The Hindu : It's an honour for Sankar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 13, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

It's an honour for Sankar

By S. R. Suryanaran

CHENNAI APRIL 12. The World Cup football event in Japan and South Korea is fast approaching. This time, India can claim to have a representation in what is acknowledged as the greatest sporting event on earth, thanks to Komaleeswaran Sankar, who is one of the Assistant Referees selected by FIFA for this premier event.

The only Indian official till date to be honoured with a World Cup posting, Sankar is just back from a week-long orientation cum fitness course organised by FIFA in Korea for all the 72 referees and assistant referees as part of the preparatory exercise for the month long event starting on May 31.

``All of us went through intensive fitness test and medical check up under the direction of an expert Prof Warner Helsen from Belgium.

As part of the fitness test we were required to complete 2700 metres in under 12 minutes. Most of us could do 3000 m in that time'', Sankar said, reflecting the general fitness level of the officials.

With every passing World Cup, FIFA's concern has been more on ensuring clean games and towards that end referees have been from time to time given added teeth in dealing with on field happenings.

``The focus on the seminar chaired by Gen Faroukh Bozo, member of the FIFA technical committee, was on that in general while on the subject of fouls and misconduct. This time it has been decided to view lot more seriously fouls from behind, tugging of jerseys and time wasting tactics. Also in issuing of cautionary cards any player interfering in the referee's exercise also stand to be booked'', Sankar said.

Apart from lectures the assembled officials from various parts of the world were also shown video clippings from various World Cup and European competitions to help them grasp the situations better. To become doubly sure on the off-side rulings, there was another session with Dr Coutinho.

The Chennai-based Indian Bank employee said a clipping of the Euro 2000 semi-final match involving France and Portugal was particularly taken up to underline the greater role that an assistant referee could play in a match.

``In that match a penalty decision (that led to a golden goal) was given based on the Assistant Referee's ruling'', he said.

Each of the 72 officials, 12 of them from Asia, has been given a three-week individual daily fitness schedule to be followed on their return from Korea.

``Each weekend we have to report through email on our progress to Prof Helsen'', Sankar said.

``My Office has given me 90 days special leave, which enables me to totally concentrate on the fitness programme and the responsibilities ahead in the World Cup'', he said.

Sankar, who will be officiating matches in Japan, said all of them would be reporting in Korea again fifteen days before kick off for another session of fitness tests and seminar prior to taking up respective duties.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport