Referee Michael Oliver (in blue) is abused by Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon during a 2018 Champions League tie. Afterwards, Oliver and his wife were sent abusive emails and texts, including death threats.
Cristiano Barni/Shutterstock
As Euro 2024 kicks off, the governing body of European football is urgently trying to recruit thousands of new grassroots officials. Is football really in danger of running out of referees?
Checking references has long been a part of the hiring process but it should only ever be one of a series of steps taken to assess someone’s qualifications.
A conflict resolution expert – and rugby fan – explains how the game can restore spectacle and avoid farcical and dangerous mismatches due to players being sent off.
Referee Bjorn Kuipers at the Czech Republic v Denmark semi final.
Reuters/Alamy
The two-referee system was introduced to improve the flow of the game. So where’s the evidence to say dropping one ref would be any better for the game?
The Washington Nationals celebrate their World Series win in front of fans of the Houston Astros.
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
One of the most pressurised roles in the pressure cooker that is the Rugby World Cup is the referee. Threatening fans are causing them to quit the game at all levels.
Stéphanie Frappart during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 match at the De Grolsch Veste, Enschede.
Mike Egerton/PA Archive/PA Images
The data shows NRL referees get it right most of the time. So why do they still cop criticism?
A decision is referred to the video referee in this year’s game between Melbourne Storm and the Eels, at AAMI Stadium in Melbourne, June 15.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
A centralised video ref for next year’s NRL season aims to reduce the dramas surrounding refereeing decisions in the game. But how often do the on-field refs get it wrong?
Howard Webb, one of modern football’s most successful referees, has announced his retirement. Webb achieved much in his career, most notably in 2010 taking charge of the finals of both the World Cup and…
In a tournament of 64 games, there were bound to be issues of contention, especially in a competition that carries so many national hopes with it. But the general standard of refereeing has been good throughout…
Refereeing could do with the benefit of technology, as long as it doesn’t lose the human element.
Nic Bothma/EPA
Sporting referees are worthy of our admiration. Every time they officiate they are required to make split second real-time decisions. Sometimes they get it right – and sometimes they don’t. They are what…
Croatia players argue with referee Yuichi Nishimura of Japan after the match between Brazil and Croatia.
EPA/Diego Azubel
From the perspective of fairness, the 2014 World Cup has been off to a remarkably bad start. The opening game included at least two highly questionable decisions by the referee. First, the very generous…