year was the second featuring me in the 2nd Category. It was a good season,” says Andris. There are approximately 30 referees in the Elite category and approximately 30 referees in the 1st Category. Of course, Andris's next goal is to enter the 1st Category. /As of 2019 he has already done that.\ But such things don't happen quickly. Referees are carefully assessed and analyzed before getting the next promotion. “In Malaga, physical tests took place on artificial surface because there was a rather dynamic jojo test involving turnarounds happening, and so that all have the same conditions and no one slips, it's better to use artificial surface,” continues Treimanis. “Together we were 61 men referee and 20 women referees – the best ones in Europe, because they should also prepare for the biggest tournaments of the year." Treimanis tells that in these courses there was a very saturated program with theoretical lessons that were led by specialists like Pierluigi Collina, Hugh Dallas and Vlado Sajn: “They analyzed, showed moments, said – "guys, you can't do like that". We have an internet platform, in which lots of videos with explanations are sent, it is explained, where the errors are. So that, for example, regarding holding an opponent, we would all have the same assessments of such situations. We also had a group task in Malaga. We were divided into seven groups (including women), and we analyzed 15 videos. Each group had to give an assessment for each particular situation - what the decision should have been in that situation and whether the decision was correct, or incorrect. They all – Europe's best referees - were present, they were shown Champions and Europa League games, everyone had a microphone and everyone telled how and why did they took action in the particular situation. For example, [the known Ungarian referee Victor - author's note] Kassai sitts next to you and talks.” Treimanis denies that he felt surreal in such a respected company. “The feelings were cool and I didn't feel unrelevant there, I did feel relevant, " he continued. There was a somewhat funny episode when we had breakfast with the English “In the hotel we had breakfast together with the English Premier League referees Atkinson, Taylor and Oliver. I asked Taylor, which game he will referee next time. He answered that he will referee the game where Manchester United will host Leicester City. Atkinson's next game - Chelsea vs Arsenal. And then I was asked: and what's your next game? I said that we have a winter break now, and I have to referee in 'Ziemas kauss' ('Winter Cup'). (Laughs.) Then there's a surreal feeling that you're siting with such referees. They didn't understand, and they thought - cool, you're free until March, you'll go to the training camp in Turkey. They said that they would also want to be free because they are refereeing toughly all the time - the load on them is heavy. They are professional referees, refereeing is their main job, they get the hard salary plus more for every game.” /Context: Football is at a quite low level in Latvia where Treimanis is from. 'Ziemas kauss' ('Winter Cup') was a tournament before the regular season. Bellow you can see the reason why Treimanis sees the situation described as a bit funny.\ Treimanis points out that the main message after these courses is that it is necessary to continue working and that everything depends on youself. "There are many aspects in which you can develop - physically, in the theoretical knowledge and practicaly. Now that you've reached a certain level, a new world won't open anymore, because with all of these referee instructors I've already been together. It won't be so that now a new room will suddenly open - "hmm, I didn't know this". But each seminar gives a little nuance that can be used later, and it can play a big role. I refereed three games in the group tournament last year, but it doesn't mean anything at the moment. Don't think that I refereed there, and now I'm going to referee there all the time. No! Now you have to prove yourself every day, work hard in every training. You have to look and go forward, get ready for the next game!" Treimanis doesn't hide that every time you read the rules of refereeing, /I don't know what was meant here.\ you can find something valuable. We call this book the bible. I've been reading this book for many years, but you can find something new for yourself every time. Really like the bible... “If I compare myself to the elite referees, we could have a similar knowledge,
but experience is different,” Treimanis says. "Sometimes there have been situations where you show a second yellow card and get a player out of the field, but then ask yourself – would I do the same now? An experienced referee would maybe not show the card, he'd go out of the situation otherwise. When refereeing now, the spirit of the game must be taken into account: whether there is an aggressive mood in the match, whether a change inthe result matters a lot in that situation, whether someone "pulls time" and things like that. They with more experience, can get out of the situation in a better way. You already know - the referees are never praised, usually the bad decisions are remembered. If you have a very good game – it will be self-evident, but if bad – it will be remembered for another three, four or even ten years." Treimanis isn't going to hold the knowledge under a stone. Andris will lecture his Latvian colleagues on what he has learned in Spain. “It seems important to me that the information obtained is passed on,” he says. "Fromthe fact that I will repeat myself, we will all get somethinggood - I will strengthen my knowledge, and my colleagues will get something new. For us we need to share all the nuances, knowledge, because, as colleagues grow, I'm growing up, too. And vice versa!" Translated by The Referee. Copyright © 2019 The Referee (translation). Original interview copyright to LFF. You're welcome to express your thoughts about Treimanis in the comments!
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