The Torrequebrada Hotel, member of Event Planner Spain, has been chosen as the venue for the 17th Advanced Course for Elite and Premier Referees and the 18th Introductory Course for International Referees, which will be held from 1-6 February 2009.
Organized by UEFA, this prestigious international event is being held in Spain for the first time in nine years. After an arduous selection processes, the town of Benalmadena was chosen from among a number of Spanish candidates. The course’s practical and theory modules will be given at the Torrequebrada Hotel, while the physical tests will take place at the Arroyo de la Miel football stadium.
Twenty-six elite and 11 Premier referees will be participating in the event, along with 38 referees who will be attending the Introductory Course for International Referees, in which they will learn about the “responsibilities” entailed by representing UEFA at an official match. In short, the course will be bringing together the crème de la crème of international referees, a number of whom will be participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The European football personalities who will also be attending the event include Angel Maria Villar (President of the Royal Football Federation of Spain), Senes Erzik (UEFA 1st Vice-President), Michael Listkiewicz (UEFA Vice-President), Andy Roxburgh (UEFA Technical Director), Pierluigi Collina (UEFA Referee Committee Member), as well as Yvan Cornu (Head of UEFA Referee’s Commission), and the Spanish referees Mejuto Gonzalez and Undiano Mallenco.
“It is a great opportunity not only for the world of football, but also excellent promotion for Benalmadena,” Villar said. “The best European referees, who are currently ranked among the best in the world, will be here.”
