Diary of a referee: ‘Collina observed our half-naked bodies with an ice-cold gaze’

In this article, international referee Jonas Eriksson describes the intense scrutiny and pressure faced by top-level referees in Europe. Eriksson recounts how Uefa officials, including the legendary Pierluigi Collina, would closely observe and evaluate referees' physical appearances, requiring them to strip down and be weighed and have their body fat checked. Eriksson explains that being a successful referee was not just about performance on the field, but also about maintaining a specific physical appearance and meeting strict weight and body fat requirements. Failure to do so could result in fewer match assignments and professional consequences. The article highlights the stressful and uncomfortable nature of these assessments, with Eriksson describing Collina's "ice-cold gaze" as he observed the referees' "half-naked bodies." The piece provides a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes demands and challenges faced by elite-level officials in European football.