MIES (Switzerland) – At the House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland, a specialized team is working around the clock at the ROC (Referee Operation Center) to ensure the highest standards of officiating.

Notably, this marks the first time FIBA Referee Operations has organized a ROC specifically for the Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournaments, representing a significant step forward in the professionalization and support of the women’s game.

Among the experts stationed at the ROC are Roberto Chiari from Italy and Miodrag Licina from Serbia, two highly experienced Referee Instructors, together with FIBA Referee Operations Senior Manager Vander Lobosco. Their mission is to act as a live technical hub, providing a sophisticated safety net for the officiating crews on the ground.
 

Live Support and Quality Control

"We are here in the Headquarters to support the Referee Instructors who are in the venue," explains Chiari. "They are working live with the referees daily. We watch all the games also live, and we provide information if they need support for something that they probably didn't see or they want to have a second opinion."

This centralized system allows for real-time feedback, ensuring that every whistle blown across the four continents remains consistent. Miodrag Licina emphasizes the importance of this collaborative effort:

“We are building a structure for the referees and the instructors. Our job is to help them make better decisions so that the national teams in this competition get the fair, high-quality officiating they deserve.”

By bridging the gap between Switzerland and the host cities, FIBA ensures that while the players focus on the hoop, the ROC focuses on the integrity of the game.

FIBA