Rättskiparen

Human error are not often portrayed as well as in this rare documentary about the unforgiving profession of being a football referee. Perfection is a goal that absolutely no one can reach and imagine how boring it would be if all referees would be perfect. I suggest every serious football fan that feel they have been cheated at least once take a good look at this nice film about what a relatively small mistake can cost those involved. If the common man would know how his decisions affect his family and relatives I believe we would not have any referees left in this world. But we need them because football wouldn't work without them.

It is interesting to see how "easy" life for a referee can be. In Mexico a referee in the same position as Martin Hansson would need military transport and body guards most of the time if he would do a mistake like in the match between France and Ireland. Everything is relative. In terms of quality it is a good film that shows the negative side of soccer but also a positive side from the angle of the referee. He sacrifices everything, work, family, etc, to be a referee. This must mean he really like soccer and being a referee. I like the way the story escalates towards the end and we are not sure if the referee will make it or not. Good length also most films are too long and detailed.

Rettskiparen is an unusual sport documentary because it deals with the personal aspects of being a football referee on top level. Normally sport documentaries are not so keen on what is going on beneath the surface and focuses on the matches and the goals or the conflicts within the team or between players. Instead Rettskiparen deals with the personal sacrifice that Martin Hansson has to go through in order to be a referee. It works very well and is an interesting story from the beginning to end. I would not mind a one hour documentary but the character himself is maybe not interesting enough for that length, who knows? Overall a truly recommended film about a very lonely and idealistic man.

In this movie there is a journalist that mention the fact you must be able to critic the football referee when he makes a bad decision. I think in that statement lies the strength of this film because the referee also believe he should not go to the world cup if he makes a mistake. Which he does. A big one. The filmmakers meet him in very personal situations and also his family and despite the problems he has to survive he still believe that this is what he should do instead of being with his family. I fee after watching this film that referees are just like players and compete just like players. Before I saw the film I did not know that the competition was as strong between the referees. I am very happy to have seen this film and I look forward to more films that look a little deeper inside football and all the controversies around the game.

After watching The Referee I fell a strong urge to ventilate the fact that the referees can be helped by video assists and extra referees, etc. This constant on-going discussion about whether football is just or not have no value anymore as FIFA and UEFA do not make the necessary changes. I believe the personal part of this portrait is interesting and also the part that shows the referee at work but the overall fight against media, fans, etc. seem fruitless. The documentary is a nice example of life outside of the football ground but this Mr. Hansson comes across as a little bit too selfish to be sympathetic in my opinion.