EMB
81
EXPERIENCE FROM
THE FIELD
Emerging Markets Business (EMB):
Is a referee part of the game
or part of the management?
Shamsul Maidin (SM): An essential part
of the game, indeed. Referees represent
the third team lining-up on the field;
sportsmen and women who manage
every aspect to ensure fair play, the flow
of the match and safety of the players.
This doesn’t mean that referees are
footballers, though. It certainly helps to
have experienced the laws of the game
as a player but it is not a fundamental
factor. Besides talent, values like
passion, desire, discipline and commit-
ment are some of the key attributes that
make an outstanding referee. To be
a successful referee requires mental
strength and passion for excellence.
You may have the physical condition and
technical knowledge, but if you don’t have
EMERGING MARKETS BUSINESS
SUMMER 2017
ISSUE NO. 3
the determination to succeed and the
willingness to sacrifice and work hard, it
is difficult to reach the world-class level.
EMB: What do you feel is more
important for a referee: body language
and presence, or the way of talking to
players and officials?
SM: Both are equally important. As a
referee, clear and decisive body lan-
guage is essential to communicate with
the players. The beginning of the match
is when a referee has to set the tone for
the entire 90 minutes and I believe it’s
important to send an early message to
the players, both by sound decision-mak-
ing and firm body language. Millions of
fans, both at the stadium and at home
are watching, so as a referee, your
movement and body language will help
them better comprehend the decisions
you take on the field of play. Then,
of course, there’s personality. In the
AFC courses and seminars, we encour-
age our referees to use their personali-
ties, but only for the benefit of the game.
EMB: How do you manage conflict
and maintain order and respect?
SM: When I was an active referee,
I always made sure I was clear in
applying the laws of the game in terms
of challenging for the ball and respecting
the match. Being consistent is also
important; maintaining harmony through
the consistency of decisions makes the
job easier. Another factor that helps
effective referring is training. As part of
our referee preparation, the AFC continu-
ously emphasizes the importance of
studying the teams meticulously to
identify key players, tactics and attitudi-
nal trends.
Adding to that, I feel that communica-
tion and interpersonal skills are indispen-
sable in the match management of
modern football. During a game,
split-second decisions are often required,
so it’s fundamental that the referee
establishes good understanding with
the assistant referees and everyone else
involved. This need for good communica-
tion extends beyond the pitch too, »
S
hamsul Maidin is somewhat of
a legend in the Asian footballing
world. A physiotherapist by
profession, he left his vocation
in the 1990s to pursue a career
as a referee with the Football Association
of Singapore. After making his mark
within his native Singapore, Maidin
went on to officiate at many a high-
profile tournament on the regional and
international stages, including the
2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
During his distinguished career,
Maidin has earned a string of accolades
and became the first Singaporean to
win the title of Asian Football Confedera-
tion (AFC) Official of the year in 2005—
an award he retained the following year.
Then, in 2007 he announced his retire-
ment from the pitch and embarked on
a new adventure, becoming the first
person from Southeast Asia to work
as a referee instructor with FIFA.
Here, two decades on from his
refereeing debut, Shamsul Maidin
provides just a taste of life officiating
the beautiful game.
Picture:
Shamsul Maidin
became the first
Singaporean to earn
the title of AFC Official.