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What is a referee's job?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 10, 2026

A referee is an official, in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection.

What does a referee's job involve?

Referees officiate games or competitions. They explain and enforce rules, assess penalties, signal the start and end of games, stop play for reviews as needed and inspect sports equipment prior to the start of games. They might work for professional sports organizations, schools or community sports organizations.

What is the referee's job in football?

In the sport of association football, the referee is the person responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Laws of the Game during a match.

How much do referee's get paid?

How much do referees earn in major Leagues? FIFA average referee's salary: $260,000 annually. UEFA referee's salary: $2,000 -$10,000 per game. La Liga referee's salary: $6,600 per game.

What is the referee's job in basketball?

The umpires ensure that the match is played in accordance with the laws of the game. The role of the referee is to ensure that all of the rules (or laws) of the game are followed by performers. The referee can apply the rules on the field of play, although a referee can also manage the game from off‐field.

23 related questions found

Why are referees important?

A referee is an official, in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection.

Do referees wear cleats?

Most professional referees will turn to proper soccer cleats, similar to what soccer players wear. This is because essentially, they are very much like a soccer player on the pitch.

Do football referees have other jobs?

They are paid well, but most of them have "day" jobs during the week and throughout the offseason. Some, including referees Walt Anderson and Terry McAulay, are officiating supervisors at the college level. Others have careers entirely unrelated to football.

What is the highest paid referee?

Brad Allen and Walter Anderson are the highest-paid NFL referees for the 2020-21 season.

Who is the best referee of all time?

Pierluigi Collina (Italian pronunciation: [ˌpjɛrluˈiːdʒi kolˈliːna]; born 13 February 1960) is an Italian former football referee. He was named FIFA's "Best Referee of the Year" six consecutive times and is widely considered to be the best football referee of all time.

Can a yellow card be upgraded to a red?

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As usual, a three-man panel consisting of former officials will decide the outcome and if they reach an unanimous decision then yellow cards can upgraded to a red.

Can a referee get a red card?

A red card for violent conduct may be issued because the assistant referee had identified and attempted to communicate the offence to the referee before play restarted.

How much do referees make UK?

Their salary can range from £48,000 to £200,000, as well as a yearly retainer worth £38,500 to £42,000. It is claimed that both assistant referees and video assistant referees earn a basic salary of £30,000 and another £850 per match.

How do you become a referee?

Here are the steps that you can take to become a professional referee:

  1. Obtain a high school diploma or equivalent.
  2. Choose the sport you want to officiate.
  3. Obtain specific training.
  4. Complete state registration.
  5. Gain experience for career advancement.
  6. Become certified.

What does a referee do on a daily basis?

They indicate the start and end of a game and keep track of the time to determine whether a match is needed more time to complete. They settle claims of infractions or complaints by sports participants when needed. Referees also inspect sports equipment to make sure that all the organization's specifications are met.

What is the main job of a referee umpire?

Job Summary:

The Umpire will maintain standards of play at sporting events, ensure rules are followed, and determine penalties for infractions according to established regulations.

What is Sarah Thomas salary?

Sarah Thomas is the highest paid female referee bringing in close to $250,000 per year as an NFL official.

Which sport has the highest paid referee?

The NBA referees are the highest paid professional match officials in the world. The season begins in October and finals are being played in June. NBA referees earn a good salary package, making more money than any other match officials.

How many hours a week do NFL refs work?

Ed Hochuli, who heads the NFLRA, goes through a typical NFL week. "It varies a little bit from official to official, depending upon the position," Hochuli said. "I'm a referee and spend about 15 hours a week reviewing video tape.

Do NFL referees fly first class?

Refs are required to arrive at least 24 hours before a game. They fly first-class and the league covers all their travel expenses.

Do NFL refs get paid?

Although the official figures are not usually revealed publicly, after the last agreement between the league and the NFL Referees Association it was known that in the 2019 season, referees received earnings of $205,000 on average. This equates to around $12,000 per game, a pretty significant figure.

What boots do refs wear?

While referees are rather known for wearing traditional boots such as the Nike Premier or the Adidas Copa Mundial Kevin Friend opted for the cutting-edge Nike Flyknit Ultra soccer boot, Nike's most advanced football boot available currently.

What shoes do refs wear?

Acceptable shoes are referee shoes, running shoes, soccer shoes (no metal, aluminum, or steel cleats), turf shoes, or any other appropriately safe, closed-toe footwear.

What do football referees wear under their shirts?

Most referees wear a black Under Armour or similar moisture wicking shirt underneath their jerseys. It is acceptable, especially for new referees, to wear a long-sleeve t-shirt underneath your short-sleeve jersey. The same color restrictions apply.