Referee Anders Frisk retires after abuse

[Edward Scissorhands]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4342901.stm


Referee Frisk is to quit football
Anders Frisk
Frisk has reportedly been subjected to personal threats
Swedish referee Anders Frisk will retire from football with immediate effect after threats aimed at him and his family, according to reports.

Chairman of Sweden's football referees' association, Bo Karlsson, confirmed the news to Swedish agency TT on Friday.

"I won't go into details. Anders will have to talk about that. But the threats were serious," said Karlsson.

The 42-year-old refereed Barcelona's controversial 2-1 first-leg Champions League win over Chelsea in February.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho said his Barcelona counterpart Frank Rijkaard talked with Frisk in the referee's changing room at halftime.

The London club was also unhappy when Frisk sent off striker Didier Drogba in the second half.

"None of the decisions Anders made during that match were wrong," Karlsson said.

Frisk was also involved in an ugly incident in September when he was struck on the head by an object thrown from the crowd at Roma's Olympic Stadium during a Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev.

The Swedish referee abandoned the game, saying Roma could not guarantee the safety of the officials.

Frisk had been scheduled to referee the World Cup qualifying match between Estonia and Slovakia in Tallinn on 26 March.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

And has been signed up for the Bucks Fizz 2005 Winter Tour as a replacement for Mike Gee.

 

[Biscuit]

Crap ref.

 

[junior]

I feel realy sorry for him,poor guy.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Anders Frisk

David Hasselhof

 

[junior]

Anders Frisk

David Hasselhof

Erm..........dont realy see it myself.

 

[Safeway]

And has been signed up for the Bucks Fizz 2005 Winter Tour as a replacement for Mike Gee.

BOBBY Gee or Mike NOLAN?

:knowstoomuchaboutBucksFizz:

 

[LANGDON SEAGULL]

Phil Prosser, Colin Webster take a hint

 

[LANGDON SEAGULL]

This is more like it:

Anders Frisk

Bloke out of Dollar

 

[Juan Albion]

More:

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Referee Anders Frisk is to quit after receiving death threats since officiating the Champions League tie between Barcelona and Chelsea.

The Swede revealed he has been repeatedly threatened by Chelsea fans since dismissing Didier Drogba in the 2-1 defeat at Barcelona two weeks ago.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho harshly criticized Frisk after the game, and accused Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard of trying to influence Frisk at halftime.

Chelsea won the second leg 4-2 to advance to the quarterfinals, but Frisk said the threats from Chelsea fans -- coming by phone, e-mail and regular mail -- have escalated in the last week.

"I've had enough. I don't know if I even dare let my kids go to the post office. Then it's gone too far. ... These past 16 days have been the worst in my life as a referee."

Frisk, 42, said he informed UEFA about his decision on Friday. He declined to describe the threats, but said most have come from England. Some were directed to other members of his family, he added.

"It's made me think a lot about what's important in life," he said. "You shouldn't have be subjected to this, shouldn't have to be afraid to make a decision on the field."

Frisk has been one of FIFA's top-ranked referees for the last decade, and has officiated in 118 international matches, including the European Championship final in 2000 between France and Italy. His decision to retire caused strong reactions from the Swedish Football Association.

"It's terrible that this kind of thing should have to make one of the world's best referees quit," said Bo Karlsson, the head of the association's referee division.

Swiss referee Urs Meier also received numerous threats from British fans after disallowing England's goal in the 90th minute in the Euro 2004 quarterfinal against Portugal, but kept refereeing for another three months until UEFA's age requirements forced him to retire.

Frisk was eligible to referee for another three years.

"I felt like the only way I could stop this, the only way to get rid of all the threats, get rid of the constant feeling of worry, was to quit," he said.

Frisk told newspaper Aftonbladet that he received a threatening phone call as recently as Friday. But he stood by the calls he made at the Camp Nou.

"I still claim that what I did in Barcelona was correct, but I could never in my wildest imagination understand what it would lead to," he was quoted as saying. "It's really sad, because I really love to referee."

 

[Minge]

I have lost all respect for Mourinho in the last few weeks. When he originally turned up at the bridge he seemed a maverick genius, but now comes across as a spoilt tosser, with toys out of pram when he does not win. His behaviour is then siezed upon by the fat, bald racists who follow Chelsea as an excuse to indulge in more foul behaviour. Drogba spent ages in the first leg trying to get himself sent off, Mourinho did nothing about it until it was too late, then blames the referee. He demeaned himself and his club when he came out with the comments about Rijkaard going to see Frisk at half time.

Compare him to Thierry Henry, who was interviewed on Radio 5 yesterday and said that Bayern deserved to win because they were the best team over two legs, end of story.

 

[John Dorian]

yes but weve now lost a good referee to a mindless twat.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

Anders Frisk wasn't a good referee though. He was more interested in getting his own name in the papers, with all his strutting and flamboyant card waving.

Why does anyone care that he's retired? I know I really don't give a f***.

 

[Marc]

yes but weve now lost a good referee to a mindless twat.

Good? Frisk was f***ing USELESS in all his games, glad he's retired although the cirumstances aint nice.

 

[John Dorian]

ok maybe i shouldnt have used that word. he wasnt good but he was a referee. I just feel sorry for him because of the circumstances.

 

[Tooting Gull]

This is a great story - because I suspect it is going to completely split opinion.

I feel we SHOULD all be saying/thinking how terrible it is that such a talented official should be forced out by the mob from his profession.

But that isn't how I feel at all. Frisk was a vain, pompous self-publicist, a no-better-than-average referee, and we're all well shot of him.

And I take his reported comments about Mourinho and Chelsea with a pinch of salt, after all, we don't know what actually happened. I'm sure he has had Chelsea dickheads send him emails, but he's hardly the first.

He personally stopped the fourth official from taking over in that Roma match, saying he wasn't experienced enough. Basically, if he wasn't reffing it, then no-one else was.

It's no coincidence, at home or in Europe. Every time a ref looks like they're enjoying being the big I-am just a bit too much, they come a cropper.

 

[Gluteus Maximus]

Frisk was a vain, pompous self-publicist, a no-better-than-average referee, and we're all well shot of him.

Indeed, the bloke is a pratt and more bothered about his hair and arse protruding run than being a good ref. He's more like a Swedish high jumper or rocker than a ref. All good refs these days should follow Collina's example, be totally bald and not get involved with smiles and gay conversation with any players or trainers.

 

[Jim D]

And, like Collina, miss a blatant foul on the opposition goalkeeper when 'our' team has scored? Yeah, right!

 

[Gritt23]

I don't believe he's retired as a direct result of the abuse, but it may have made him review the tape, and then he realised what a shit referee he was. Thinking, shit I can't say I'm giving up because I'm useless at this, I better make it sound far more unfortunate ...err.

Bingo, I'll blame the abuse.

That has certainly but a stop to UEFA criticising him for his performance.

 

[NMH]

Indeed, the bloke is a pratt and more bothered about his hair and arse protruding run than being a good ref. He's more like a Swedish high jumper or rocker than a ref. All good refs these days should follow Collina's example, be totally bald and not get involved with smiles and gay conversation with any players or trainers.

Collina was brilliant in 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'.

What became of that turd who sent Beckham off v the Argie cheats?
He wanted seeing to.