UEFA has announced the referees and assistant referees who will officiate at UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

Refereeing teams
UEFA's Referees' Committee has designated 12 referees and 24 assistants (along with eight fourth officials) to take charge of the 31 matches from 7-29 June 2008. The referee 'trios' comprise referees and assistant referees from the same country, all of whom have been on constant duty as a team in European club matches – particularly the UEFA Champions League – over the past year. UEFA chooses refereeing teams because of the experience and understanding that the three officials gather together.

'The best in the business'
"It is never easy to select the final list of names to officiate at a tournament as prestigious as the UEFA European Football Championship," said Angel María Villar Llona, the chairman of the UEFA Referees' Committee. "However, these officials are the best in the business at the moment and deserve their chance. The idea of appointing trios began at UEFA EURO 2004™, as it enables the officials to work closely together in their own domestic competition and at UEFA level for a longer period of time before the tournament. We wish them all the very best in their appointments at UEFA EURO 2008™."

Communication system
The ear-piece communications system between match officials, used in top European matches, will be authorised for use in the finals. The system, UEFA said, "should facilitate quick and efficient communication".

Preparatory seminar
The 44 selected match officials will now begin their preparations in earnest. They will attend a preparatory seminar from 14-17 April at the Mövenpick Hotel in Regensdorf, Switzerland, where they will take part in a physical test and be given specific instructions for the final tournament. This hotel will serve from 3 June as the base for the referee teams at UEFA EURO 2008™. From 26 June, those still involved in the final stages will move to the Renaissance Penta Hotel in Vienna, Austria.

Injury provisions
During the final tournament, any injured referee will be replaced by the fourth official at the match, and any injured assistant referee will be replaced by a fifth official who will come from the list of assistant referees not officiating at a game on that day. "The officials will continue to officiate at European club competition matches but will not be appointed to any international friendlies concerning the 16 teams qualified for the final tournament," said UEFA. Support for the team of officials will include a physio, a doctor, and a fitness coach who has devised a specific programme for the tournament.