CSL Turn To Foreign Referees For Weekend’s Games

Chinese Super League (CSL) officials have turned to foreign referees to take charge of league matches this weekend in response to recent controversies.

Jonas Eriksson of Sweden will officiate the league match between Tianjin Quanjian and Shandong Luneng while French referee Tony Chapron will be in charge of the game between Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Teda.

Video referees are also set to be introduced soon in the CSL on a trial basis.

The introduction of foreign referees was conveyed in a statement from the Chinese Football Association (CFA). It read: “To improve the abilities of referees is a main part of the Chinese FA’s job.

“Inviting high-level foreign referees will help further improve referee accuracy in key matches and provide domestic referees with opportunities for learning and exchange.”

CFA vice president Zhang Jian had earlier admitted in August that “there were rather big controversies with the referees’ decisions in some games”.