“I want to make young people aware of this mission of general interest, respect for that.
The referee is at the service of the two teams, of sport.
Suddenly, you have to know how to appreciate them at their true value. "
This is the message of Boris Diaw, sponsor of the 19th arbitration days, from November 18 to 29.
Organized by La Poste, this annual event will obviously take place remotely this time, coronavirus requires.
But it was between four eyes that the former captain of the France team, successor to Robert Pires in this role of sponsor, came to talk to us about arbitration.
“I think I'm a better godfather than Robert,” he laughs with a laugh.
Obviously, it's humor, the two men know each other.
"I am happy to succeed Robert as sponsor of the national days of arbitration," he resumes more seriously.
It is important to raise awareness, especially among young people.
I am in a role where I am committed to setting an example, which I am trying to do on the France team. ”
Remember that Babac has worn the blue jersey 247 times, like his mother, and that he is now deputy general manager.
"It's important to show young people that there is respect to be had, towards referees, but also all people who have missions of general interest"
Boris Diaw, sponsor of arbitration days
And the former European champion continued: "It's the same here, but on another scale, in terms of refereeing, fair play, in order to show that it is important and that it is not the players facing the referees.
We play against another team and the referees are there to make sure that it goes as well as possible.
So you have to be able to respect them. ”
What the 38-year-old retiree has always done during his career, irreproachable.
"Irreproachable, I don't know, but if we are talking about the France team, as captain, it is you who has more access to speech and dialogue with the referees.
And we can't do it in a haphazard way, outrageous.
You have to be reasoned and have a meaningful dialogue, be an example as a captain. ”
For the rest, it's up to the referees to play, to embody the authority: “Obviously, the referee has authority.
It is the role of each arbitrator not to fall into the abuse of power.
So perhaps, by leaving the framework of sport, it is important to show young people that there is respect to be had, towards the referees, but also all the people who have missions of general interest. "
One thing is certain: Boris Diaw, who hung up two years ago now, cannot imagine sport without a referee.
The video ?
Yes.
But only in certain situations.
"We obviously need the judgment of the referee in certain situations," he notes.
It remains to be seen what a good referee is.
"He is someone who must know how to be forgotten, to ensure that we do not see him during the match, promises the former Pau-Lacq-Orthez.
It means that there was no problem and that the match was well refereed.
He must have some confidence in himself too.
But for me, if you don't know who refereed at the end of a match, it's because he had a good match.
Obviously, we all make mistakes, as a player, and therefore as a referee too.
This sometimes requires knowing how to question yourself, like the players.
A good referee knows how to question himself because we can all progress, players and referees alike.
So there are a lot of similarities between the two and the slogan "we don't have the same jersey but we have the same passion" was well found.
That's why we owe it to ourselves to have mutual respect. "
Remember that these arbitration days aim to promote referees in several disciplines and in connection with various leagues and federations, from football to basketball, including handball, rugby.
"Postmen or arbitrators, the general interest is our driving force," we swear to La Poste.
Pascal Dorizon, Pierre-Yves Bichon and Goran Radonjic
Obviously, behind arbitration, there are men and women.
Which ones marked Boris Diaw during his playing career?
“For me, the best was Pascal Dorizon.
There was Pierre-Yves Bichon too, he was also from Bordeaux, and was one of the best, he said.
Why not a second career !!
But in the meantime, I am the ambassador of the Arbitration Days 2020!
See you on November 18 on @Tousarbitres for the launch of this new edition.
# Tousarbitrespic.twitter.com / CnjG2K9WS2
- Boris Diaw (@theborisdiaw) October 15, 2020
And to continue: “Otherwise Goran Radonjic marked me.
His son, Gorjan, was with us at Insep, an incredible shooter.
They were fighting each other in training with Thomas Dubiez.
In short, Goran often came to see our matches, they followed us since we were kids.
When I arrived in Pau, he was very involved in communication.
I remember in my first year I was sitting on the bench while there were free throws, he was a side referee and turned to me: "Hey Boris you are fine, your mother is fine , everything is going well ?"
(laughs).
And we start to discuss, to talk about the rain and the good weather while the shots are taken ... He made me laugh.
He communicated a lot.
Sometimes you would come and complain about a foul and he would say: "yes, but you're going to play one against three when you had to make the pass, I'm not going to whistle for you" (laughs) ... C 'was of course humor. "
It is up to the current referees to leave such an indelible mark in the memory of athletes.
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