Inside the World of Football Referees in England
01. Written Story
In the exciting and passionate world of English football, match officials occupy a unique position. Referees are the guardians of fairness, the enforcers of the laws and the essential element that prevents the game from losing its sense of order. There are many misunderstandings of what a referee does in the game. Their importance needs to be reiterated every time a referee takes the pitch, they are scrutinised through the prism of millions of fans, pundits, and players, with notable intensity in leagues like the Premier League and English Football League. Football referees in England are under considerable pressure whenever they get to the pitch (Diederich and Bieri, 2023). This is mainly due to the pressure on player performers at the top of the game. That said, the game is equally demanding of referees, who have to contend with a wall of social media criticism around them, not to mention public opinion based on such criticism. Take the case of David Coote, a Premier League referee, who was later suspended after videos emerged where he allegedly insulted Liverpool and their previous manager (Kearns, 2024). This shows that referees can be scrutinised and sometimes have their professional and personal actions profiled and punished, which can adversely affect their careers.
Despite these pressures, referees still challenge convention, behaving in novel ways as referees and un obstacles traditionally placed by national contexts. Amongst the tales of boundary pushers is that of Rebecca Welch, who made history as the first woman to referee an English Football League (EFL) match. This game creates a paradigm shift toward inclusion in football. Welch achieved further accolades as the first woman to referee a Premier League match, eliminating barriers between genders in this male-dominated profession. Welch’s career represents much more than her achievements it reflects a willingness for English football to develop a referee workforce that better reflects the diversities of the seasonal game. Welch officiated 50 matches across the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) before retiring in August 2024 (The Times, 2024).
Refereeing, at the grassroots level, presents a different set of challenges. Young referees who start in local leagues have the task of enforcing rules and must facilitate the interactions between players, coaches and even spectators who may not show respect (Andersson, 2019). Everyone must have heard stories of teenage referees who were verbally abused at games in front of their parents and fans, reinforcing the need for more education and respect for officials. This environment can be daunting for young referees, but it is a platform for their growth and development. Many experienced referees say that grassroots is critical to the future of English football, as this is where referees learn how to deal with the pressure, make split-second decisions, and command respect and authority on the field.
The referees’ role has also developed in technology. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, which was implemented to assist referees with some of the sticky decisions, has altered how richly researched MILO matches and other associated competitions can be officiated (Goel, 2024). Though VAR has increased the accuracy level of some key moments occurring during matches, it has also increased complexity. Other fans and players have complained about the additional time required to decide and the inconsistencies in how VAR is applied in various competitions. Nonetheless, English football has made strides towards transparency by allowing referees to communicate VAR decisions live to the spectators of matches, as demonstrated in a Carabao Cup semi-final where referee Stuart Attwell made a VAR ruling via PA system announcement for the first time. This is a step in the right direction in maintaining trust and clarity in officiating even when technology becomes more sophisticated and integrated into the game, it can help retain the human aspect, and the interpretation of decisions remains firmly within human beings.
References
Andersson, E. (2019). A referee perspective on the educational practice of competitive youth games: exploring the pedagogical function of parents, coaches and referees in grassroots soccer. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 24(6), 615-628.
Diederich, C., and Bieri, A. (2023). Celebrating goals and surrounding the referee–adapting interaction on the pitch in times of social distancing in the English Premier League. Soccer & Society, 24(7), 990-1009.
Kearns, S. (2024) ‘Referee Coote suspended amid Liverpool and Klopp video inquiry’, BBC Sport, 11 November. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce8y6zqjgdyo (Accessed: 27 May 2025).
The Football Association. (2024) The FA’s refereeing strategy year one review is published. Available at: https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/oct/24/refereeing-strategy-year-one-update-20242410 (Accessed: 27 May 2025).
The Times. (2024). Premier League’s first female referee: Being a woman saved me from abuse. Retrieved May 27, 2025, from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/premier-leagues-first-female-referee-being-a-woman-saved-me-from-abuse-lf8r7zsxp
Goel, A. (2024). Is technology a complement or substitute to refereeing in sports? A review. International Journal of Sports Technology and Science, 2(1), 13-23.