The star coach sharply criticizes the refereeing system. He later retracts his statements, but a debate has long since erupted.
Former star coach Fabio Capello has caused a stir with sharp criticism of the refereeing system and a “mafia” comparison. In an interview with the Spanish sports newspaper Marca, the 79-year-old Italian spoke of a refereeing system that acts “like a mafia” and isolates itself from external help. In a later statement, Capello clarified his remarks and regretted that the term “mafia” had been taken out of context.
Capello initially criticized that no former professional players are involved in the video assistant system. “Referees do not want to involve ex-players who understand the movements and sequences in football,” criticized the former coach of the English national team, AC Milan, Juventus Turin, and Real Madrid. Therefore, wrong decisions are often made because many officials have never played themselves and do not sufficiently understand certain game situations. The topic makes him “extremely angry.”
Together with the European Football Union (UEFA), 20 penalty decisions were analyzed, explained Capello, who is currently primarily active as a TV commentator in Italy. The result: Only in six cases was the penalty justified, in 14 it was not. Capello also spoke of an isolated “caste” of referees who are hardly willing to accept criticism or support from outside.
Capello’s words triggered heated reactions on social media in Italy and Spain. Afterwards, Capello backtracked. With the term “mafia,” he had wanted to make it clear that the Italian refereeing system functions “like an extremely closed organization” and rarely allows for genuine exchange.