Number of referess in Russian football to be cut

During a RIA Novosti press conference on Monday, member of Russia's Board of Football Referees Andrei Butenko said that the number of referees in Russian football would be cut from next year.

Butenko also said that each candidate to become a referee would be considered on an individual basis by a sports qualification commission, and then at a session of the referees' board.

At the same time, he said that the marks given by match inspectors during the first half of the Russian season did not correspond to the level of refereeing. In this connection, an institute of instructors has been set up to raise referees' qualifications. It will also be obliged to control the corresponding levels of refereeing and inspectors' marks.