Referee Chief Kassai: "We have a high standard, but need more"

The World Cup is over, and a new season is just around the corner. This weekend, the Bundesliga and second-division clubs will kick off in the UNIQA ÖFB Cup.

Viktor Kassai, Technical Director in the ÖFB's Referee Department since 2023, looks back at the past season before the start of the new one.

"Our elite referees showed very consistent performances in the 2025/56 season in both the ADMIRAL Bundesliga and the ADMIRAL 2. Liga," says the 50-year-old in an interview on the ÖFB website.

The Hungarian added: "There are always areas where we can improve. A serious error quickly affects our acceptance and image. We can officiate ten games very well. But if an error then occurs, all attention is focused on it."

New Rules in Focus

Expectations for referees are very high. "What is often overlooked is that we already have a high standard, but we need even more," says Kassai. He also addresses the generational change. Every year, young talents move up into the elite ranks. "That they make mistakes in the process is part of their development."

In preparation for the new season, the new rules of the game were primarily in focus. "Globally, there is agreement that there are too many game delays and that effective playing time must be increased. Therefore, it is important that referees prepare as well as possible for these changes," says Kassai.

"This also includes the new Public Announcements. At this level, it's no longer about the basics of the rules of the game, but about consistently and uniformly implementing new guidelines."

World Cup Not Comparable to a League

The new rules were applied for the first time at the World Cup. These partly caused discussions, such as the generally lenient interpretation by the officials when the game became more physical.

Kassai on this: "As a former World Cup referee, I can say that the tournament is not comparable to a league. What is crucial is which guidelines are being followed. From the outside, we don't know these FIFA guidelines in detail, and there are also different interpretations between a World Cup, a European Championship, and the individual associations."

In Austria, the aim is to follow the UEFA guidelines. "The focus is on player protection, the image of the game, and a consistent approach to unsportsmanlike conduct," says Kassai.

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