During the Champions League and Europa League games, the referees no longer have the FIFA badge on their chests, but the UEFA logo. It's just a visual change - but it's part of a larger conflict. "UEFA Match Official" was the badge of Felix Brych as he headed the Europa League semi-final in Cologne between Manchester United and Sevilla FC. The referee's left breast pocket was always intended for the FIFA badge in games like this, as referees must be on the FIFA list to manage a European Cup match, as is the case with Brych. However, when the Europa League and Champions League matches were resumed, the word "FIFA" had disappeared from the jerseys of all referees in favour of "UEFA".
Why? "The new referee badge is to be used in UEFA competitions to clearly show that they are UEFA competitions," said UEFA at the request of Sportschau. It took ten days and three questions to get this short answer. But is UEFA really about visibility and marketing? Or is it a show of power over FIFA? With this badge, UEFA is further differentiating itself from FIFA, which had its place on the referee jerseys for decades. In public, UEFA seems to be almost uncomfortable with the topic. On social networks, they are currently pointing out almost every day that the players' jerseys are adorned with “thanks to the helpers in the corona crisis”. In contrast, UEFA explained nowhere the fundamental change on the referee's jerseys during the current season: no tweet, no press release, and no member magazine. There was apparently no major internal communication either, because the referees themselves did not know the background of the change. "Our referees were only sent the new badges, with the note that they were to be worn in UEFA club competitions from now on," said DFB chief referee Lutz-Michael Fröhlich in an interview with Sportschau. "We don't know any more." And what does FIFA say about it? "FIFA is not commenting on this at the moment," said their response. Both organizations left unanswered the question of whether the procedure was coordinated. According to information from the Sportschau, there was no agreement on the subject. The change of the referee's badge was unilaterally carried out by UEFA. The way it was introduced and how it was communicated clearly indicates that the referee badge is now one of many parts of the eternal dispute between UEFA and FIFA. "The conflict between the two organizations is bigger than most people assume," says Sportschau expert Robert Kempe. "With his speech at the UEFA Congress, for example, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin clearly attacked FIFA President Gianni Infantino in March." At the time, Ceferin spoke clearly to Infantino that "officials are not the stars of the game, only the guards". Another current example: at the end of June, against the will and recommendation of FIFA, UEFA and CONMEBOL voted to award the 2023 Women's World Cup to Colombia and not to the joint bid from New Zealand and Australia. The mutual blockade between FIFA and UEFA when it comes to voting is legendary. The conflict is also evident on many lower levels, not least in the referee system: FIFA pushed the video assistant referee system forward with force, while UEFA put on the brakes for a long time on this issue. Currently, however, the main focus between UEFA and FIFA is the new major Club World Cup with 24 teams, which FIFA President Infantino intends to introduce. The business with the clubs in Europe belongs to UEFA as they see it, with the Champions League and the Europa League. In precisely these competitions, UEFA is now taking away media visibility from FIFA's referee badges, thereby ensuring the exclusivity of the UEFA brand.
If it were all about marketing, a harmonious solution would have been possible. As the organizer of the competitions, UEFA could have made itself visible on the right side of the chest and leave the FIFA badge in its place. This is how the AFC and CONMEBOL proceed in their competitions. Both logos are affixed to the referee's shirt chest: on the right that of the confederation and on the left that of FIFA. At UEFA, however, the right side of the chest remains free. There would also have been room on the so far empty right sleeve of the referee. Instead, however, UEFA is removing the FIFA logo from UEFA competitions - it is a clear sign of independence. Apart from their external appearance, nothing changes for the referees. A place on the FIFA list remains the pre-requisite for appointments in the European competitions, as stated in the regulations of the Champions League and the Europa League. The badge on the jersey is not important. "But the FIFA logo is an honour for the referees, and it has been backed by years of work," says Alex Feuerherdt from the referee podcast "Collinas Erben". "It indicates that the referee in question is allowed to conduct football matches worldwide." A return to the old principle is not in sight, on the contrary. In the qualifying games for the new season in the European competitions, the new badge can already be seen on the jerseys of the referees.
