Pressure on as Fifa mark whistlers' cards for Germany

Refereeing: Emmet Malone looks at new demands on those charged with the most thankless job in soccer

While steadfastly refusing to help referees by allowing for the use of video evidence during games, Fifa have invoked those old favourites the carrot and the stick in dealing with the whistlers at this World Cup.

The 21 referees on duty during the 64-match tournament will receive around €35,000 each for their efforts over the next four and a half weeks, twice as much as was paid in Japan and South Korea four years ago. But leading figures in Fifa, including Sepp Blatter, have made it clear during the past few weeks that those who perform poorly will be sent packing.

The number of refereeing controversies in the last World Cup prompted Fifa to invest heavily in selection procedures for these finals. Candidates underwent a series of interviews combined with physical and psychological tests whereby numbers were gradually cut from 45 to roughly half that.

Ultimately, as with just about everything Fifa do, political expediency played its part in the final selection, all of the continental confederations having to be represented.

But the procedure does look much fairer than at previous tournaments.

Those chosen are scarcely an exotic bunch. Around half are teachers (physical education features regularly) and as for their "fondest memories", two cite the births of children while most mention underage tournaments, big club matches or the news they had been selected for Germany.

Shamsul Maidin from Singapore seems, incidentally, a particularly lost cause, citing proudly the 2003 World Youth Cup and last year's Confederations Cup as his greatest moments. To take his mind off things he watches - yes, you've guessed it - football.

Predictably, Europe has the most referees (nine) followed by South America (five), Blatter admitting there are problems with the development of referees from other regions, particularly Africa.

Africa's cause may not have been helped by the suggestion from a leading official of the Nigerian FA a couple of months ago that referees should not necessarily turn their noses up at bribes but should merely avoid bias toward those putting up the cash.

Still, it is the honesty of Europe's officials that that has come under most scrutiny of late, German and Italian football badly shaken by accusations (and at least some admissions) of bribery in domestic leagues.

Massimo de Santis, a 44-year-old police chief from Rome, was withdrawn from refereeing duties at this World Cup by his national association after being embroiled in the investigation into corruption there.

Although they have a panel of five reserves, Fifa have to date decided against replacing either de Santis or the Jamaican Peter Prendergast, who injured a knee during training last week and had to return home.

In both instances the referee's misfortune is shared by his two assistants, who come, and consequently go, as part of a package.

This should all mean more games for those who remain, though how the 21 fare depends on a number of factors, not least their willingness to follow to the letter the many and varied instructions given to them by Fifa over the past few months.

Lunging and elbowing opponents are this year's key crimes, Fifa making it clear offenders should be immediately sent off.

Time wasting is also to be targeted.

Inevitably some referees will still end up becoming figures of fun, derision or a combination of the two. Their cause won't be helped by changes to the offside rule that make life much harder for match officials or the refusal of the authorities to allow even the most basic of issues, such as whether a ball has crossed the goal line, be verified by television footage or other electronic aids.

The pressure to send players off in a growing number of instances brings added pressure too, with referees keenly aware, particularly in the wake of Terge Hauge's recent experience in the Champions League final, of the potential cost of mistakenly flashing a red card.

For those who survive any initial cull the latter stages of the tournament represent something of a race to get the event's most prestigious job, overseeing the final.

Apart from having had a good tournament himself, the man eventually chosen needs one other thing to go his way, however. His country's national team must already have been eliminated by July 9th. So, if the champions make an early exit and you happen to catch sight of a Brazilian in the stand who looks to be coping surprisingly well, here's a chance to impress your friends. The odds are his name is Carlos Simon.