Here we interviewed Mr. SAGARA Toru, former FIFA international referee who participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ as an assistant referee and was in charge of the opening match at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ along with Mr. NISHIMURA Yuichi and Mr. NAGI Toshiyuki, regarding his views on the FIFA World Cup™ and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ from a referee's point of view.

※This interview was conducted online on 13 August 2022

――What does the FIFA World Cup™ mean to referees?

SAGARA　The World Cup is the biggest and the most prestigious tournament in the world, so it's an honour just to be a part of it, and I feel more of a sense of responsibility than enjoyment. When I first participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, I wasn't feeling nervous, but rather delirious and almost fearless while waving my flag. The significance of the World Cup was also felt from the overwhelming response I received after returning to Japan. Compared to the previous World Cup, I was a little more at ease entering the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. I was in charge of the opening match between Brazil and Croatia and seeing the 80,000 fans loudly singing the Brazilian national anthem and the players crying when they heard it, I was reminded of the magnitude and responsibility of the World Cup.

――What are the focal points of this FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ from a referee's point of view?

SAGARA　The last few tournaments have gone hand-in-hand with technological advancements. After incidents of incorrect calls made in matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ between England and Germany, and Argentina and Mexico, goal-line technology was introduced at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, before VAR (Video Assistant Referee) was introduced at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. And the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will introduce SAOT (Semi-automated offside technology), where AI detects offsides. The relationship between these technological advancements and football is, for me, the most interesting aspect.

――What will SAOT be like for the assistant referees?

SAGARA　I myself think I got one offside decision wrong in the opening match of the Brazil World Cup. Even if you rarely get it wrong in the J.League, these mistakes can happen in matches played at the world's top level. Of course, all referees are committed to avoiding mistakes, but now they have the comfort of knowing that VARs and SAOTs are available to assist them just in case they make a mistake. However, I think they still feel that they have to ensure that their decisions are not overturned by technology, and it will be interesting to see how they handle the introduction of SAOT.

――It will also be interesting to see who is in charge of which matches.

SAGARA　I myself like to predict who will be assigned to which matches. For example, when teams from Europe and South America play each other, as in the opening match of the World Cup in Brazil, referees from both continents are less likely to be assigned. In the past, Mexican referees were often chosen, but thanks to the work of Mr. Ravshan IRMATOV (Uzbekistan) and Mr. NISHIMURA Yuichi, Asian referees are now being assigned to difficult matches. Since Mr. Irmatov was in charge of the opening match of the World Cup in South Africa, I expected that Mr. Nishimura would be assigned to the opening match of the World Cup in Brazil, and indeed he was. Since we had expected this, it was hardly a surprise to me or Mr Nishimura when we were assigned.

This year, female referees will take part in the tournament for the first time. It will be very interesting to see who will be assigned to which matches and whether Ms. YAMASHITA Yoshimi will be assigned. For the record, the first female referee to participate in a FIFA men's tournament was at the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017™, and the first match to be officiated by a female referee was a match involving the U-17 Japan National Team. There is a strong perception within FIFA that Japan adheres to fair play and does not object or complain against referees, and I think they decided that a match involving Japan would be appropriate. So again, I suspect that the Germany vs Japan match will be officiated by a female referee.

――Has refereeing at the World Cup had any impact on the matches played in Japan?

SAGARA　The training sessions, which are held for referees before each tournament, are designed to reflect the tactical trends at the time. During the World Cup in South Africa, we spent a lot of time practising where to position ourselves when officiating matches involving teams like Spain, who often dominated the ball possession, so when I returned to the J.League, I was able to adapt well to the passing style of teams like Gamba Osaka. In the World Cups in Brazil and Russia, the emphasis was on counterattacks. When you look back at the last goal scored in the match between Japan and Belgium in Russia, the referees were quick to respond to the Belgian counterattack. That referee was not the only one who could have done it, all the referees who trained for the tournament should have been able to do the same. I think it is important to note that the referees were able to anticipate that counter.

――How would you like the fans, supporters, and football family to see referees?

SAGARA　Referees make the final decision even with the introduction of technology. We cannot simply rely on technology to do everything, and the real appeal of being a referee lies in the fact that people have to make that final decision. I would like people to see and feel the significance and responsibility of the referees who are entrusted to make the final decision on the pitch of the most prestigious national sporting event.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™

Tournament Dates: Mon. 21 November - Sun. 18 December 2022
[Group Stage]
1st Match: Wed. 23 November 16:00 [Local Time] vs Germany National Team
2nd Match: Sun. 27 November 13:00 [Local Time] vs Costa Rica National Team
3rd Match: Thu. 1 December 22:00 [Local Time] vs Spain National Team

Tournament Information

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