One of the most decorated referees in the history of volleyball speaks to the Italian websiteVolleyNews.itabout a technical decline, which, according to him, is global and affects all federations. The occasion – a series of controversial moments in this year's Nations League. In an extensive interview for the website, Fabrizio Pasquali – a Serie A referee for over 20 years, an international referee for 18 years, and the first referee at the Men's World Championship final in 2018, today a sought-after referee coach in football, basketball, rugby, and handball – delivers a sharp diagnosis of the state of refereeing in volleyball.
“Not a referee, but a video checker”
One of the episodes around which the conversation revolves is a controversial moment from the Italy-France men's match, in which, according to the interviewer's phrasing, the graphic reconstruction of the 'Hawk-Eye' was incorrect, and the referee, despite the obviousness, kept repeating 'Automatic System' (we recall that Ivaylo Ivanov was the referee of the match, whose case we wrote about, Ed.).
Pasquali accepts that technology is not a panacea, and emphasizes that this is his thesis, confirmed, according to him, by research from prestigious world universities. His impression is that referees no longer sit on the chair, but rather "video checkers". The trend he observes is that referees increasingly rely on artificial intelligence, which, in his opinion, creates a "critical short circuit" – because referees are no longer accustomed to officiating.
Pasquali recalls that video check in volleyball was introduced not to support referees, but to help teams – just as in tennis, the technology came at the request of the players.
“Deregulation” and lack of technical consistency
Regarding the start of the Nations League, Pasquali speaks of an experiment that is the fruit of "deregulation" in volleyball. He focuses on the rule for 'carried' and 'pushed' balls, which some mistakenly call new – but in fact, he says, it has existed forever, but for years no one has called it, as the game has come to resemble the NBA more than volleyball.
He sees the same problem in the abolishment two years ago of the penalty for a double hit – the technical error where a player touches the ball twice in one action. Pasquali directly asks if anyone still called a double hit and answers himself – no one. His conclusion is direct: if the referee's subjective judgment for such game situations is removed, the very purpose of the referee disappears.
Pasquali adds that rules are often changed without clear instructions and without considering what they mean from a referee's perspective. As an example, he points to the change in court positioning due to television needs – moving the first referee's stand from the side of the benches. The picture is clear, he admits, but the second referee is disempowered, and the first loses control over the benches, especially during a check, when people from the video room are speaking into his earpiece while players and coaches shout at him from below.
Why it has come to this
The development of the refereeing figure has never been a strong suit of the sport, Pasquali believes. According to him, there has never been interest in training, which also leads to a cultural impoverishment of the referee's image.
He also points to the problem of the high average age of international referees – as in Italy – which hinders adaptation to new technologies, whereas younger generations would cope more easily. Therefore, he finds it paradoxical that the age limit for referees continues to be extended.
Compared to other sports, the difference is uncompromising: the training of referees in football, basketball, and rugby is, in his words, "science fiction" compared to that in volleyball, where they are often left to their own devices. Volleyball, he claims, lives in its own closed world.
Recruitment of new referees, leadership, and conduct
On the topic of recruiting new referees, Pasquali is adamant that the problem is serious, and volleyball is already behind schedule looking towards 2028. He expresses reservations about the training format that the Federation (the Italian one, Ed.) is experimenting with – Serie A referees training younger colleagues: he finds it strange to use people who themselves need support in such a delicate role.
The nature of the problem, according to him, is systemic: referees are not a priority. He questions how it is possible that an international federation with the vision of FIVB still does not have a fully-fledged and functional refereeing department. In contrast, he recalls that Pierluigi Collina heads FIFA's refereeing committee, and Luigi Lamonica leads it in basketball.
He also criticizes the "friendly" approach of some referees who address players and coaches by name, ask for jerseys or photos, or follow them on social media – behavior which, in his opinion, undermines respect for their role and sets a wrong example for the young.
Not a "requiem", but an awakening
Pasquali refuses to talk about the end of refereeing. There is a problem that needs to be solved with work and better conditions for referees - organization of travel, remuneration, planning of appointments. He also makes a comparison: when a player makes several mistakes, the coach substitutes him; a referee with the same number of mistakes is not even questioned for the next match.
Asked who is the best referee in the world today, he answers without hesitation - Juraj Mokry, "with a big lead over everyone". For the best Italian referee, he prefers not to name names, but to note that in Italy there are many talented young referees who, however, are lost due to a lack of proper support.
His definition of a referee concludes the conversation: a person capable of seriously serving the sport they officiate. The referee's role, he says, is to facilitate the flow of the game - but facilitating the game does not mean turning it into a show. And volleyball already has more than enough unnecessary entertainment, Pasquali adds.
Based on an interview by Giuliano Bindoni forVolleyNews.it.
photo: volleynews.it
