Workforce Language Services

FIFA’s rule no. 6 prohibits “Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.” So, how can FIFA referees make a call on this rule when they don’t understand what a soccer player is saying?

Alex Stone, a FIFA spokesman, acknowledged that with at least 17 languages spoken by the 32 teams in the World Cup, it is impossible for referees to understand all of them.

“It’s not the words, it’s what they’re doing,” he said. “It’s what they’re saying or how they’re behaving.”

Civility and aggressive vulgarity are universally understood.

Last Saturday, the U.S. vs U.K. game was refereed by a team of Brazilians, who listen carefully to words they “might not have learned in school.” Wayne Rooney in particular is known for his sharp mouth and high emotions, for which he has been ejected on more than one occasion.

“We have to learn what kind of words the players say,” Altemir Hausmann, a referee’s assistant, told Globo TV Sports in Brazil. “All players swear and we know we will hear a few.”

Click here to read the full NYTimes report on this particular factor in the World Cup games.