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In the world of football, where every second on the field is filled with passion and intensity, the referee's role is vital, and not everyone is chosen to hold the accordion of sports justice. Bekim Zogaj is one of them, a name that has managed to become synonymous with integrity, dedication and professionalism in refereeing.
With a career that has spanned hundreds of matches, officiating on football pitches nationally in Switzerland and internationally, Bekim Zogaj has shown that a dedicated and talented referee can make a huge difference in the most beautiful game in the world. .
His path as a judge was not without challenges; from the first decision to take the flag in his hand and stand in the middle of a local match, to the moment his name was written on the lists of FIFA referees.
Deçanasi Zogaj has gone through a series of testing and growth, adapting to different situations with determination and learning from every experience gained in the field.
He is a figure who has earned the respect of players, coaches and fans in Switzerland and Europe, always maintaining a fair and impartial approach, which is very important in the varied and unpredictable dynamics of football.
Bekim Zogaj's career as a referee is a testament to true dedication and love for football, demonstrating that even without a ball on your feet, you can influence and contribute in a meaningful way to the game that unites millions of people around the globe.
In an interview for the Telegraph , Zogaj talked about his career, from the beginning in 2017 until now, where he has judged the biggest European clubs such as PSG, Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Inter, Juventus and others. .
He has refereed matches in the biggest European competition for clubs, the Champions League, but also in other UEFA and FIFA competitions, making him the most successful Albanian referee.
How long have you been arbitrating?
I have been involved in arbitration since April 1997.
Where did the passion to be a judge come from? Have you ever played football before?
Before becoming a referee, I was a player in a regional club in the canton of Zurich. As a player I was too emotional and I received a few yellow cards. I felt like the umpires were being unfair and it pissed me off. The club where I played was begging for a referee, because every active club in Switzerland must have a referee for each of its teams, and I showed up. From my first matches I received many compliments and after two years I was invited to the talent pool in the Zurich region. This is how my "career" as a judge began.
Pritët 16 vite për të debutuar në Superligën e Zvicrës dhe atë e bëtë në ndeshjen Aarau – Grasshopper 10 vite më parë?
Po, ka qenë një rrugëtim i gjatë. Në nëntor të vitit 2013 debutova në Super Ligen Zvicerane. Ajo pritje ishte normale, sepse fillimisht u përpjeka të arrinte si arbitër kryesor në elitën e futbollit zviceran. Kaluam nëpër 9 liga për ta arritur! Por rreth vitit 2010, kur pashë që gjasat ishin të vogla për të arritur në Super Ligen Zvicerane si arbitër kryesor, vendosa të luaj rolin e asistentit dhe pas tre vitesh debutova në Super Lige.
Sot jeni një nga gjyqtarët më të mirë anësorë në Zvicër, por edhe në Evropë. Çfarë do të thotë kjo për ju?
Thjesht jam i lumtur që kam dhënë maksimumin dhe kam arritur qëllimin për të qenë ku jam sot. Po përpiqem ta shijoj ëndrrën që kam pasur për të qenë pjesë e ndeshjeve të mëdha në futbollin Europian/Botëror.
Në Zvicër ka shumë futbollistë shqiptarë, a ndodh që të keni debate në shqip gjatë ndeshjes, apo të flisni shqip, pasi pas ndeshjes është e kuptueshme që po?
Natyrisht, ndodh që të komunikoj në gjuhën shqipe me lojtarët shqiptarë gjatë lojës. I respektoj dhe ata më respektojnë shumë. Disa lojtarë më thërrasin “bacë”, që më bën të ndihem shumë i vjetër.
Keni arbitruar qindra ndeshje në garat evropiane, klubeve dhe Kombëtareve?
Po, kemi arbitruar ndeshje në të gjitha nivelet, që nga viti 2015. Që nga U-17 deri në Champions League dhe ndeshjet kualifikuese për kampionatet Evropian apo Botëror.
Cila ka qenë ndeshja më e vështirë që keni arbitruar, ose ajo në të cilën keni pasur më shumë punë?
Ndoshta jo më shumë punë, por me së shumti presion, ka qenë ndeshja Milan – Totenham në shkurt të këtij viti. Po ashtu, ndeshja kualifikuese për Kampionatin Evropian, Çeki – Moldavi në nëntor të vitit 2023, ishte lojë vendimtare për kualifikim.
Sa është e vështirë të jesh gjyqtar anësor, a keni më shumë apo më pak punë se gjyqtari kryesor?
Natyrisht, kemi ndoshta më pak presion dhe punë, por sa i përket përqendrimit, detyra e gjyqtarit anësor është tepër sfiduese.
Jeni gjyqtari i vetëm shqiptar që gjykoni ndeshje në grupet e Ligës së Kampionëve, çfarë do të thotë kjo për ju?
Falënderoj Zotin, kam qenë i vetmi, dhe tani kemi edhe kolegë të tjerë shqiptarë nga Shqipëria (Enea Jorgji me ekipin e tij) që kanë debutuar në Ligën e Kampionëve. Për të thënë të vërtetën, po përpiqem të shijoj momentin dhe jo të mendoj nëse jam i pari shqiptar apo jo. Por sigurisht, më bën të ndihem i lumtur.
Keni qenë gjyqtar në shumë ndeshje ku kanë luajtur yjet më të mëdha botërore të futbollit, a keni pasur ndonjë diskutim me ndonjërin?
Debate ka natyrisht, para lojës dhe ndonjëherë edhe momente të shkurtra gjatë ndeshjes. Por këto debate janë shumë të shkurtra. Por unë nuk shkoj në ndeshje si tifoz, shkoj të kryej profesionin tim, ashtu si e bëjnë edhe lojtarët. Deri tani, ne si ekip kemi kaluar shumë mirë.
A very interesting moment was in the Czech Republic, when Kristjan Asllani entered the game for Inter and the camera focused on your conversation. What did you say and did you talk after the match?
It was the moment when Asllani was getting ready to be included in the game. I just said: "Albania, I wish you much success." And he turned and asked me: "Are you Albanian?" I told him yes, I am from Deçan in Kosovo.
We have heard cases where referees have asked players for their jerseys after the match for their children or relatives. Personally, have you received any jerseys from any famous footballers?
As referees, we have no right to demand jerseys from football players. In the international arena, it's not cool to ask for jerseys. But there are some European clubs that give us a gift after the match, and sometimes the shirt is included. Yes, I have some jerseys from world football stars and also from Albanian footballers who play in Switzerland.
How do you evaluate the judges in Kosovo, when they are also distributing justice in the European arena in recent years?
Kosovar judges are working very well. Genc Nuza and Visar Kastrati have had some interesting matches with good performances in European football. I believe that the young referees of Kosovo and Kosovo football itself benefit from their experience. I have good contacts with them and believe there are referees with good potential there.
What is the match you will never forget for the atmosphere, as you often referee in Saudi Arabia too, where the stadiums are usually packed?
I will single out two matches: AC Milan - Tottenham and Selltik Glasgou - Real Madrid, where the atmosphere was impressive. Likewise, the atmosphere in the "Ali Sami Yen" stadium was wonderful.
Have you given more to football or has football given you more, both financially and in all other aspects?
I became a referee to help football and for its benefit. That was my goal. However, football has given me much more. Arbitration has been and is a life school for me. I experienced things I never imagined. Arbitration is passion. I have been to states and places where as a private person I probably would never have gone. That means more to me than the financial value, even though we judges don't get paid huge sums. I am very grateful to my family for their support (since I am away from my family for more than 50 days a year) and to the Swiss Federation and Sandro Schrer, my referee, for the trust he has shown in me./Telegraph
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