Edgardo Codesal, Gilberto Alcala and Adalid Maganda are looking to develop the amateur sector that was neglected by the Referees Commission of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF). The International Organization of Referees (OIA) has been created by former referees relegated from the Mexican professional referee organization.
The new OIA recently held their first annual congress of amateur referees in Acapulco. Authorities from the State Sports Institute, former professional referee Paul Delgadillo and more than 200 amateur referees, who do not have a fixed salary and lack guarantees to carry out their work, were present. According to information from the organization, an amateur referee earns an average of 200 to 300 pesos per game. They can work up to 10 games from Monday to Friday and at least 3 or 4 on weekends. Its limitations, however, not only lie in the regulations, but also in the lack of uniforms, shoes and flags. “Amateur referees have been forgotten by the FMF”, emphasizes Adalid Maganda, in charge of the sporting area. “Our purpose is not to make money, but to help colleagues who have been mistreated by the violence that exists in this country. We are going to knock on doors with federal deputies, senators and state authorities to ask for support.” Presided by Juan Reyes Chavez, the OIA intends to add former referees Roberto Garcia and Francisco Chacon, who have already participated in some refereeing clinics. The head of training is Edgardo Codesal, who refereed the World Cup final in Italy’90 and is a former chairman of the Mexican professional referees. His ideas coincide with those of the rest of his team, although he insists on the need to address the root problems to improve the level of refereeing. On this subject, he points to Armando Archundia, the new head of the FMF Referees Committee, because he believes that "it is necessary to put an end to many legacies from the past." The OIA has toured various referee groups around the country. In Mexico City, they prepared some activities in Milpa Alta with the support of local authorities. “Why aren't we on the FMF Referees Committee?” Alcala wonders at the end of the interview. “I don't know, I never had problems with anyone, we should ask those responsible”.
Source: La Jornada