Page 48 - World Of Nurol Magazine 31

and the Netherlands. We were very pleased to have been A game is 90 minutes long and each second matters...
able to referee a semi final, even though it was our first You have to be impartial, objective, open to criticism
World Cup experience. Those 45 days were like a dream. and constructive, while controlling your emotions and
maintaining your concentration throughout the game.
You then achieved another phenomenal success as an How do you manage to do it all this at the same time?
assistant referee in Cüneyt Çakır’s team refereeing
football games at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janerio These are all actually a part of our character, but it is hard
and at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Each work and experience that bring success. To be honest,
game must be significant for you, but since you are projecting my business experience on the pitch and my
representing Turkey, you have a great responsibility in football experience on the business has been very helpful
these games. How do you prepare yourself? during my career.

The 2014 World Cup was a critical experience for us, and The most important aspect of being a referee is being
thanks to those games Cüneyt Çakır’s team gained world- able to stay calm at any cost, and being ready for the
wide recognition. After that, one thing led to another, unexpected, and this is not limited to the pitch. When
and we refereed the final game between Barcelona and you can stay calm, you can access all of your knowledge,
Juventus in the 2015 Champions League. Then, in 2016 skills and experience, and make the right decision on the
we were called up for both the European Championship spot, and this can bring advantages also to your business
and the Rio Olympics. life.

We attended our second World Cup in 2018 and refereed I think all games are a projection of life, reflecting
a semi final in Russia, continuing our 10-year journey. people’s attitudes, characters and behaviors. I know it
well from backgammon. How is it in refereeing?
It takes hard work to represent Turkey in international
arena for 10 years, to keep doing it sustainably with the I focus on enjoying and winning each game or sport I
same team, and to nourish ourselves. We work very hard play. From the viewpoint of refereeing, I attach great
as a team both on and off the pitch. importance to enjoying what I do on the pitch and in
being successful.
It is very important to track the changing rules of the
game, the global direction of football, game plans My goal, therefore, is to be mentally and physically ready
and tactics, and player structures, and to be ready to for each game, to read the game accurately, and give as
accommodate the different story that each game may many correct decisions as possible. Being able to do this
create. makes me the happiest and most peaceful person in the
world.
We prepare ourselves for each of these aspects, and
receive support from our coach, mentors and trainers.

England v Croatia (2018 World Cup Semi Final)
Tarık ONGUN, Björn KUIPERS, Luka MOODRIC, Cüneyt ÇAKIR, Harry KANE,Bahattin DURAN

48