Question Number: 30483

League Specific 6/5/2016

RE: Professional

sam of new york, ny usa asks...

This isn't really a question but more of an observation. It appears to me when I watch high level soccer like Premier League, Copa America, World Cup, etc, that it may actually be easier to referee professional games than of adult amateur, college, or high school/youth level games.

It seems like in professional soccer, the fouls are, for the most part, much more clear cut (late challenges, from the side/behind, clear blatant grabs, etc) and obvious, while fouls in lower level competition are much murkier and (even up to a level like high school or top competitive youth levels) more 'clumsy' fouls that deliberate fouls like it seems like I see in the pros. In this way, I might actually say that refereeing professional games may be 'easier' than those low level games

What would your thoughts be about my observations? Am I wrong in thinking/assuming this?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Sam
It might look that way and probably many decisions are more clear cut yet I can assure you it is significantly more difficult.
In those games the referee is under enormous pressure as every decision is analysed from every angle and in slow motion. Other features of the game include
Faster and requiring huge fitness levels
Dealing with more pro simulation.
Intensity levels are higher.
Game result can hinge on one decision such as a penalty, sending off etc which is then the subject of media analysis
Also many Pro games do not require a referees to bring his A game yet when it does even the best referees are challenged. Case in point was the recent Chelsea v Tottenham game. That was one of the most difficult game to referee that I saw recently.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I'd say the referees make it look easy, because they are good. And they don't take any guff.

But as Ref McHugh says, they are under a lot of pressure to perform.