Question Number: 13625

Law 5 - The Referee 8/31/2006

RE: Other

roger r of richmond hill, ontario Canada asks...

Is it true that soccer referees "do not get paid", rather they get "reimbursed for their expenses". In other words, refereeing in soccer is a passion, not a profession.

Still, for example, there must be an incentive for anybody to a) be hated by everybody, b)not being able to socialize with the players/fans/, c)be and stay in shape, etc. What is in for them, except for the glory?

I know that my two children (15 and 16) referee and get paid per game. Is it the same thing for referees at higher level? Do they have a regular (day) job and referee during the weekends? What about at the highest level (national games, world cup, etc.)?

I am really curious about this issue...

Thanks. Roger

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Well Roger, fact is we do receive compensation for our thankless job. But, always a but, this is not always the case. I was able to make a living [just] as a football referee. I worked from the 2nd division down to U-Little's. Some levels paid well and some didn't, but as a whole my taxes were rather high. Kids, especially kids, can use a weekend job as a referee to help out in university. If they schedule classes properly time can be made available for the occasional high school match during the week as well.

Here a varsity and junior varsity match will net near 100 USD. Not bad for a day's work. If more time is available the money mounts up! At the highest level in Europe the referees are paid to be available and paid rather well. Problem is, you had better be good at what you do if you want to work there! In America the professional match referees are compensated, but not near the level of their European counterparts.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

When I was in college, I worked High School games during the week and made 300 dollars per week doing this. I would also do a torunament on the weekend and make close to $300 in the tournament. There was travel involved and sometimes they even paid for gas money and meals. I looked at it this way - you can work some college idiot job and make $8 per hour or referee a few games each week and do something you love. I chose the later. Refereeing soccer was my only job in the summer too.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Roger. I get paid for each game I work. The pay is based on the age and skill levels of the players and whether I am an AR or a Referee in the match. But.. Ihave to take time off from my regular job as a veterinarian in order to work games on Saturdays so I actually lose money everytime I go out to the fields. I could do high school games to add to my income but don't like the rules changes. I will work a tournament some weekends but even if averaging $30 a game for 4 games a day, it's a pittance. It's great income for younger folks but for me, I'd do it for free. It's definitely not for the $$.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Alexander

Hi Roger, I have two perspectives for you. I started refereeing in England where at a semi-professional level I was paid semi-professional wages plus expenses, this was a nice suppliment to my full time income. Now I referee in Australia where the wages are substantially lower for a similar standard of football. Therefore I agree with Referee Fleischer that wages in Europe are significantly higher than other continents - this is principally due to the expenditure of the media organisations and sponsorship within the game in Europe.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 13667