Regensdorf, Switzerland - The 12 officiating teams for Euro 2008 were undergoing final preparations on Wednesday after arriving at their Swiss base camp the previous day. Having already officiated the recent Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea, Slovakia's Lubos Michel is also widely tipped to be the referee of the Euro final on June 29 in Vienna.
But like his other 11 colleagues he needs to qualify for further duty with good showings in the group stage of the June 7-29 tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
The ruling body UEFA has told the referees to act tough against ruthless tackles, play-acting such as diving, pushing in the penalty area.
"We have to protect the players. We want to have the best players healthy until the end of the tournament," said UEFA referee instructor Hugh Dallas.
The 12 pairs, plus eight fourth officials which will only be used in the group stage, arrived at their Swiss camp in Regensdorf near Zurich on Tuesday.
Each referee will be in charge of two group matches. UEFA will assign them for the first 12 of 24 group matches on Thursday.
Five referees and his assistants will be dropped after the group stage but the referees will continue as fourth officials.
The UEFA will decide based on performance who stays on for the knockout stages but their fate also depends on the results of the teams from their home country.
While Michel has an excellent chance to go all the way because his country did not qualify for the finals, German Herbert Fandel could be out early if his Germany team progresses.
"Football takes centre stage. I am a fan of the team. I want the team to go very far," said Fandel, putting personal ambitions aside.
Like at Euro 2004 and recent World Cups, the referees are joined by the same linesmen they have for domestic and other international matches, making the most of the trios' experience and understanding.
Each referee gets 10,000 euros per game (15,540 dollars), an assistant referee 5,500 euros and the fourth official 4,000 euros. Everyone also gets a per diem of 200 euros.
Apart from Michel and Fandel, the Euro referees are Konrad Plautz (Austria), Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium), Howard Webb (England), Kyros Vassaras (Greece), Roberto Rosetti (Italy), Pieter Vink (Netherlands), Tom Henning Ovrebo (Norway), Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain), Peter Froejdfeldt (Sweden) and Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).
"These officials are the best in the business at the moment and deserve their chance," said UEFA referees committee head Angel María Villar Llona.
