DV1: Growth of Female Referees in England (2020–2024)

Focus: Show the steep increase from 1,477 (2020) to 3,139 (July 2024) a 113% rise.

Source Data

The role of female referees in England has seen remarkable growth in recent years. According to The FA’s report on inspiring positive change, the number of female referees has increased by 113% from 1,477 in 2020 to 3,139 in 2024 (The FA, 2024). This significant rise highlights the broader trend of greater inclusion in football, which also reflects a growing global recognition of women in officiating roles. Notable milestones include the appointment of Rebecca Welch as the first female Premier League referee in 2023, marking a historic shift in the traditionally male-dominated profession. BBC reports that there are currently 14 female referees on football’s international list, further emphasising the progress being made (BBC Sport, 2023). This progress has not only boosted representation but also inspired the next generation of female referees across the country.

References

Table 1: Growth of Female Referees in England (2020–2024)

Year	Female Referees (England, est.)	VAR Accuracy (%)
2020	1477	82
2021	1800	94
2022	2200	96
2023	2700	96
2024	3139	97

Figure 1 Growth of Female Referees (2020–2024) (Sanders, 2024)

DV2: VAR Decision Accuracy Before and After Adoption (Pre-VAR vs With VAR)

Focus: Compare accuracy rates: ~82% pre-VAR to ~96%–97% with VAR.

Source Data

Visualisation Type: Side-by-side bar chart

Table 2: Numeric Data Table (no % symbol)

Period	Decision Accuracy
Pre-VAR (Before 2019)	82
With VAR (2023/24)	97

Figure 2 VAR Accuracy Before and After (Roan, 2020)

Harvard References

BBC Sport, 2023. 14 female referees on football’s international list. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c5y3p1w2x98o

BBC. (2023). Accuracy of referees with and without VAR. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cd9qvdg57n0o

Sky Sports. (2023). 96% of decisions are correct since VAR introduced, up from 82%. Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13066177/var-premier-league-claims-96-per-cent-of-referee-decisions-are-correct-so-what-is-future-of-technology-in-football#:~:text=The%20latest%20Premier%20League%20statistics,the%20pitch%2C%22%20Scholes%20says

The FA, 2024. Inspiring Positive Change: Referee Statistics. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/sep/27/fa-girls-equal-football-access-school-pe-england