Article by Andrei Crăiţoiu – Published Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 2:24 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 2:24 p.m.
Ioan Igna (85 years old), former football player at UTA Arad and Știința Timișoara, but also a top international referee of Romania, agreed to talk to Gazeta Sporturilor about the current situation in Romanian refereeing.
From the beginning, the one with matches at the 1986 World Championship and quarter-finals between Brazil and France, the former great referee stated “that I would prefer not to comment explicitly on the mistakes made by today's referees”.
“I didn't do it even when these presidents appointed me to the CCA, although I never wanted to. I don't do it now either, but I'm telling you an essential thing that everyone should remember, because it's capital, from my point of view,” said Igna at the start of the dialogue.
Ioan Igna (photo: GSP)
“I watch all the matches in the championship, I'm active”
– Mr. Igna, good afternoon. what are you doing how are you
– I got home. I came back from the market. Okay, I stayed in the car, the wife did the shopping.
– How are you at 85 years old?
– How should I be? I have health problems, but we are moving forward! I watch all the matches in the championship, I have activity.
– And what do you think of today's refereeing?
– I even watched these analysis shows and I tell you that I never liked to comment, to harm, to criticize… What's the point?!
– You speak your mind, it doesn't mean you're arguing with someone.
– I watched Radu Petrescu at FC Argeș with Farul. I knew what I had to do if I committed it like him and gave the wrong free kick. Referee ball and that's it!
- Video source: Prima Sport 1
“VAR is absolutely evil. The biggest piece of crap”
– We also have the video arbitration system.
– Wow! I have over 13 years of international arbitration, VAR is a bad thing. The biggest piece of crap. What personality do you have as a referee when you have the VAR behind you?! That's the big problem.
– Yes, but it can help you.
– Let me tell you something. Some time ago I welcomed people from French television to my home, in Timișoara. They invited me to go to France, then fly to Brazil together.
– Why?!
– Because the Brazil-France quarter-final in 1986 was considered one of the most beautiful matches at the World Cup. And the head of the French television told me: “and thanks to you, for refereeing impeccably”. There were times when the ball didn't come out for four, five minutes. Now they wait ten minutes for VAR.
– Did Răzvan Burleanu's statement that Kovacs is the greatest Romanian referee bother you?
– I didn't hear it. But no, why?! It's his opinion and be healthy. Kovacs will arrive too…
“Vassaras is being lied to by those from around the country, he's letting himself be fooled!”
– He still has a long way to go, at least Nicolae Rainea.
– Well, Nicu had three World Cups. Kovacs ticks off the first one only now.
– What impression does Kyros Vassaras leave on you?
– I can never compare myself to Vassaras, even though I was the chairman of the Commission. He comes from a family of international referees. His only big problem you want me to tell you?
Kyros Vassaras / photo: FRF
– Please.
– Those from around the country lie to him, he lets himself be tricked! He doesn't see all the matches, because he is away in Greece more, and they are lying to him. I know him very well.
– But…
– I know him very well. He is a very good professional, theoretically trained, highly appreciated at the international level. He knows the theory well, but when you don't stay in the country all the time it's harder to get everything right. If he doesn't see it, it's just transmitted to him, that's the problem. Instead, I also met his father. He was my substitute in 1986 at AEK Athens – Real Madrid 1-0. That's how it was then, the reserve was from the host country.
“Hațegan's big flaw” & “Kovacs is a “heady Hungarian”!”
– Ovidiu Hațegan, whom you…
– Alas! You reminded me of something. My memory is good at 85 years old. Ha, ha, ha! Hațegan was a medical student in Timisoara and, in the first match I saw him at, he made some mistakes… But at least he didn't compensate, like others did. They are never referees! Hațegan's only big, big flaw was that he didn't play football. And he doesn't understand some elementary things that he was never able to learn in class. He can't be a diplomat if he hasn't played football, to feel exactly what he needs to do.
– Finally, I would like to ask you about Istvan Kovacs.
– He calls me frequently. I always like to call him “Hungarian”. Don't get mad… This one played football, for example! He was playing at Victoria Carei and did not want to transfer to Baia Mare for more money. But they recommended him as a referee and I went over him, without his knowledge, at the penultimate stage of B. Juca Reșita with Baia Mare. I liked it.
Istvan Kovacs
– Did he have talent from the start?
– Sir, yes. I gave him a very good report, he was talented, he could referee matches in the first echelon! He not having, until that moment, a match in B, so you understand. Then Mircea Sandu wanted a young referee for the Supercup and, looking at the observation reports, he saw Kovacs.
– To which Ionuț Lupescu delegated.
– Exactly! Kovacs still thanks me for that match, because I was at CCA. But Lupescu made the delegations. A respectful Hungarian, that's what I always like to call him when he calls me on the phone.
– Thank you, Mr. Igna!
– Health to everyone.
– And you too.
– Huh. At 85 years old…
I called Patriciu Abrudan, what a real man! God, God… “Well, name me a good referee who played football!”. Then he recommended Horațiu Feșnic to me! I liked him how he refereed when I was at a game without him knowing. I've been to some who were wrong and always gave in compensation. Woe to them, they are not referees!
Ioan Igna, former international referee
Everything about Ioan Igna's career
- He was born on June 4, 1940, in Arad
- He played football, as a defender or midfielder, at UTA Arad, at Știința/Poli Timișoara and Vagonul Arad
- In the first division, he performed in 172 games and scored 8 goals
- He started his career as a referee in 1972
- As a referee in the first division he was active between 1976 and 1990; debuted on October 10, 1976, in ASA Tg. Mures – FCM Resita 1-0; the last match at the “whistle” on March 4, 1990, Jiul Petroşani – Sportul 1-2
- In the first league he was at center in 208 matches; still has 89 games driven in L2
- He was a FIFA referee between '76 and '89
