Euro 2008 was rife with referee errors

Dubai: Ali Bu Jsaim, the UAE's retired Fifa referee, says that he wants to take a break after his long tenure as Fifa referee and chairman of the referees committee.

Bu Jsaim, who officiated in three World Cups (1994, 1998 and 2002), talked to Gulf News at length about the standard of refereeing, professionalism and his present day life.

Gulf News: Where is the Ali Bujsaim from the FA board and referees committee?

Ali Bu Jsaim: I worked for 26 years as a Fifa referee and head of the referees committee. It's time to take some rest. I want to give new faces a chance to serve in the referee's committee. I am confident of Saeed Abdullah, member of the FA board and new referees committee head, will do his best to promote the standard of our referees.

Does this mean that you will keep away from refereeing?

I want to be a consultant with the referees committee and not chairman. However, I will not keep away.

What do you think of the standard of refereeing at the European Championships?

There was no outstanding referee, a lot of serious mistakes was created - players scored from an offside position and clear fouls resulted in goals with referees turning a blind eye.

The most important thing I want to say to people who are always criticising Emirati referees for simple mistakes is that the mistakes in the EC were treated as part of the game.

Teams and players did not protest or complain. Even Joseph Blatter, the Fifa President did not criticise these serious mistakes. He complained about administrative mistakes.

Do you aim to become the Asian referees committee chairman?

To become Asia referees chairman, I must first become a member in the AFC executive committee and so far I am not.

The Majed Naser problem has ended. What lessons have we learn't from it?

The first thing was the forming of the sports court which will deal with the cases in sport.

Also the forming of the FA appeals committee from the experienced legal persons.

Why is Ali Bu Jsaim against inviting referees from Europe to officiate in the UAE league? Do you think if you invite a referee from Europe he will not make mistakes?

We saw in the EC the serious mistakes committed by them.

Inviting referees from Europe is not good for the reputation of our referees who are one of the best in Asia.

What will be the difference between the professional league which kicks off in September and the last league season?

The only difference will be the name.

The players are the same as well as coaches and administrators.

Professionalism is a behaviour and manners before giving the player a monthly salary and say that he is a professional player playing in the professional league.

Do you think the UAE player have the culture to turn professional?

To become fully developed it must come from the player himself first. He must change his life style and work hard to develop his standard.

The salaries of the players must not be equal as it is in the UAE clubs. There are talented player and their salaries must be different to other players. We need another 10 years and may be then more for our clubs and players will turn full professionals.

Can we see a UAE referee participating in the World Cup finals in South Africa as we saw Ali Bu Jsaim in three World Cups?

We hope Ali Hamad will be in South Africa 2010, although he is not selected with the eight Asian referees. But we will work hard to promote him before the final selection early in 2010. So far we have Saleh Al Marzouqi as one of the assistant referees among the Asian assistant referees for the World Cup.

Now after leaving the FA and referees committee, you have a lot of free time, what do you do in it?

I have a lot of work to do running my business in the morning and evenings and travel outside UAE most of the time.

But when I have a short vacation I sail in my boat fishing in the Gulf and some times for two weeks in the ocean reaching the border of Yemen. Also I spend a lot of time in my farms in Khawaneej and Fujairah.