EXCLUSIVE: Keith Hackett on World Cup pressure and referees being 'event managers'

The former head of PGMOL will be our refereeing expert throughout the World Cup, taking a close look at the performances of the men with the whistle.

This World Cup has 104 matches across the widest geographical footprint in tournament history. How does that volume of high-stakes games affect referees psychologically? Does fatigue become a factor, or does the adrenaline carry them through?

"The competition for selection is intense and extremely competitive. The officials' performances have been carefully monitored over a number of years and undergone intense scrutiny. Pierluigi Collina and FIFA Director of Referees Massimo Busacca have run many workshops to monitor fitness and work towards a uniform application of the laws of the game. Online interaction and testing on the laws of the game are also included in the preparation, with advice on fitness and nutrition.

"Fitness tests are carried out every time they meet, with each official receiving physical and psychological support. Vision scientists are also involved, checking things like peripheral vision.

"During games, the distance covered by officials is monitored along with speed and movement profiles. Their recovery statistics are measured, too, to ensure no official is appointed to a game if they are showing signs of fatigue. My expectation is to see referees averaging 11.5 kilometres per game with over 1,000 metres of dynamic sprints at speeds above seven metres per second.

"And the quality of accurate decision-making comes down to four things: to see, to recognise, to think, and to act. When I was running the PGMOL, I could call up movement and speed profiles during a game. FIFA will have similar statistics gathered during each performance.

"One area I hope has been dealt with is the games scheduled in Mexico. The Azteca is 7,000 feet above sea level, so additional preparation and acclimatisation must be built into the appointment process for those fixtures.

"Premier League referee Jarred Gillett is among those selected to operate in the VAR role, based at the Match Control Room Centre in Dallas."

The World Cup final is the pinnacle for any referee. What separates the ones who thrive from those who crumble under the weight of the occasion?

"Many of the selected officials are regarded as the best in their country, and some are the best in their entire confederation. They will have officiated hundreds of games, building the expertise and coping mechanisms needed to handle a World Cup appointment.

"At elite level, referees are event managers. Not only do you have to deliver high performance in applying the laws of the game, but you are responsible for managing conflict and player behaviour, and ensuring the game kicks off at the exact published time.

"Before kick-off, at the exchange of team sheets, there will be a meeting with security covering any potential situations and the 'what ifs' that form part of the pre-game plan. The team of officials will also have held a detailed meeting to plan their performance, including deep discussion on assistant referee, VAR and fourth official involvement."

With 170 officials involved across 104 matches, how important is consistency between the on-field referee and the VAR team?

"The selected officials will have attended several FIFA workshops and been involved in an online training programme studying various incidents. Video clips are played with the purpose of achieving consistency in decision-making.

"Handball incidents, foul challenges graded from careless through to serious foul play, grappling at corners, offside, all of it covered and discussed in detail to achieve uniformity across the large group of officials. VAR operators will have received additional training with the same aim in mind. Those who do not comply with the instructions from Collina and Busacca could find themselves on an early flight home.

"The added complication is the implementation of the new Laws of the Game, which adds another layer of preparation for everyone involved."

Referees are under more scrutiny than ever, with camera angles dissecting every call within seconds. Does that exposure make the job fundamentally different from what you experienced?

"The game has changed dramatically since I refereed my last game in 1995 after 23 years at the elite level. I was involved in creating the first group of professional referees, convincing the Premier League to invest in what became the PGMOL. With the help of sports science, sports psychology and a vision scientist, that investment raised standards considerably.

"I also introduced three pieces of technology to assist decision-making: communication kits enabling referees and assistants to talk to each other; goal-line technology, working closely with Professor Paul Hawkins of Hawkeye and Mike Foster, Director at the Premier League, with former Arsenal director David Dein doing a tremendous job convincing FIFA General Secretary Sepp Blatter to grant approval; and Prozone Referee, delivering performance insights on match officials.

"With specialist VAR operators and the semi-automated offside system now in operation, together with the Adidas chip in the ball, I am hoping we see a marked improvement in VAR delivery. I also hope the communication links between the VAR hub in Dallas and the grounds in Mexico and Canada operate without problems."

Szymon Marciniak refereed the 2022 World Cup final and returns in 2026. Is there a danger of over-relying on proven names, or is experience at that level simply irreplaceable?

"Experience is such a positive asset in officiating, and in life generally. Marciniak is highly experienced and will bring invaluable insights to his colleagues, with Collina himself, of course, being a former World Cup final referee.

"Having hundreds of games in your locker is a huge advantage in coping with the pressures that ignite during a match. Experience enables you to operate with reduced anxiety when that big call arrives, to make it with accuracy and to sell it with authority. It allows you to read the game, get into the ideal position, and manage players and the event calmly."

England have both Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver at the tournament. Which do you think is better suited to the demands of knockout football on the world stage?

"Both are the top two Premier League referees and have delivered big games domestically and internationally. They are both very fit and operate in a mature, calm manner.

"Anthony Taylor gained international recognition when Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark's Euro 2020 match against Finland. Taylor's role in getting medical staff onto the pitch quickly was praised around the world.

"Michael Oliver is a big-game referee, well-suited to the world stage, with an ability to raise his performance to meet the moment. He shows great maturity and composure when officiating and will relish this tournament. Both deserve to be there."

Daniel Siebert refereed the Champions League final but did not receive a World Cup call-up. Did that surprise you?

"FIFA will have had detailed reports on how Siebert was performing both domestically and internationally. His selection for the European final was a clear sign that UEFA's Director of Referees rated him highly, and his performance there was outstanding. The faith that Rossetti had in him was well placed.

"The disappointment he must have felt at missing out is gut-wrenching. He should be at the World Cup. That said, it demonstrates just how competitive refereeing is at the highest level. There are very few spots and the margins between those who make it and those who do not are extraordinarily fine.

"I have experienced many big games myself, and you would not be human if, in those minutes in the dressing room before kick-off, you did not feel pressure. I had a habit of taking a shave ten minutes before I pressed the bell, then sitting quietly with my eyes closed, visualising the game ahead.

"There is no better feeling than looking around the field of play before kick-off and taking in the great players you are about to manage."

Refereeing is one of the few roles in sport where a mistake is immediately visible to millions and replayed endlessly. How do you advise young officials to process errors and reset?

"Referees are human and they will make mistakes. The important thing is to immediately park whatever error you feel you have made, right there on the field of play during the match. If you allow it to stay front and centre of your thinking, your performance and concentration will drop. Confidence erodes, body language turns negative, and further errors follow.

"The ability to reset in the moment is one of the most important skills any referee can develop, and it is something that only truly comes with experience."