Deaf football fans would hardly recognize their favorite game if transported to England during its early days. Over time, both the fundamental and external elements of football have evolved. While footage from matches of the past century might seem amusing, games from the century before would likely be shocking. Referees from that era wore practical uniforms that were quite different from the modern ones used in deaf football today.
Peter Jan Rijpkema (Netherlands) approved the current design of the referee uniform for the deaf. Together with Nino Lantink (Netherlands), he developed and implemented the concept of refereeing for the deaf. Peter Jan Rijpkema also modified the referee uniform to make it more eye-catching.
In the near future, we will be organizing the first refereeing seminars for the deaf. Notably, Peter Jan Rijpkema introduced the emblem of the card on the chest of the referee uniform. Since 2024, Nino has served as the chairman of the DIFA referee commission, and during his tenure, he has proven to be highly active, significantly contributing to the popularization of the game in Kazakhstan.
