UEFA considering referee exchange programme

UEFA's Professional Football Committee (PFC) is considering the introduction of an exchange programme that would allow referees to officiate domestic matches in different European countries.

The exchange would only involve PFC members which includes England, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Scotland and Spain.

"The suggestion to use top international referees from different countries for specific domestic matches is a very interesting one that we will consider going forward with," said PFC chairman Pedro Tomas.

The move was applauded by Luciano Gaucci, president of struggling Italian first division side club Perugia, who last week was cautioned by Serie A's disciplinary commission for saying some referees were biased against his club.

"This is the ideal solution to resolve a lot of problems in the Italian game," he said.

"Every Sunday our referees are constantly under stress because they know that everyone is watching them like a hawk. This pressure causes mistakes which tend to favour the big clubs.

"With foreign referees this would not be the case, as they only come in to the country the day before and leave after the match."

Earlier this year UEFA sanctioned a referee exchange with Italian referee Pierluigi Collina taking charge of a potentially volatile French League match between Marseille and Lyon.