"Martin, I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter. It's okay to come back to England and invite me to dinner. ”

Jack went to Asia for a month to pack up. Although Jack was in charge of the training class, it wasn't a big deal. Because there are so many such things, a set of procedures has been formed.

Jack is actually more nominal, and is a good errand for Jack by Villar.

As it was before, you can continue like that. It's just that there is such a name. But as it was already the beginning of July, after a month there, Jack was going back to England.

Maybe even in the end, Jack needs to return home early.

Because that's when the league in England is about to start. Before the season, Jack also attends a meeting of the Premier League referees. With Jack's current status, he has to attend the Premier League referee meeting. Because the pre-season Premier League referee meeting is a very important meeting, important things will be discussed at that time.

"Okay. Back in England, I treat you to a big meal. ”

Jack nodded, but quickly said, "Martin, I talked to Neil. This time, Graham gave up his spot as an international referee, but Mark got it. ”

"Something to be expected."

When Atkinson heard this, he was not in a good mood.

After all, Clattenburg is his own junior. When Atkinson was an assistant referee in the soccer league, Clattenburg was just an assistant referee in the amateur league. It's just that Clattenberg came from behind. And Atkinson is already thirty-five years old, and Clattenberg is only thirty-one. Atkinson is not too old to qualify as an international referee.

Because Atkinson can be an international referee for ten years.

But compared to Atkinson, Clattenberg has no need to hurry. After all, Clattenberg was thirty-one years old. At the age of thirty-one, he became an international referee. It's quite young in world football. With the exception of perverts like Jack, most international referees became international referees at the age of thirty-five or sixteen.

Although not angry. But Atkinson also knew there was no way around it.

Atkinson is not well received in English football, especially the veteran referees. There are also referees who have a steady style of law enforcement. Neither do they like Atkinson. Think Atkinson is too maverick.

Compared to Atkinson, Clattenburg is really a referee who likes up and down in English football.

And he has a wide range of friends.

Influenced by Neil. Barry and Bol were heavy, and they began to make friends with Webb and Jack when they were in the lower leagues. Now Neil. Barry is already the de facto head of the English Referees Board, with Webber and Jack both becoming some of the best referees in England.

So Clattenburg got the spot, and Atkinson wasn't surprised at all.

But Atkinson still felt uncomfortable.

"Martin, you don't have to be in a hurry. Mark got the spot, but Neil said he would hand over your roster to FIFA at the end of the year. I believe that with your qualifications to officiate at the World Cup final. It shouldn't be a problem. I'll talk to Villar. ”

"Yes. Thank you. ”

"You're so polite."

"Didi-Di-"

While Jack and Atkinson were talking, Jack's cell phone rang. Jack took it out and looked at it, and it was a number he didn't recognize. Jack gave Atkinson an apologetic smile and answered the phone, "Hello, I'm Jack. Plum. ”

"Hello Jack. It's me. ”

"Qi Zu?"

Jack frowned.

Jack has a good relationship with some of the players. But most of them are England players, or I should say England internationals. After all, Jack is an English referee and has been in the Premier League for many years. And before going to the World Series, the English Football Association will also ask Jack to referee. Lectured England internationals in the past.

Especially a top referee like Jack.

Jack had just come over to give a lecture to the England international before this World Cup. It was before the start of the World Cup that Jack went. Because the English Football Association is preparing for the World Cup, it also wants to understand the penalty scale of the World Cup. That's why you need a referee like Jack to enforce the World Cup. Let me briefly talk about the requirements of the World Cup.

But Jack and Zidane really have nothing to do with each other.

If it weren't for this World Cup, Jack would have met Zidane twice on the field. One was against Real Madrid and one was against France. That's all.

"Yes."

"Something?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for your mercy. ”

I didn't expect it to be because of this incident.

Speaking of this World Cup. Jack officiated the French team several times. For the French team, it is really a savior. A couple of important decisions, although not Jack's deliberate bias towards France. But the French team should really be grateful to Jack.

In a couple of penalties, as long as Jack didn't pay attention to it. Then France will not be able to win the World Cup.

But it wasn't Jack's intention. Jack is not a French fan.

Therefore, Jack sneered: "Zizu, the decisions I made are all the ones I think are the right ones. I didn't mix my feelings and will. So you don't have to thank me. As for showing mercy to your men, it may become a big stain on my law enforcement career. So I don't need your thanks. ”

"I know."

Zidane's voice was somewhat muffled.

I don't know how it was over there. However, Zidane still said: "But I still want to say, thank you." ”

"No, you don't."

Jack hung up.

At this time, Jack really doesn't want to have anything to do with the French team. Although he didn't mean it, in this World Cup, Jack is France's lucky star.

From the knockout round, Jack took charge of the French team, and France won both.

And Jack gave France three penalties, which is doubtful no matter how you look at it. The Italian media have already begun to bombard Jack's decision, believing that Jack is biased in favor of the French team. At this time, if Jack had a personal connection with someone on the French team, it would have a very bad impact on Jack.

Call.

Don't underestimate phone calls. If certain journalists or departments. It was a breeze to actually listen to Jack's phone calls. What the law guarantees about privacy is.

Now a lot of media coverage. There are many disgraceful ones.

If there really is a media, dig up what Jack has to do with the French team. That's the big scandal of the World Cup. Such sensational news is enough to make many media outlets uncompromising. And even if Jack's privacy is really violated, the channels they obtained are illegal, and Jack will not be able to fight back at that time.

Although Jack thinks he is innocent, it is easy to think of the other side if people know that he and Zidane were connected after the game. At that time, Jack will be a rat crossing the street, everyone shouts and beats, where does he have the energy to fight with the media.

So after a few words, Jack turned off the phone.

"Zidane?"

"Yes."

"What is he calling for. It's just ignorant. ”

Atkinson was also furious.

If Jack is really suspected of having something to do with the French team, it will not be Jack alone who will be affected. It's the entire Jack's team of referees. Damn, how can Zidane be so ignorant.

"Forget it, leave him alone."

Jack shook his head.

It seems that Zidane will not be able to be a good UEFA or FIFA official. At such a sensitive moment, with a little brain, he wouldn't call Jack.

Compared with people like Beckenbauer, who have been politically capable since he was a player, Zidane will not be able to become the next Beckenbauer after all. It is also unlikely that he will become Platini, who is running for UEFA presidency.

"Martin, do you know Craig. Posen. ”

"The guy who got the referee in the soccer league last year. Posen? ”

"Yes."

"Of course I do. At the age of twenty-six, he was qualified to be the referee of the football league, and his results were very good. In the past few years, there have been too many young referees, if it had been twenty years ago. He's definitely shaking up the whole world of referees. ”

Craig. Posen, at the age of 26, won the qualification to referee the football league last year. Eligible to officiate in the Championship, League One and League Two. Of course, with his qualifications, he can only officiate in League Two.

But even that is very powerful.

Because when Webb became the referee of the football league at the age of twenty-five, it caused a sensation in the entire English refereeing community. Webber also broke a record in the English refereeing world.

It's just that it starts after that. Young referees such as Jack and Clattenburg broke various records one by one, so everyone was numb. Especially in recent years, with the retirement of old referees a lot. There are more and more new blood in the refereeing world.

Many of the referees who have now obtained the qualification to referee the football league are twenty-six or seventeen years old.

So it's inconspicuous.

"How?"

"After you return to England. Just tell him. At the start of next season, I'm going to have him as my second referee. If he wants to. I'll help him get the qualifications of an assistant referee in the Premier League. ”

"Are you optimistic about him?"

Atkinson was surprised.

The position of assistant referee in the Premier League is not only a matter of referee level, but also related to money. In recent years, the treatment of referees has been getting better and better, and the top assistant referees in the Premier League earn around 50,000 pounds a year. The average Premier League assistant referee also earns more than £40,000.

More than the Championship referees' income.

So it's very sought-after. That is, Jack, dare to guarantee like this.

"It's time to develop some young referees."

Jack said old-fashioned. But Atkinson didn't feel anything was wrong at all. Jack, though only thirty years old, is qualified to say such things. Atkinson nodded.

"No problem."

Many referees in the Premier League are very old now, and there are many people over the age of 40. They are expected to retire within a few years. Jack is starting to develop some young referees now, which is a good idea.

"Why don't you tell him yourself."

"I told him personally that if he refused, I would lose face."

Jack replied with a smile. In fact, what he thought in his heart was that he was not qualified enough for Jack to invite him personally. Although there is not much age difference between the two, his generation is at most Jack's disciple. (To be continued......)