Football Referees Database
Search and compare 10798+ football match officials from 156 countries. View FIFA and UEFA Elite referees, VAR officials and assistants — with match counts, credentials and recent appointments updated continuously.
Filter by nationality, competition or role to find a referee, or browse the most-experienced officials below. Every profile links through to a full career history.
About this referee database
What it covers
Profiles for 10798+ match officials across 156 countries: head referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, VAR and AVAR officials, and observers — from domestic leagues to UEFA and FIFA competitions including the 2026 World Cup.
How it works
Filters and search drive the listing through shareable URLs. Each official is linked to the matches they have worked, which produces the match counts, role breakdowns and last-appearance dates you see on every card and profile.
Methodology
Data is compiled from official appointment records and confederation sources, then standardised for names, nationality and credentials. Career totals update continuously as new fixtures are recorded; corrections are reviewed against source documents.
Referee.Observer is a football referees database tracking 10798+ match officials from 156 countries, including 372 FIFA-badge referees and 35 UEFA Elite panel members, of whom 10792 are currently active. Profiles cover referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, VAR and AVAR officials and observers, with match counts, role breakdowns, credentials and appointment history. The list can be filtered by country, competition, role, FIFA badge, UEFA Elite status, minimum matches and profile photo, and is updated continuously.
Frequently asked questions
How many referees are tracked in the database?
Referee.Observer tracks thousands of football match officials worldwide — referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, VAR/AVAR officials and observers — spanning dozens of national associations. The live counters at the top of this page show the current totals for referees, active officials, FIFA-badge holders, UEFA Elite panel members and countries covered.
How is the referee data sourced and how often is it updated?
Each profile is compiled from official match appointment sheets and confederation records, then linked to the matches an official has worked. Match counts, last-appearance dates and career totals are refreshed continuously as new fixtures are recorded, so the figures reflect recent appointments rather than a static snapshot.
Can I filter referees by competition or country?
Yes. Use the sidebar filters to narrow the list by nationality, competition (for example the UEFA Champions League, Serie A or the Premier League), role, FIFA badge, UEFA Elite panel status, active/retired status, minimum matches officiated, and whether the official has a profile photo. Filters combine and are reflected in the page URL so any view can be shared or bookmarked.
Are VAR officials and assistant referees included?
Yes. Beyond head referees, the database covers assistant referees, fourth officials, video assistant referees (VAR) and additional video assistant referees (AVAR), plus match observers. Each profile breaks down how many matches the official has worked in each role, including totals as referee and as VAR.
What does a referee profile contain?
A profile shows the official’s full name, nationality and flag, age, credentials (FIFA badge, UEFA Elite panel, World Cup 2026 selection), active/retired status, total matches worked, a breakdown by role (as referee and as VAR), their most recent appointment date, and a chronological match history.
How do I claim or correct my referee profile?
Officials and associations can request edits or claim a profile by contacting the Referee.Observer team. Corrections to names, nationality, credentials or appointment records are reviewed against official sources before publication.