Cal South, which governs more than 6,000 adult and youth teams, has hired former World Cup referee Brian Hall as its Referee Program Director of Instruction. Raised in Northern California, Hall’s on-field career included the 2002 World Cup and four MLS Referee of the Year awards. Before his most recent position as U.S. Soccer’s Manager […]
referees
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Book Review: How we can make refereeing less impossible
The Impossible Job: The Unbelievable World of Soccer Referees By William Ralston (WW Norton)* When I touted my idea of a book chronicling the woes of an amateur soccer ref a few years back, publishers assured me that “no one buys books about refereeing.” Thankfully, journalist William Ralston has found someone who disagrees with that […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
German soccer fans plan widespread VAR protests
German soccer has a strong history of fan activism, with regular protests launched in recent seasons against match starting times and investment deals.
In the 2023-24 season, widespread fan action including littering fields with tennis balls and chocolate coins resulted in the scrapping of an investment deal, despite the proposal winning majority support of clubs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Referees chief Howard Webb wants clampdown on Premier League set-piece grappling
“I think fans can expect less warnings from referees (before fouls are given) than they might have seen previously, and I know (those warnings were) a source of frustration Fans can expect to see more situations being penalized, but not only in August or September, throughout the season.”
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
World Cup 2026 refereeing (Part 2): Personality, preparation and reading the game
In our previous article, we presented the statistics from this World Cup in comparative terms and made an objective assessment. The conclusion was that the referees implemented what FIFA had asked for. What were these objectives? • Fewer fouls and fewer cards, while controlling the game through personality and appropriate body language. • Quick VAR […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
World Cup 2026 refereeing (Part 1): Officiating how FIFA wanted it
A total of 104 matches were played. An average of 23 fouls were called per match—including matches that went to overtime—and this figure was lower than at recent World Cups.
Posted inSoccer America Daily
2026 World Cup final referees: Slovenian debut in the middle
Slavko Vinčić will become the first Slovenian to referee a World Cup final. Vinčić reffed the 2024 UEFA Champions League final (Borussia Dortmund-Real Madrid), the 2022 UEFA Europa League final (Eintracht Frankfurt-Rangers) and whistled at the last two European Championships and the 2022 World Cup. He will be assisted by countrymen Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Referees: American Ismail Elfath set to make U.S. reffing history
Ismail Elfath will become the first American to referee a men’s World Cup semifinal when he takes charge of Wednesday’s Argentina-England clash in Atlanta. Elfath, who will be assisted by U.S. ARs Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, will also become the first American to referee a fourth game at the same World Cup. In 2002 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
‘VAR-gentina?’: conspiracy theories swirl ahead of World Cup semifinals
Lionel Messi’s brilliance has helped carry Argentina into a blockbuster World Cup semi-final with England in Atlanta on Wednesday. But the defending champions’ journey to the last four has been engulfed by online conspiracy theories claiming — without evidence — that the playing field has been tilted in their favour. Social media is awash with […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Victorious Belgian footballers troll Trump with YMCA dance
It is Donald Trump’s signature dance, but triumphant Belgian footballers stole his “Y.M.C.A.” moves after he intervened before the match in which they knocked the United States out of the World Cup. The Belgian team copied Trump’s unmistakable swaying fist pumps as they celebrated their 4-1 thrashing of the co-hosts on Monday, dancing and singing […]