The Premier League and its referees' organization are "still undecided" over whether the introduction of video assistant referees will involve the on-field referee consulting a pitchside replay screen to "have the final say in all decisions" (London TELEGRAPH, 4/29).
Gambling is "rife" in Scottish football with managers, referees, directors and chairs "all involved," according to Professional Footballers' Association Scotland Chair John Rankin. His comments come in the wake of former Man City and Scottish Premiership side Rangers player Joey Barton being banned for 18 months for breaking rules on gambling. Rankin, who plays for Scottish Championship side Queen of the South, said, "We've imposed bans, that's not stopping it. It's rife, we're not hiding from it. The majority are probably doing it" (BBC, 4/28).
The Belgian FA (KBVB) offered eight referees a two-year semi-professional contract in a move to modernize and upgrade refereeing in Belgium. As of the '17-18 season, those referees will "enjoy fixed training sessions" on Tuesday and Thursday (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 4/28).
After a "year-long pilot project," the German Football League (DFL) launched its Bundesliga Football School as a "new partnership model" to develop young talent and promote competitive football in the Bundesliga's target markets worldwide (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 4/28).
