When you think of the millions of euros or other currencies which football generates, it seems strange that one of the key actors, the referee, gets such a small slice of it. With all the recent controversy on the role of the referee and the different ways to help lower the margin of error, I haven’t read much about the referee’s compensation. Professional football has seen player salaries go through the roof, sponsorships skyrocket and club budgets (and deficits) inflate like never before. But what about referees? With so much money at stake, I would attract better and more people to become referees by adapting their financial benefits to be in line with the other constituencies.
Let’s take the example of the monthly revenues of first division games in a major European championship:
- 30 000 spectators at an average ticket price of €60 x 8 games per month = €14,4 million
- 22 players at an average monthly salary of €40 000 = €880 000
- 1 referee at a monthly “retainer” of about €3750
When you think about the sums generated by 30 000 spectators and paid to 22 players (not to mention the broadcasting rights which I haven’t estimated), it is unbelievable that the referee which is such a central piece of the game gets such a small part of the cake. I think that part of the refereeing problem would be solved if football associations and clubs thought about attracting higher quality candidates with much more attractive packages for full-time referee positions.
Maracanazos try to find solutions.
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