Ken Wright: World’s longest refereeing career

A 78-year-old referee set a Guinness World Record. Welsh soccer referee Ken Wright has been inducted into the Guinness World Records for the longest refereeing career.

Ken Wright has been officiating soccer matches since 1964. During that time, he has officiated more than 5,000 matches and has been active for 63 seasons. Despite his age, Wright continues to take the field and officiate matches in the veterans’ league in Swansea.

Source: UEFA

Webb: Balogun World Cup red card saga fuels referee distrust

Howard Webb, the head of Premier League referees, has said he was "troubled" by Folarin Balogun's overturned red card during the World Cup as it fuelled perceptions among supporters that decisions are either "correct or corrupt." United States forward Balogun triggered an automatic suspension by being sent off for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemovic during a 2-0 round-of-32 win for Mauricio Pochettino's team. But the 25-year-old's one-game suspension was unexpectedly lifted, enabling him to play in the round of 16 tie against Belgium, after FIFA announced that the ban had been suspended for the period of one year. U.S. President Donald Trump subsequently admitted to speaking to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for Balogun's ban to be overturned, prompting widespread anger within the football world, including Belgium coach Rudi Garcia saying he initially thought the decision was an April Fools' Day joke.

Webb, who refereed the 2010 Men's World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands in South Africa, said that the Balogun saga has damaged trust between the game and supporters. "I was really troubled by it [decision to overturn Balogun's suspension]," Webb told reporters. "I don't know the ins and outs of the process, only what happened in the end. Where I was troubled by it was that we live in a world now which is different to the one that I occupied as a ref in that the decisions that are taken were previously viewed as correct or incorrect based on your judgment. Far too often now, decisions are viewed as correct or corrupt by people who want to type all over social media. They try to draw inferences around decisions, around the scene, but they don't agree with the motivation behind that decision, which is born out of no facts, no evidence. But when you get that type of situation, it opens up space for people to think, 'Aha, you see this sort of things happening all the time behind the scenes.' It's really not like that in my experience, in my professional experience. But the fact that that sort of [political] influence can be had, is just really not reflective of the game that I know." Webb, who worked as manager for MLS between 2017-2022, said that he "understands" why Balogun was shown a red card against Bosnia and was left bemused by FIFA's decision to lift the Monaco forward's suspension. "The facts that we know, what do we know? We know for sure that the red card was shown," Webb said. "You can form an opinion about the validity of the red card, and I understand why it was given. We know that there was pressure placed by a politician onto FIFA because that was admitted. And we know that the suspension was taken away for that particular tournament and suspended through a process which seemingly didn't exist before the World Cup that started. The officials do their job on the field. You referee the game in the 90 minutes to the best of your ability, with your VAR, to the best of your ability. Then what happens, happens afterwards."

Source: ESPN

Ligue 1 referee Kherradji sentenced to six-month suspended prison term for domestic violence

A Ligue 1 referee for the past two years, Abdelatif Kherradji was sentenced this Wednesday morning to a six-month suspended prison term for domestic violence, with the conviction not being entered into his criminal record - a crucial detail for his future career, according to his legal counsel.

The Criminal Court of Nîmes has delivered its verdict: Abdelatif Kherradji (40) - a Ligue 1 referee for the past two years - was sentenced this Wednesday morning to a six-month suspended prison term following his trial on August 7 for domestic violence; the sentence includes a three-year ban on contacting the victim and a requirement to complete a domestic violence awareness program. However, this sentence will not be recorded on his criminal record. The public prosecutor had sought an eighteen-month suspended prison sentence. The referee's former partner accused him of grabbing her by the neck on the evening of March 13 and then assaulting her to prevent her from leaving their home. Two months later, Kherradji allegedly grabbed her by the shoulder before pinning her against a wall. He had firmly defended himself against these accusations. Testifying in criminal court, he maintained that she was the one who had struck him - punching and kicking him - and that he had merely acted in self-defense, never physically abusing her. Abdelatif Kherradji’s profession was a recurring theme throughout the hearing, and it remains a focal point following the verdict. "This is a victory following a courageous battle waged by the plaintiff," said Olivier Morice, one of the victim's lawyers, speaking by phone. "I cannot imagine for a moment that football authorities would allow a Ligue 1 referee to continue officiating after being convicted of domestic violence."

Abdelatif Kherradji had met with his superiors the week before his trial to explain his situation; they must now decide on potential disciplinary action. Eric Borghini, one of his lawyers, expressed optimism: "It’s a good decision for us," he explained. "The court delivered a fair verdict. It amounts to a symbolic sentence, with no provisional enforcement and no entry on his criminal record. The prosecutor had sought an eighteen-month suspended prison sentence with provisional enforcement, which was excessive given the facts of the case. For its part, the civil party had demanded a €10,000 interim payment and a court-ordered expert assessment to maximize the compensation," Borghini continued. "They were awarded none of that. Most importantly, when delivering the verdict, the presiding judge stated publicly in court that the ruling excluded any entry on the criminal record so that the judgment would have no professional repercussions for Mr. Kherradji. I immediately forwarded this decision to Mr. Kherradji’s superiors," Borghini concluded. "If Abdelatif faces no sanctions from the Federation, we will not appeal. We just hope to receive the written decision relatively quickly, as we only have ten days to decide." The case has been referred to the Criminal Court of Nîmes for the determination of damages on 19 March 2027.

Source: L'equipe

Artan invited to UEFA Referee Course

A few days after officiating the UEFA Super Cup, CAF Referee of the Year Omar Artan has received a further invitation from UEFA. Artan continues to climb the ranks on the international stage. Having previously been denied entry to the United States to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Somali referee is now winning UEFA’s trust.

After officiating the UEFA Super Cup on 12 August between Paris Saint Germain and Aston Villa, UEFA has invited Omar Artan to take part in the 2026 UEFA Men’s Summer Course, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 31 August to 2 September 2026. In addition to this invitation, UEFA is also reported to have expressed its wish to see Omar Artan referee football matches in Europe. UEFA is reported to have officially informed the Confederation of African Football and the Somali Football Federation of Omar Artan’s invitation.

Source: Daily Sports

Premier League to offer enhanced referee and VAR communications

The Premier League and Pro Ref is opening up more communications from the on-field referees and video assistant referees (VARs) in-game this season – to give supporters further insight into how and why decisions are made. Alongside the professional referees’ body, the Premier League will also continue to lobby football’s lawmakers IFAB to allow more communications from the Match Officials to be broadcast in-game. While this continues, there are opportunities to provide more information in-game via existing and new communications channels – through messaging on the Premier League Match Centre X account – which will also now be available on the Premier League website and app – and Ref Cam.

Direct officials’ wording from Premier League Match Centre

This season, communications from Premier League Match Centre will include direct quotes from the on-field officials and from VAR, in selected incidents where this can be helpful to clarify the rationale behind a decision. This can include the “referee’s call” as described on-field, and the VAR’s direct explanation for why they do not intervene or why they recommended an on-field review. This is in addition to the existing clarifications posted by PL Match Centre, which go alongside in-stadium referee announcements and messaging on the big screens in-stadium. The posts for each incident will be published on the Premier League Match Centre page on X – and now, on the Premier League website and Premier League app via a dedicated page updated for each match round.

In-game audio from the Ref Cam

Ref Cam offers a unique perspective from the referee’s view during Premier League matches. Last season, we saw in-game video clips being used in select incidents and next season, this will be expanded to include audio clips. This will only be used in games using Ref Cam – which is approximately 1-2 games per match round – and only for selected incidents. This will not include live or in-game audio from the VAR, in line with the restrictions defined by IFAB.

Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel

From the 2026/27 season – the Premier League will publish the results of its Key Match Incident (KMI) Panel weekly, on its website and app – for full transparency around the evaluation of the decisions made by Match Officials. The KMI Panel, introduced during the 2022/23 Premier League season, is an independent body tasked with reviewing key decisions as part of the evaluation of match officials’ performance. The primary purpose of the KMI Panel is to assess critical Premier League match incidents, such as penalties, red cards, offside decisions, and other situations that fall under the referee's jurisdiction. Each decision by Match Officials is adjudged to be correct or incorrect in the opinion of the panel, made up of three former players or coaches, alongside a representative from each of the Premier League and Pro Ref.

Match Officials Mic’d Up

Howard Webb, Pro Ref’s Chief Refereeing Officer, will continue to front the regular “Match Officials Mic’d Up” programme – available via Premier League broadcast partners. The show allows the release of the full on-field and VAR audio around selected incidents, alongside Howard’s analysis, to provide further rationale and bring supporters closer to the decisions made in the Premier League.

Source: Premier League

Vincic to Messi: “Control Paredes!”

Slavko Vincic arguably had the best view of the World Cup final. And now, in newly released footage, viewers can see snippets of what unfolded in a fraught match between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium on July 19 from the Slovenian referee’s perspective. Whether it was asking Lionel Messi to “control” team-mate Leandro Paredes, who had already received a yellow card, his view of Ferran Torres’ match-winning strike for Spain, or twice being told he did a “great job” by U.S. President Donald Trump during the medal ceremony, Vincic was never too far away from the action.

The footage begins in the tunnel ahead of kick-off and shows Messi embracing several Spanish players, including Marc Cucurella and Rodri, before a brief handshake and introduction to the match officials. Amusingly, anything said during the coin toss with team captains Rodri and Messi was drowned out by David Guetta’s Titanium blaring through the MetLife sound system. But once the footage cuts to the action, it immediately shows Vincic in conversation with Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister, ultimately warning Mac Allister “for you, last one” in reference to a challenge made by the Liverpool player. Vincic is then perfectly placed to watch Messi receive the ball in a tight space and knock it past Rodri with his left foot before he is pulled back by Spain’s captain to win a free kick. Up next on the montage is Lamine Yamal, the Spanish star who was once bathed by Messi. He is hacked down by Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez in an effort to stop a counter-attack. Martinez is then shown a yellow card. In a sign of how he sought to control the match, Vincic says: “Lionel, I see it”, after Messi is held back and turns towards the Slovenian, prompting the 39-year-old to turn back around without confronting the official. The most pertinent piece of advice from Vicnic, however, comes when he tells Messi, who is unsurprisingly heavily featured in the near-five-minute video, to keep Paredes on a tighter leash. The Argentinian defensive midfielder was brought on at half-time and booked just six minutes later. “Messi, control Paredes,” Vincic says. “I don’t want to… he has yellow. Control please. Always, always.” Paredes heeded Messi’s advice by avoiding a second yellow card during the match, only to then lose his cool at full time when he appeared to grab Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat before throwing Gavi, another Spaniard, to the ground. On July 29, FIFA announced that Paredes is being investigated for three counts of assault. The brawl is not shown in the ref’s-eye-view World Cup final footage.

The use of a referee body camera during the men’s World Cup followed on from its success during the Club World Cup in 2025, although in the summer FIFA utilised a “stabilisation algorithm”, which they said was developed in conjunction with Lenovo, one of their many commercial partners. World football’s governing body described it as a “lightweight video device securely worn on the official’s head” that captures their point of view during matches, as well as recording and transmitting “high-definition video and audio in real time”. This can then be integrated live into the broadcast or used for post-match reviews, although, as per FIFA’s official website, there are rules around when it can be used. “For routine, non-controversial moments before, during or after a match, the video and audio can generally be shared with viewers without restrictions,” FIFA’s information on the technology reads. “In potentially sensitive situations, such as in the event of confrontations, serious fouls or injuries, an approval process needs to be followed before the material can be shared.”

In scenes similar to how the video started, only with the background music not being quite so intrusive, Rodri and Messi are back in front of Vincic for a coin toss before extra time begins. Quickly afterwards, viewers are treated to a glimpse of Torres’ winner from the perspective of Vincic, who is standing just outside of the penalty area as the 26-year-old strikes his 106th-minute effort into the roof of the net from close range. As Vincic completes a 360-degree turn, the contrast of emotions he picks up in doing so paints a picture of uncontained joy and ultimate despair. One by one, the Argentina players fall to the floor, while Spain run jubilantly to the corner flag. After the Slovenian blows for full time, and once the ensuing melee is over, the video shows him in conversation with Spain’s Dani Olmo, telling the forward that “they were so difficult, so difficult”, prompting Olmo to tell him “you did great”. Vincic then reveals to Olmo that it is his “last match” as a referee - he announced his retirement on July 27 - to which the Spaniard responds by saying “congratulations on an amazing career.” “I really appreciate you a lot,” Olmo adds. All that is left for Vincic to do is to walk to the trophy podium, passing through a tunnel of Spanish players on his way, to be greeted by Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, with Trump standing alongside him. And as Vincic takes a step towards Trump, the U.S. President twice says “great job” and proceeds to put a medal around the referee’s neck. He then shakes hands with Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, and Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, before the video ends.

Source: The Athletic

Rosetti launched UEFA Clear Line: “It's football, not PlayStation!”

UEFA referees' chief Roberto Rosetti says some video assistant referee reviews "were not connected with football" after meeting with leaders from the top European leagues last month. Rosetti was speaking as he launched Clear Line, an external first-of-its-kind portal for fans which tries to lay out when a VAR should, and should not, intervene. The lead referee officers from England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy met with Rosetti and David Elleray, the IFAB's technical director, to try to find a more uniform approach to decisions. "We realise that everywhere now there is not any satisfaction about how VAR is impacting football," Rosetti said. "So, we want to avoid microscopic situations. The context is super important. It's football, not PlayStation. We need to be very, very careful. The referee must referee the match. It's something important for football, for clear situations and clear mistakes." Rosetti conceded that trying to find a consistent approach across all leagues, which tend to have their own interpretations of some offences, would be difficult. On Clear Line, UEFA has uploaded many video examples of handball situations to explain what is considered an offence. "The idea is to be more consistent in the application of the laws," Rosetti said. "The perception about handball in England is different. Football is not perfect, and sometimes we will continue to have similar situations interpreted in different ways. But at least we are working together." With VAR, too, the Champions League and the Premier League are worlds apart. In the 2025-26 campaign, the Premier League had the lowest intervention rate in Europe at 0.29 per game, while the Champions League was 0.47 per game. Rosetti said that there were "too many reviews" and more interventions were affecting player behaviour, with attempts to play for or earn video decisions. "We wanted to come back to the origin of VAR," Rosetti said, referencing incidents like Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal for Argentina against England at the 1986 World Cup. "We are not happy any more about this kind of use of VAR. We want to try to come back a little bit, and to put again the referees at the centre." Rosetti said that the time being taken over VAR reviews was a particular concern, with lengthy reviews featuring multiple TV replays being less acceptable to supporters. Any check longer than 90 seconds, Rosetti says, risks "losing credibility". A new collective protocol was agreed whereby, when at the monitor, a referee would be shown a freeze-frame for point of contact, followed by half-speed, and then full speed for the intensity of the challenge. "We like referees with personality, taking decisions on the pitch, and VAR intervening only for clear and obvious situations," the Italian said. "So clear images without too many replays. It is something that for us is very important. We were seeing that some on-field reviews were not connected with football. It's about normal speed, context. It's about football."

Rosetti described Clear Line as "a guide for all the people of football" and not for officials. It goes through each area the VAR covers - penalties, red card, attacking offences, factual decisions and mistaken identity - in great detail with video examples. "We started to think how we could help everyone to understand VAR better," he said. "It's a library, a structure, a document where we explain when [and] how VAR will intervene. This is not a web page for referees. This is the space that we would like you to go to after a Champions League match to check how an incident compares with this library. It's for the clubs, for the players, for the fans."

Source: BBC

AFC finalised roadmap for Asian Cup 2027 match officials

The road towards the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 for the Continent’s elite match officials was charted during the 4th AFC Referees Committee Meeting. Led virtually by Chairperson Hany Taleb Al-Raeesi, the meeting locked in key preparation milestones to ensure the Continent's refereeing standards match the magnitude of the upcoming 19th edition. This will begin with the announcement of the selected match officials in September 2026, based on stringent criteria that includes continuous assessment of their performances from 2023 to 2026, fitness levels, medical clearance and psychological aspects, to determine their suitability for one of three roles: Referee, Assistant Referee and Video Match Official. Thereafter, preparations will ramp up with the AFC Asian Cup Referees Seminar in November 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Preparatory Course that takes place in the week preceding the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 on January 7.

The continued excellence of AFC match officials on the global stage was also highlighted, in particular the various milestones that were set during the recently-concluded FIFA World Cup 2026. The appointment of a 25-strong Asian cast was a record number in tournament history, with Alireza Faghani becoming the first Asian referee to be appointed to four consecutive FIFA World Cups and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Shehri - serving as a VMO - becoming the first-ever appointment of an AFC Referee Academy graduate at the global showpiece, while Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh served as fourth official in the final match, alongside compatriot Mohammad Alkalaf and Qatar’s Khamis Al Marri, who were appointed as Reserve Assistant Referee and Support VAR, respectively. The World Cup crew was among the match officials who performed their duties across a total of 10 AFC competitions, seven FIFA competitions and two UEFA competitions over the past year.

The Committee also hailed the pivotal role of the groundbreaking AFC Referee Academy, which has consistently driven the Confederation’s Vision and Mission of developing top-level match officials and providing crucial support to the AFC Member Associations (MAs). Since its launch in 2017, 45 MAs have participated in the Academy and the latest cohort—Batch 8—is due for enrolment this month, even as Batches 4 (class of 2022) and 5 (2023) look forward to their graduation in September. Meanwhile, the inaugural batch of futsal referees, who began their journey last year, have already completed four modules to date. It was noted that Academy graduates were entrusted with responsibilities at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026, AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, FIFA Arab Cup 2025 and FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, while eight Academy graduates were appointed to the Knockout Stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League (1), AFC Champions League Two (2) and AFC Challenge League (5) for the 2025/26 campaign.

Source: AFC

Hugh Dallas appointed Pro Ref Director in England

Hugh Dallas will lead the newly-unified group officiating across the Premier League and Championship, overseeing the training, performance management and technical development of officials. He will also continue to work closely with stakeholders and play an important role in ongoing engagement with clubs. Dallas has made a significant contribution to the organisation since joining in 2024 and now he steps into this leadership role.

Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) is the body that oversees all Premier League, English Football League (EFL), WSL Football and Football Association (FA) competitions. Funded by the competitions it serves, Pro Ref works in collaboration with them to deliver a long-term match-officiating strategy, under the leadership of Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb and Chief Operating Officer Danielle Every. Increased funding from the Premier League, EFL, The FA and WSL Football as part of a new three-year agreement will build on the progress made through the Premier League-driven Elite Referee Development Plan (ERDP). This has delivered enhanced coaching and performance support for match officials working in an environment focused on high performance. The ERDP - due to enter its fifth year of significant funding - has enabled Pro Ref to put a more modern and dynamic pathway in place, which will continue to provide opportunities to those who are ready to officiate across the various levels of the professional game. That funding will also see further investment in supporting and accelerating the next generation of talent with an emphasis on a revamped Development Group and the CORE X programme, as well as educating and providing a stronger understanding of officiating to Academy players. These initiatives will continue to complement The FA’s model across grassroots and semi-professional levels while strengthening the refereeing pathway both now and in the future. Signalling a new chapter for professional refereeing in England, the change from Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) to Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) underpins this period of ongoing transformation for the organisation albeit with the same aim – to deliver the highest possible standards of refereeing in this country for the benefit of the game.

Source: Pro Ref

Concacaf Refereeing Seminar 2026

Concacaf continued its commitment to referee development with the 2026 Concacaf Refereeing Summer Seminar in collaboration with Leagues Cup, held July 27-29 in Dallas, Texas. The three-day seminar brought together the Confederation’s referees, assistant referees, video match officials, instructors, and refereeing staff to prepare for Leagues Cup and international competitions during the second half of the 2026 calendar.

Coordinated in partnership with Leagues Cup, the seminar provided match officials with technical education and practical training focused on promoting consistency in decision-making and reinforcing Concacaf refereeing best practices. The initiative reflects the Confederation’s continued investment in referee development and its commitment to maintaining high standards of officiating across the region and on the international stage. “Our success at the FIFA World Cup is not the finish line, but the foundation for what comes next,” said Nicola Rizzoli, Concacaf Director of Refereeing. “The Summer Seminar was a critical opportunity to continue that journey by educating our officials, promoting consistency, sharing best practices, and preparing them for the demands of Leagues Cup and the international competitions ahead.”

Led by Concacaf’s refereeing leadership and technical instructors, participants took part in a comprehensive program that included technical presentations, match incident analysis, video review sessions, VAR protocol and communication, practical field training, fitness evaluation, positioning and movement, and game management. The sessions combined classroom instruction with practical application, providing officials with the tools and preparation needed to consistently apply the Laws of the Game throughout Concacaf and international competitions. The 2026 edition brought together 127 participants, including: 111 match officials (43 referees, 47 assistant referees, 21 video match officials), 12 instructional staff and 4 Concacaf refereeing staff, representing 19 Member Associations from within Concacaf.

Source: Concacaf

FIFA AR Bashevkin: "From childhood hip surgeries to the World Cup"

After the recent 2026 World Cup, Isaak Bashevkin, who was AR2 in Eskas team, decided to retire and provided unknown details about his career via Instagram.

"From childhood hip surgeries and playing football with crutches in Ready, to the Champions League and the World Cup. Now the time has come to hang up the flag and put the football boots on the sidelines for the last time. After 22 years as a football referee – gradually moving up the divisions – and all the way to the world top in the last four years in a team with Espen and Jan Erik – I have decided to end my career. Right after an unforgettable World Cup, the greatest experience you can have as a football referee, it feels absolutely right to give up now. The 4 Calvé-Legg-Perthes hip surgeries I had as a child, and the oval hip sockets and the altered anatomy of the femurs, should not really be compatible with running-based sports. That I have managed to get this far and so high is a medical and physiological feat. That's what I'm most proud of - that I've proven that it's possible to referee football at the absolute highest international level with oval Perthes hips. There are no acute injuries here and now, but some gradually increasing minor aches and pains here and there that will continue to increase and could develop into chronic ailments if I keep pushing myself. I could probably be at Euro 2028 and World Cup 2030, but for the sake of both my body and the team's ability to continue delivering world-class performances, it's the right thing to do now. After several years of 130+ travel days a year, and now most recently 7 weeks away during the World Cup, it will be very nice to be able to be more present at home with my family and my 2.5-year-old daughter, after they have also been through tough times when dad has been traveling around the world a lot.

Thank you to the Norwegian Football Federation, UEFA and FIFA for the trust. Thank you to all referee colleagues for the solidarity. And the biggest thanks go to Espen and Jan Erik – for the solid refereeing we have delivered together over time – with finals in the U21 European Championship and the U17 World Cup, quarter-finals in the Champions League, bronze medal final in the Paris Olympics, and now the finals in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Thank you for the trips and experiences, thank you for the love, and thank you for letting me be part of this part of the journey. I have great faith in the team going forward, and I will be cheering you on in every single match! It has been an honor!"

FIFA AR Sian Massey-Ellis retires to take up new FA senior manager role

Massey-Ellis is hanging up her flag after a remarkable career having successfully landed the position of Senior Manager - Women Referees, where she will be supporting and developing the growing pool of female officials, as well as continuing to inspire the next generation. Since reaching the Premier League in 2010, at the time only the second female to ever do so, Massey-Ellis has officiated on over 150 top-flight matches. Alongside this, she has a plethora of domestic milestones, including involvement in five Women's FA Cup final matches. In the men's game, notable appointments include becoming the first female assistant referee appointed to the FA Community Shield, the first female to be involved in the men's FA Cup final following her appointment as AVAR in 2021 and, in 2025, she was appointed as AVAR to the Carabao Cup final. Massey-Ellis' international achievements are equally exceptional. She was reserve assistant referee at the 2013 and 2017 UEFA Women's Champions League finals, before being appointed as assistant referee to the 2018 European showpiece. She has represented England at four UEFA Women's EURO tournaments, including an appointment to the final in 2013 and, most recently, two quarter-final appointments as AVAR in the 2025 instalment. Massey-Ellis was also selected for the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cups and was appointed as video match official for the tournament's third place play-off game in 2023. Alongside these accolades in the women's game, she was also the first English woman to officiate a men's European fixture, serving as an assistant referee for a UEFA Europa League game in 2019. Off the pitch, and throughout her career, Massey-Ellis has been a huge champion for equality and driving positive change, receiving an MBE for her impact on football officiating and commitment to representation. She is recognised as an ambassador for women and girls entering into officiating and serves as a role model, having paved the way for, and inspired, many of the growing number of female officials now coming through the pathway.

Massey-Ellis said: “From standing beneath the Premier League sign before my very first match to officiating at FIFA World Cups, UEFA European Championships, Champions League finals and across domestic fixtures and competitions in England, football has taken me on a journey beyond anything I could ever have imagined. Every opportunity has been a privilege and one I have never taken for granted. Throughout my career, football has challenged me, tested my resilience and pushed me to become a better professional and person. While there have been unforgettable highs and difficult moments, what I will treasure most are the people and experiences that have defined my journey. I am incredibly grateful to Pro Ref, The FA, FIFA and UEFA for the opportunities they gave me, as well as every coach, mentor, colleague and match official I have had the privilege of working alongside. Above all, I owe an enormous debt of thanks to my family, whose unwavering support, sacrifices and belief made every achievement possible. Although I am stepping away from the touchline, I am not stepping away from football. If my journey has helped change perceptions, open doors or inspire even one young person to believe they belong in the game, then I will consider that one of my greatest achievements. I'm excited by the opportunity to help support, develop and inspire the next generation of match officials, giving something back to a sport that has done so much for me. As I prepare for one final walk onto the pitch, I leave with nothing but gratitude. It has been the greatest honour to serve the game I love and represent English officiating. To the young girl who simply loved refereeing and dreamed of reaching the very top - we did it. Thank you, football."

Source: The FA

Korean FA allegedly provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees

A 2016 document compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism titled Investigation Findings on Misconduct by Staff of the Korea Football Association states that over the one‑year period from March 2011 to March 2012, the Korea Football Association arranged inappropriate sexual hospitality on seven separate occasions for foreign referees assigned to national team fixtures. The matches included qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics, as well as international friend

On the night of 29 February 2012, the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier between South Korea and Kuwait took place at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Yet in the early hours of that same day, 500,000 won was charged to the Korea Football Association’s corporate credit card at a massage parlour in Yeoksam‑dong, Gangnam‑gu, Seoul. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism concluded the payment covered sexual hospitality for the two of the referees working the Korea-Kuwait match. Person A from the association’s Referees Department, who processed the payment for sexual services, testified: “The massage fee included payment for sexual favours.” He added: “The foreign referees made the requests first, at the airport or at their accommodation, and we provided the hospitality accordingly.”

On 22 September of the same year, Person A also paid 760,000 won at a massage business in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Only two‑and‑a‑half hours earlier, the national side had finished its final London 2012 Olympic qualifier against Oman at the Changwon Football Centre. The ministry judged this sum likewise covered sexual hospitality for the four referees of that match.

At 20:34 on 14 March 2012, 198,000 won was charged to the corporate card at a Chinese‑style massage shop in Yeoksam‑dong, Gangnam‑gu, Seoul. The ministry pointed out this was for sexual hospitality provided to one match supervisor. His role was to monitor whether referees receive improper favours; yet payment for entertainment was made for this supervisor mid‑match.

Drawing on statements from multiple Referee Department officials, credit card transaction records and explanatory submissions from the association, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism concluded that these instances of sexual hospitality had indeed occurred. In response, the Korea Football Association stated: “This incident dates back 15 years. Our document retention period is only five years, so we cannot give an accurate account of every circumstance. While we cannot rule out that regrettable events may have taken place 15 years ago, we have now drawn up and abide by stricter internal‑management guidelines to meet high public expectations.” (Source: JTBC)

On 25 March 2011, South Korea’s national team played a friendly match against Honduras at Seoul World Cup Stadium. It was the first warm‑up game after team key players Park Ji‑sung and Lee Young‑pyo retired from the national squad. Around 1 a.m., roughly 19 hours before kick‑off, Person A of the Korea Football Association made a payment of 750,000 won at a massage parlour in Yeoksam‑dong. The payment covered expenses for the three referees officiating the match.

Four referees for the friendly match against Serbia on 3 June 2011 and three referees for the game against Poland on 7 October 2011 also received sexual hospitality in the same manner. All these transactions took place in the early‑morning hours at the very same massage parlour. This improper practice persisted even for matches held in provincial cities. On 27 March 2011, an Olympic team friendly match between South Korea and China was held in Ulsan. Approximately three hours after the final whistle, 510,000 won was paid at a massage parlour in Samsan‑dong, Nam‑gu, Ulsan, to cover sexual hospitality for three referees.

From March 2011 to March 2012, over roughly one-year, sexual hospitality occurred during three World Cup and Olympic qualifiers as well as four friendly matches. A total of 20 match officials are confirmed to have received such favours. Providing sexual hospitality to referees had become an established practice. A former Korea Football Association official in charge of referee‑related affairs stated: “We did it to keep the referees happy.” [Person B / Former senior official, KFA Referees’ Department]: “They (the referees) brought it up themselves by saying ‘We have just taken a long‑haul flight, and our bodies are worn out.’ Anyway, our goal was to keep the referees in a good mood…”. The specific identities of the referees who received sexual hospitality have not been verified. (Source: JTBC)

The Japan FA has officially opened an investigation into four Japanese referees tied to these matches (including Yuichi Nishimura, who was the head referee for the heavily scrutinized February 2012 World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait). The JFA intends to publicly release the results of their investigation, a move that is drawing significant scrutiny because Ryuji Sato currently serves as a senior manager overseeing J. League referees for the organization.

Major Tournament Qualifiers (3 matches)

21 September 2011 (London 2012 Olympic Qualifier)

Korea – Oman (2-0 win in Changwon)

Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)

Assistant Referee 1: Abduhamidullo Rasulov (UZB)

Assistant Referee 2: Bakhadyr Kochkarov (KGZ)

Fourth Official: Vladislav Tseytlin (UZB)

29 February 2012 (FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier)

Korea – Kuwait (2-0 win in Seoul)

Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (JPN)

Assistant Referee 1: Toru Sagara (JPN)

Assistant Referee 2: Toshiyuki Nagi (JPN)

Fourth Official: Hiroyoshi Takayama (JPN)

14 March 2012 (London 2012 Olympic Qualifier)

Korea – Qatar (0-0 draw in Seoul)

Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (UZB)

Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Ilyasov (UZB)

Assistant Referee 2: Mamur Saidkasimov (UZB)

Fourth Official: Vladislav Tseytlin (UZB)

International Friendlies (4 matches)

25 March 2011

Korea – Honduras (4-0 win in Seoul)

Referee: Ryuji Sato (JPN)

Assistant Referee 1: Tomokazu Tajiri (JPN)

Assistant Referee 2: Shinya Iribe (JPN)

Fourth Official: Lee Min-Hu (KOR)

27 March 2011

Korea U23 – China U23 (1-0 win in Ulsan)

Referee: Ryuji Sato (JPN)

Assistant Referee 1: Tomokazu Tajiri (JPN)

Assistant Referee 2: Shinya Iribe (JPN)

Fourth Official: Kim Sang-Woo (KOR)

3 June 2011

Korea – Serbia (2-1 win in Seoul)

Referee: Ali Al-Badwawi (UAE)

Assistant Referee 1: Mohammad Al-Jassim (UAE)

Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE)

Fourth Official: Kim Jong-Hyeok (KOR)

7 October 2011

Korea – Poland (2-2 draw in Seoul)

Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (BHR)

Assistant Referee 1: Ebrahim Saleh (BHR)

Assistant Referee 2: Nawaf Moosa (BHR)

Fourth Official: Ali Abdulnabi (BHR)

UEFA standardised VAR review process

As the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) continues to evolve, it is important that European referees implement a clear, consistent review process. Analysing incidents in the same structured way across all European domestic and national competitions helps to promote greater understanding of how VAR decisions are taken – not just among referees and VAR teams, but also broadcasters, clubs, players and supporters. In turn, this will strengthen confidence in VAR throughout the game. To support referees and strengthen confidence in VAR throughout the game, we recommend match officials follow a common four-step review sequence at the pitch-side monitor.

Step 1: Offence identification

The review should begin with the clearest angle showing the alleged offence. Where necessary, a frozen image can be used to help identify the exact point of contact or key moment. The priority is not to make an immediate decision but to establish precisely what happened.

Step 2: Technical assessment

The referee should then analyse the incident using a tight camera angle, typically through two or three replays shown at 50% speed. Replays should be repeated to show the complete player movement and facilitate a detailed technical assessment of the action.

Step 3: Context at normal speed

After review of the technical details, the incident should be assessed in its full context. By deploying a wider camera angle and two or three replays at normal speed, the referee can watch the build-up, the incident itself, and several seconds afterwards. This phase helps to evaluate factors such as intensity, dynamic movement, impact and any tactical considerations that may influence a final decision.

Step 4: Final decision

The VAR review process should then finish with the most conclusive image available in support of the referee’s final decision. This ensures that the outcome is based on the strongest and most relevant visual evidence.

Source: UEFA

Ex-World Cup referee Taylor lands job in Turkish football after retirement

Former top English referee Anthony Taylor has begun a new chapter in football after being appointed director of elite refereeing at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), just weeks after ending a distinguished career that saw him officiate some of the sport's biggest matches. The appointment was confirmed Tuesday by Trinity Chambers, with barrister Fraser Williamson representing Taylor during the recruitment process. The 47-year-old joins the TFF's Central Refereeing Committee (MHK), where he will oversee the strategic and technical development of elite referees as the federation seeks to strengthen its officiating program in line with UEFA and FIFA standards. Taylor will be responsible for developing top-level referees, improving performance assessment systems, enhancing referee education, refining match analysis and feedback processes, and helping shape long-term strategies for elite officiating across Turkish football.

"I am delighted to be joining the Turkish Football Federation and look forward to the opportunity ahead," Taylor said. Reflecting on his new role, he said elite officiating had defined his professional life for many years and that he was eager to apply his experience from the world's biggest competitions in a leadership position. "Having officiated at the highest levels of domestic and international football, I welcome the opportunity to bring that experience to a role focused on the strategic and technical development of elite refereeing in Türkiye," Taylor said. "I will work with colleagues across the federation to support the continued development of its match officials and strengthen the wider refereeing program in line with UEFA and FIFA standards." Taylor also thanked Williamson for representing him during the appointment process and said discussions held in Istanbul had reinforced his enthusiasm for the position. Williamson praised Taylor's remarkable career and said the new role would allow him to continue making a significant contribution to the game. "Anthony's achievements in football speak for themselves," Williamson said. "This is an exciting opportunity for him to contribute to the continued development of elite refereeing in Türkiye, and I wish him every success in what I am sure will be a rewarding and successful chapter."

Taylor retired from active officiating in July after more than two decades at the highest level of the game. His final match was Spain's 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Dallas, capping a career that included approximately 831 matches across domestic and international competitions. In England, Taylor officiated 668 professional domestic matches, including 432 Premier League games over 16 seasons after joining the Select Group of referees in 2010. He also took charge of virtually every major domestic showpiece, including the FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2020, the League Cup final in 2015, the Community Shield and the Championship playoff final. Before reaching the top level, Taylor worked as a prison officer while progressing through the English football pyramid after joining the Football League refereeing list in the mid-2000s. On the international stage, Taylor became a FIFA referee in 2013 and handled around 163 international matches. His résumé includes appointments at UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, FIFA Club World Cups and several of UEFA's biggest finals, including the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, the 2023 UEFA Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma, the 2021 UEFA Nations League final and the 2020 UEFA Super Cup.

Taylor arrives at a pivotal time for Turkish refereeing as the TFF continues efforts to improve standards and restore confidence in officiating. Last year, the federation concluded a five-year investigation that found 371 of 571 match officials had betting accounts, prompting TFF President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu to pledge a sweeping cleanup of Turkish football. Taylor's appointment is widely viewed as part of that modernization effort, with his extensive experience expected to help strengthen referee development, education and performance systems. He also joins a growing list of prominent English referees who have moved into senior officiating leadership roles after retirement, following figures such as Howard Webb and Mark Clattenburg.

Source: Daily Sabah

Concacaf Refereeing Talent and Mentor Program 2026

The Concacaf Refereeing Talent and Mentor Program is a seven-month project that pairs 10 selected refereeing talents (from different tiers and member associations) with five experienced elite mentors with World Cup experience, creating a structured environment for accelerated refereeing development. The program emphasizes one-on-one mentorship, ensuring targeted growth rather than generic instruction. A key feature is the ongoing mentor–referee relationship, where mentors track performance and provide feedback across multiple domestic and international matches and learning environments.

The 2026 class features 10 referees from the Concacaf region: Amaury Majors (BER, 2000), Filip Dujic (CAN, 1994), Pablo Camacho (CRC, 1994), Minely Urena (DOM, 2000), Waldir Garcia (SLV, 1996), Kenisha Prescott (GUY, 1998), Selvin Brown (HON, 1993), Jorge Ojeda (NCA, 1992), Ray Torres (PUR, 1999), Nikolai Nyron (TRI, 1996). Participants will receive guidance from former World Cup referees: Joel Aguilar (SLV), Armando Archundia (MEX), Esse Baharmast (USA), Peter Prendergast (JAM), Sandro Ricci (BRA/USA), along with fitness mentor Alan Brown Morgan (CRC).

Source: Concacaf

Statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 national associations

UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale. It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football. National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game. But our opposition goes far beyond process. The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders. This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain. Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.

As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership. Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination. There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments. Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.

Source: UEFA

Cakir appointed Development Director in Russia

Following his role as a referee instructor at the FIFA World Cup, Cüneyt Çakir has been appointed as the Development Director for promising referees at the Russian Football Union. At the 2026 World Cup, he worked alongside Milorad Mazic, who is the Head of the RFU Referees Department. 

Cakir will be responsible for preparing and overseeing programs for the training and development of promising referees, as well as providing mentoring services, at the Russian Football Union. Cakir has been the Head of the Referees Department in Georgia since 2023.

Source: Serdar Akcer

European football aligns on refereeing matters ahead of 2026/27 season

Chief refereeing officers of all 55 European national football associations met last week with UEFA Refereeing Officers. The agenda of the meeting, which was also attended by a representative of IFAB, principally centred on changes recently introduced to the Laws of the Game with the aim of promoting greater consistency in the interpretation and application of the Laws across domestic and continental competitions. "The fact that all 55 national associations and UEFA have agreed on guidelines towards a more consistent approach to the application of the Laws of the Game marks a significant milestone," said meeting chair Roberto Rosetti, UEFA director for refereeing. "It will help improve the understanding of refereeing decisions among players, clubs, supporters and all stakeholders in the game. For the popularity of football it is essential to remove all doubt from the game and ensure that the laws are applied with clarity."

There was unanimous support for IFAB amendments for the 2026/27 season, designed to speed up restarts, protecting the game’s integrity and reducing unnecessary delays while preserving the excitement and quality of matches. This package of measures effectively addresses situations where time is wasted (goal kicks, throw-ins, substitutions, injuries), so guaranteeing longer time with the ball in play. Referees will be instructed to strictly and consistently enforce the new rules. Participants also aligned on the need for a more consistent approach to the involvement of Video Assistant Referees (VAR). Following the recent IFAB amendments to the VAR protocol, instructions were shared about the correct interpretation of "mistaken identity" situations, exactly in line with the welcome explanations offered by IFAB with their circular letter no. 34. More generally, it was reiterated that, in accordance with the protocol, VAR must only intervene in situations of "clear and obvious" error, i.e. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident. VAR is not meant to re-referee the game, it is an essential support to the referees, who must remain at the centre of all decision-making. Lengthy, microscoping reviews are often a symptom revealing that the decision on the field was not clearly and obviously incorrect, and should therefore be limited. Finally, participants underlined the importance of strengthening the cooperation protocol between team captains and referees to continue fostering greater respect for match officials. The decision will build on the approach successfully rolled out at UEFA EURO 2024. Further steps and initiatives aimed at providing clear guidance and supporting the consistent application of the Laws of the Game and the use of VAR across European football will be communicated in the coming weeks.

Source: UEFA

Slavko Vinčić ends his career after the World Cup final

A week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vinčić officially ended his historic refereeing career at the top of the world. As the first Slovenian referee, the Maribor native officiated the final of the 2026 World Cup between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, confirming his status as one of the greatest referees in history. As the crowning glory of his farewell season, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) declared him the best referee of the World Cup, and in Italy he received the prestigious Giulio Campanati Award.

Slavko Vinčić, born on 25 November 1979, comes from Maribor and has been on the list of international referees since 2010. At the 2012 European Championship, he worked as additional AR and, along with the Slovenian team, reached the quarter-final between Greece and Germany. In 2013, he refereed at the final tournament of the U-17 Euro in Slovakia and reached the semi-finals, and in 2015, he refereed in the knock-out stages of European competitions for the first time, with the Europa League round of 16 match Guingamp - Dynamo Kyiv. At Euro 2016, he served again as additional AR for the Slovenian team led by Damir Skomina, and in the final round of the Champions League group stage in 2016, he made his debut in the elite club competition with the match Manchester City - Celtic. Since then, he has been regularly refereeing Champions League matches, and at the end of 2019, he was included in the elite group of European referees. He refereed at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, 2019 UEFA U-21 Euro in Poland, 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, Euro 2020 (including the quarter-final Belgium - Italy), 2022 Europa League final Eintracht Frankfurt - Glasgow Rangers, 2022 World Cup in Qatar, 2023 Nations League semi-final Spain - Italy, 2024 Champions League final Borussia Dortmund - Real Madrid, Euro 2024 (including the semi-final Spain - France), 2025 Nations League semi-final Germany - Portugal, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and finally the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina.

Source: NZS