Football Referees Research Articles

Football Referees' Perceptions of Fair Play Concept: A Metaphor Study

Modern dünyada kendisine önemli bir yer edinmiş spor branşlarından birisi olan futbolda kritik kararlarda önemli rol oynayan hakemler, müsabakalardaki fair playe uygun davranışların sürdürülmesi ve geliştirilmesinde önemli bir bileşendir. Bu bağlamda araştırmada, futbol hakemlerinin fair play kavramına yönelik algılarını ve bu kavramı nasıl yorumladıklarını ortaya çıkarmak amaçlanmaktadır. Araştırmaya 2021-2022 sezonunda Ankara ilinde bulunan ve çeşitli futbol liglerinde aktif olarak hakemlik yapan 21 profesyonel futbol hakemi katılmıştır. Araştırmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenoloji deseni kullanılmıştır. Verilerin elde edilmesinde, her bir hakemden “Fair play ……………gibidir/benzer; çünkü…….”cümlesini tamamlamaları istenmiştir. Verilerin analizinde içerik analizi tekniği kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre; araştırmaya katılan profesyonel futbol hakemlerinin “fair play” kavramına yönelik oluşturdukları metaforların sırasıyla “ahlak unsuru olma”, “adalet unsuru olma”, “saygı unsuru olma” ve “iyilik unsuru olma” temaları altında toplandığı belirlenmiştir. Hakemler özelinde futbol camiası içerisinde doğru algının yerleşmesi, eğitim ve uygulamalarla desteklenmesi, fair play ruhuna yakışır bir şekilde davranılmasına ortam sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.

La centralità del codice etico nella formazione dell’arbitro di calcio

The article includes historical notes on the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). From its birth, in the year 1898, up to the present reality. The Italian Referees Association (AIA) is a component of the FIGC made up of football referees. It consists of a central structure and a territorial network and is governed by specific rules for all its functions. Among these rules, the Code of Ethics is of great importance, a document that defines and indicates values connected to ethics, understood as rules of respect and behavior which are essential for football referees.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the quality of life of Chinese football referees: the chain mediating role of occupational stress and job burnout

BackgroundCOVID-19 lockdown measures have had a great negative impact on the development of sports competition in China, as well as on the quality of life of football referees. This study aims to explore the impact of lockdown measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of football referees in China and its mechanism of action.MethodsThe Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Effort–Reward Imbalance Scale (ERI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). The scale was used from August to September 2022. Using an online questionnaire, 350 questionnaires were sent out and 338 were returned, for a return rate of 96.57%. Invalid questionnaires were excluded, and 307 football referees with referee grades in 29 provinces registered with the CFA were surveyed. SPSS 24.0 and Mplus 8.0 were used for data analysis and structural equation model testing in this study.ResultsThe results showed that the COVID-19 lockdown had no significant impact on the quality of life of Chinese football referees. However, the COVID-19 lockdown can affect the quality of life of Chinese football referees through occupational stress or job burnout. Occupational stress and job burnout also play a chain intermediary role between the COVID-19 lockdown and the quality of life of Chinese football referees. In addition, this study further explores the quality of life by dividing it into four dimensions (physical, social, psychological, and environmental). The results show that all four dimensions satisfy the chain mediation model.ConclusionsTherefore, the quality of life of Chinese football referees can be improved by reducing their occupational stress and job burnout during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees

The prevalence of varus knee malalignment among junior and adult football players (FP) has proven to be higher compared to other sports. No causal relationship has yet been found, as genu varum can be assumed to be an independent risk factor for the development of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to compare knee alignment measurements and sport-specific data of adolescent football players and referees (REF). Knee alignment was detected by measuring the intercondylar/intermalleolar distance (ICD/IMD) as well as the Hip–Knee–Ankle angle (HKA) using a standardized digital frontal-plane photograph. Anthropometric and sports-related data (training/match exposure, seasons actively played, etc.) were collected by means of questionnaires (Clinical trial registration number: DRKS00020446). A total of 28 male FP and 29 male adolescent REF were included in the survey. The mean age was 17.4 ± 0.7 years. The two groups did not differ significantly in age, height, weight, BMI, and overall football/refereeing exposure per week (FP vs. REF: 274 vs. 285 min/week, p = 0.61). The HKA of the FP was significantly lower (toward varus) than that of the REF (177.6° ± 2.4° vs. 179.0° ± 2.4°; p < 0.001). However, ICD did not significantly differ (FP: 17 ± 25 mm, REF: 13 ± 27 mm; p = 0.55). The football environment with frequent football exposure seems to have an influence on leg axis deviation in FP compared to REF. For prevention of knee osteoarthritis in FP, an advanced understanding of leg axis development in adolescent players is essential and, therefore, needs further research.

The Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs of Football Referees Towards Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Events

The Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs of Football Referees Towards Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Events

Psychological immunity and its relationship to the performance level of Premier League football referees

Psychological immunity and its relationship to the performance level of Premier League football referees

Exercise-induced arterial hypertension in a young licensed football referee – Case report

As one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, arterial hypertension affects not only older people or those known with diseases but may also be encountered in young, apparently healthy individuals. We are reporting the case of a 21-year-old football referee who was admitted to the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Clinic for dyspnea during high-intensity efforts. After obtaining the patient's history and clinical examination, the resting blood pressure was 150/90 mmHg. The 24-hour arterial blood pressure monitor (ABPM) measurements were within normal ranges. Afterward, he underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing, which had to be halted due to increased blood pressure (BP) values of 220/100 mmHg. This BP profile raised a series of concerns regarding the causes and management of a young and apparently healthy patient.

METHODS OF FORMING PERCEPTUAL-COGNITIVE EXPERIENCE IN HIGHLY QUALIFIED FOOTBALL REFEREES

Annotation. Football referees must constantly keep up with the game to ensure the correct interpretation of game moments when making key decisions in the match. The perceptual-cognitive demands of soccer refereeing are considerable, but research the repceptual and cognitive processes that influence referee decisions remains limited. In this regards, we present a study of methodological considerations, regarding the application of referee’s perceptual-cognitive experience in decision-making, as well as relationship of this experience with their motor activities during the match.

Subjective experience, self-efficacy, and motivation of professional football referees during the COVID-19 pandemic

The present multi-study article investigates the subjective experience of professional football (a.k.a. soccer) referees and players during the COVID-19 pandemic and the so-called ghost games (i.e., games without supporters). Referees from the Austrian Football Association completed questionnaires inquiring about self-efficacy, motivation, and general personal observations and perceptions (e.g., arousal or confidence). In addition, two players and one referee in the Austrian Football Bundesliga were interviewed retrospectively regarding their subjective experience during ghost games and the effects of emotions on behavior and performance using semi-structured, video-taped interviews. Results of the referee survey indicate that the most profound differences between regular games and ghost games lie in the domain of intrinsic motivation and multiple aspects of subjective experience. Specifically, the experience in ghost games compared with regular games was reported by referees as being significantly less motivating, less excited/tense, less emotional, less focused, and overall, more negative, despite being easier to referee and the players behaving more positively. Qualitative analyses of the video-taped interview footage indicated (i) substantial inter-individual variability regarding the extent of the effect of the empty stadiums on the subjective experience of emotions, (ii) consequently, different strategies to regulate emotions and arousal from suboptimal to optimal levels, both before and during competition, and (iii) interactions between reported emotions, arousal, motivation, self-confidence, behavior and performance on the pitch. In addition, non-verbal expressions of emotion were captured using fully automated AI-software that coded facial movements during interviews. The results of this exploratory facial expression analysis revealed varying degrees of arousal and valence in relation to the content of the statements during the interviews, demonstrating the convergent validity of our findings. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on the effects of football games without fans during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide insights into the subjective experience of professional football referees. Concerning referees and players alike, emotions are investigated as potential processes related to home-field advantage and performance in professional football by means of a multi-methods approach. Further, the combination of qualitative and quantitative measures—as well as verbal and non-verbal communication channels—can deepen our understanding of the emotional influence of (missing) spectators on the subjective experience and the behavior of sports professionals is discussed.

Virtual reality as a representative training environment for football referees

Visual experience plays an important role in facilitating referee decision-making. Video training can be used to train these perceptual-cognitive skills in discrete scenarios, for instance in foul situations in football, but is less suitable in other instances such as when seeking to make decisions in open-play scenarios due to a lack of representativeness. Recent technological advances enable the use of virtual reality (VR) to replicate game situations in a controlled and realistic manner. It is however not yet known how representative behaviour in VR would be of behaviour on-field in the natural environment. The aim of the study was therefore to examine the degree to which visual behaviour of football referees in virtual reality would reflect behaviour found when adjudicating matches on-field. Sub-elite football referees completed decision-making tasks in three experimental conditions: on-field (in a real match), in virtual reality and when observing video footage. Across the three environments we compared decision-making performance, visual behaviour (including search rate, fixation duration, and head movements) and the user experience of the referees. Results revealed that behaviour in the VR environment was indistinguishable from that on-field. In contrast, visual-motor behaviour when observing video footage was markedly different to that found on-field (and in VR). The results show that visual-motor behaviour in VR is representative of that found on-field and therefore suggests that VR offers promise as a representative training environment for sports officials to improve on-field performance in the natural environment.

Referee Abuse, Intention to Quit, and Well-Being

ABSTRACT There are growing levels of abuse toward match officials in sport as well as general problems of their recruitment and retention. Purpose: This study analyzes the role that physical and nonphysical abuse has on association football referees’ intentions to quit and their personal well-being. Methods: Drawing on pooled survey data of association football referees from the UK and Canada, this paper employs probit, ordinary least squares, and treatment effects regression analyses to explore the casual relationship between the physical and nonphysical abuse faced by referees, their intention to quit and their well-being. Results: Although physical abuse is less common than nonphysical abuse both affect the intention to quit and well-being of officials. Moreover, those that do not contemplate quitting also face reductions in their well-being. Conclusion: The research recommends a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse of officials in sport and identifies that organizations have a duty of care for the well-being of their officials.

Investigation of Internal and External Load Responses of Football Referees During the Match

Bu çalışma futbol hakemlerinin müsabaka sırasındaki iç ve dış yük yanıtlarının incelenmesi amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmaya 7 bölgesel il (Yaş: 24,44±2,35 yıl; Boy Uzunluğu: 181,31±4,79 cm; Vücut Ağırlığı: 74,97±4,63 kg; Hakem Yaşı: 3,86±0,37 yıl) hakemi katılmış ve 5 ayrı kategoriden 62 müsabaka değerlendirilmiştir. Hakemlere müsabakalar sırasında küresel konumlandırma sistemi (GPS)’ne sahip kalp atım hızı (KAH) monitörü takılarak iç ve dış yük verileri takip edilmiştir. İç yük değerlendirmesinde müsabakalar sırasındaki zirve KAH (%KAHzirve), ortalama KAH (%KAHort) ve 5 farklı relatif kategoride (KAH<%65,KAH%65-75,KAH%75-85,KAH%85-95,KAH>95) geçirdikleri süre dakika olarak kaydedilmiştir. Müsabaka sırasındaki dış yük verileri, toplam koşu mesafesi (Koşutoplam), ortalama koşu hızı (Koşuort), maksimal koşu hızı (Koşumaks) ve 5 farklı hız kategorisinde(Koşu≤3,6, Koşu3,6-7,2, Koşu7,2-13,0, Koşu13,0-18,0, Koşu≥18,0) kat ettikleri mesafe metre cinsinden değerlendirilmiştir. Hakemlere ait iç ve dış yük verileri 6 eşit periyot (0-15dk,15-30dk,30-45dk,45-60dk,60-75dk,75-90dk), 1. ve 2. yarılara göre analiz edilmiştir. Yarılar arasındaki farklılıkların değerlendirilmesinde bağımlı gruplarda t-testi, periyotlar arasındaki farklar için Tekrarlı Ölçümlerde Varyans Analizi (ANOVA) kullanılmıştır. İç yük analiz sonuçları 1. yarı %KAHort, %KAHzirve ve KAH%85-95 değerlerinin 2. yarıdan yüksek, KAH%65-75 2. yarı değerlerinin ise 1. yarıdan yüksek olduğunu göstermektedir (p<0,05). Dış yük verileri değerlendirildiğinde 1. yarı Koşutoplam, Koşuort, ve Koşu7,2-13,0 değerleri 2. yarıdan, Koşu≤3,6 2. yarı verileri ise 1. yarıdan yüksektir (p<0,05). Müsabaka periyotlarına göre genel bir değerlendirme yapıldığında 1. periyottaki dış yük ile 3. periyottaki iç yük verilerinin diğer periyotlara göre açık farklılıklar gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak bu çalışma müsabaka sırasında hakemlerin de futbolcular gibi yüksek iç ve dış yüklenmelere maruz kaldıklarını ve bu yüklenmelerin müsabakanın farklı periyot ve yarılarına göre farklılaştığını göstermiştir.

Examination of Football Referees' Attitudes Towards Video Assistant Referee System (VAR) by Q Method

The referees play a crucial role by bearing tremendous responsibility in football. Referees not only manage the football match, but they are also the people who are psychologically affected by the atmosphere of the match and are held responsible for any mistake. This responsibility for the referees seems to have eased somewhat with the development of technology.Yet, unless an evaluation is made from the point of the referees, this situation will remain a mystery. This study aims to evaluate the attitudes of football referees towards the VAR system with the Q method. The methodological model of the study was the Q method, which includes qualitative and quantitative research methods. 25 referees included in the study with the snowball sampling method constitute the study group. The study data were analyzed using the PQMethod 2.35 program, which was developed for Q method studies. The principal component analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. After the analyzes made in the Q method, the data were divided into factors. As a result of principal component analysis and hand rotation afterward, it was seen that the opinions of the participants were gathered under two factors. The questions that the participants gathered under two different factors got higher scores were indicated by their Z scores. The reasons behind it were examined by interviewing the scores obtained from the quantitative data regarding the statements that the participants agreed and did not agree with. As a result, while there is a decrease in the sense of confidence in the referees' VAR system, in themselves and the profession, it is among the results obtained from the opinions that the elimination of injustice is a practice that allows the deserving to win.

<p>Is Income Level a Relevant Trigger to Decide Starting Refereeing?</p>

There is an open debate about the motivation of football referees to start and progress in their careers. Identifying altruistic and self-servicing factors is critical for the federations to establish the most effective policies to enlarge the referee’s career and minimise turnover. In this article, we analyse how the willingness to become a referee is determined by the average income level in the referee’s neighbourhood. More specifically, our alternate hypothesis is that the number of referees per district is affected by the average income level in that postcode. Sequential linear regressions generated six models using data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) and the Real Federación de Fútbol de Madrid (RFFM). The best-fit outcome shows that the number of referees is partly determined by the income level in their postcode at the beginning of the referee’s career, although the overall fit of the model decreases for experienced referees.

Impact Of Management Functions On Appointment Of Football Referees In Nigeria Premier League

This study investigated impact of management functions on appointment of football referees in Nigeria premier league. The objectives were to examine the relationship between remuneration, recruitment process on appointment of football referee. Descriptive research design of survey type was adopted. The population for this study comprises of all football referees both active and retired. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select 150 respondents. A researcher structured questionnaire was used to gather information for the study. The instrument was validated by experts and tested for reliability through test retest method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The administration of instrument was done by the researcher and two trained research assistants. The data collected were analysis using descriptive statistics of percentage to analysed the research questions while inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the formulated hypotheses set for the study at 0.05 alpha level. The result revealed that there was a significant relationship between remuneration and recruitment processes and appointment of football referees in Nigeria premier league. The study therefore recommends that the recruitment and appointment of the referees should be based on merit and their remuneration should be conform with the FIFA standard

Characteristics and status of the physical loads of elite football referees

Characteristics and status of the physical loads of elite football referees

Analyzing the Relationship between Leisure Time Satisfaction and Resilience Levels of Football Referees

Analyzing the Relationship between Leisure Time Satisfaction and Resilience Levels of Football Referees

Five Weeks Cross-Training Effects on the Physical Performance of Elite Football Referees in Benin

Five Weeks Cross-Training Effects on the Physical Performance of Elite Football Referees in Benin

The Construction of Curriculum System and Training Scheme for the Advanced Football Referee Course of Shandong Technology and Business University

The Construction of Curriculum System and Training Scheme for the Advanced Football Referee Course of Shandong Technology and Business University

Establishing several features in the training of football referees in the Republic of Bulgaria

Establishing several features in the training of football referees in the Republic of Bulgaria