"Taking care of referees is taking care of football," Athletic stressed in a statement

Under the title " Takingcare of referees is taking care of football ", Athletic has issued an official statement on Wednesday afternoon, in which the Bilbao Club states that "respect for the collective of football referees must be an indispensable principle shared by all the protagonists of football. "Also, in thetext issued by Athletic immediately after the publication of the statement of the Royal Society a, which deals with the performance of the referees of the Basque derbi on Sunday night in San Mamés, the Club reaffirms its commitment to defend and protect the collective of judges.

Football would not be possible without the image of the referee, who guarantees compliance with the rules of the game, begins the Athletic statement. What is his work in a state of permanent visibility and scrutiny is essential for the progress of the competition. The judges know that their greatest merit is to go unnoticed and know that they will receive constant protests from all the parties involved in the game.

But there is a limit that must not be crossed, the Biscayan club insists. That is why Athletic wants to remember that respect for the arbitral collective must be a principle that must be shared and irrevocable by all the protagonists of the game. Footballers, coaches, coaches, authorities, the media and amateurs have a responsibility to ensure that the way in which disagreements are expressed never exceeds the limits of respect that the profession of judges deserves. There are examples of this within the sport, such as rugby.

"It is clear to us, of course, that referees are people and that they make mistakes like anyone else who participates in a football game," Athletic continues in the text. "Error is part of sport and cannot be used as an excuse to justify campaigns of warning, pressure or conditioning against those responsible for applying the rules of the game."

For all these reasons, Athletic reaffirms its commitment to the defence of the arbitral community and the protection of its dignity, and will continue to promote all initiatives at its disposal to promote a culture of respect for judges, says the Bilbaia club.

"The club has maintained this commitment," continues Athletic, "both in situations where ithas been harmed by arbitral decisions, as happened against Seville, as the CTA itself later acknowledged, both in situations where decisions have been favourable to its interests, and in the last match, where the CTA has confirmed that the referee's decision was correct in the penalty play. "

Taking care of referees is taking care of football and protecting their authority, integrity and public image is everyone's responsibility, concludes the Athletic statement.