Managing people in a football match is a responsibility which goes beyond the interpretation and application of the Laws of the Game. It also involves good qualities of leadership, vision and mutual respect.

In all matches, and particularly in the most important, the first minutes are often the most decisive. The very first decisions establish a sort of understanding with the players and give them the measure of the game.

If a referee gets his first decisions wrong and shows that he is not up to the expectations of the players, the management of the game will most likely be an uphill struggle.

There is not a particular way of refereeing that works in all matches. 

The referee’s skill lies in his ability to adapt his way of officiating to the requirements of different types of players and the match, or rather to what each moment requires.

Managing the game effectively involves asking questions such as: “Does the game need a yellow card now? Is it better to award a free-kick or to apply advantage?”

It also involves deciding whether to use the whistle as little as possible, in order not to interrupt the match too often and allowing it to flow.

This very much depends on the atmosphere of the match and the behaviour of the players in the game.

Continuous assessment of the game is an essential management issue.

The referee must help the game and has the ultimate responsibility of ensuring that the match is played in a fair manner.

Referees must not be obsessed with the letter of the law, stopping the game for every physical contact. Such a practice spoils the enjoyment of the match and does not make match control any smoother.

Management of the game becomes tough for those referees who lack communication and man-management skills. Unfortunately, most of referee education (especially at grassroots level) focuses on the application of the Laws of the Game and there is very little in terms of communication training and the improvement of man-management skills.

There needs to be more access to communication and man-management training, since these are the skills that can develop an average referee into an excellent one.

Players are not managed effectively if they are simply given orders. There must be an understanding of each other’s role and mutual respect. This enables players to become more tolerant when referees get it wrong.

Top referees manage to sell potentially erroneous decisions as correct ones by applying convincing communication strategies. Thus, they can keep both game control and acceptance at a high level despite possible crucial mistakes.

There needs to be more access to communication and man-management training, since these are the skills that can develop an average referee into an excellent one

On the other hand, referees who struggle with their communication skills and their body language suggests uncertainty in decisions taken, their ability to manage the game effectively begins to struggle and they start losing the grip on the game.

In a representative survey carried out by psychologist Niclas Erdmann with more than 1,000 German referees, in which they were asked whether they consider themselves as law enforcers or game managers, the results clearly identified that they see their role more from the management side rather than simply interpreting and applying the Laws of the Game.

The survey also highlighted that referees officiating in higher divisions perceive themselves as game managers more than those officiating in middle and lower divisions.

Such surveys clearly demonstrate that experience contributes positively to the management skills required at the highest level of officiating. 

Referees who make it to the top are those who develop many soft skills in the area of personality and communication, or those who already strongly possess these skills, and whose application of the Laws of the Game is based on accuracy, balance and common sense.

Applying common sense does not mean that a referee hesitates from taking courageous decisions. 

Awarding a last-minute penalty or sending off a key player may be considered as unpopular decisions, but these must be taken decisively if in the referee’s opinion they are correct and appropriate.

Laws of the Game

Enforcing the Laws of the Game correctly remains a match official’s basic responsibility and enhances his personality. As his career progresses, he becomes more confident and composed.

Moreover, the correct interpretation of the Laws of the Game is an essential part of managing a game effectively in a fair manner. 

On the field of play, players are not the referee’s friends, but they are not his enemies either. The relationship will be healthier if both sides truly understand each other’s roles. Same applies to the coaches and other technical staff.

At times a referee takes difficult decisions and players receive hefty bans for their actions, however, there must never be any grudges.

I strongly believe that players’ cooperation is essential for the smooth management of the game.

The referee’s relationship with players must always be based on respect, trust and acceptance.