Here's what pro refs earn a year in europe's top nations. I think they desevre more do you?

Question

Here’s what top referees earn:

How Much Officials Earn Per
Domestic League Game (€)
       
   Country    Referee      Assistant Referee
   England    1,170*      375
   Spain         6,000        2,000
   Germany    3,600       1,800
   Italy            3,400       1,700
   France      2,751    1,300
   Portugal    1,188       594
*EPL referees are paid a retainer of €38,500 per season

We refs do a very hard job and work harder than the footballers at our level do we go through loads of senimars and fitness test and make thousands of on the spot descision per match as well as having to deal with adversity and severe pressure and so we more than earn every penny we make.


Also Referees are inevitably figures that court a great deal of controversy in the game, and although it’s fair to say that some are better than others, every fan would acknowledge that the football simply couldn’t run without the ‘Men In Black’.

But how much do these figures of authority earn for spending 90 minutes often receiving a good deal of abuse and certainly coming under the scrutiny of the national, and sometimes worldwide, media?

Intuitively, the officials hailing from the top leagues earn the most money, though this is a little skewed for the Premier League, who pay their referees a large retainer over the course of the campaign and therefore a smaller match fee.

It’s La Liga where referees are paid most handsomely, with each taking home a €6,000 pay packet, while in Italy, the main official will earn around €3,400 for his 90 minutes work – no Calciopoli jokes, please.

Though French officials are amongst the best paid in Europe, earning on average €73,000-per-season, they are presently threatening strike action over the wage level. But referees in l’Hexagone are not the only matchday officials to threaten a strike this term; Scottish whistleblowers did stage a walkout earlier this season, though this was over their treatment in the media rather than over their pay.

While some spectators may baulk at these significant sums, it’s worth remembering that even the very best referees will be earning a fraction of what the top players earn each week. With wages for superstars spiralling at an incredible rate, perhaps we should spare a thought for the men in the middle trying to take command of players earning more than 50 times their salary.

? · Accepted Answer

Roy

It shows where the game and business conflict. They are willing to millions for pro athletes, but only hundreds for part-time referees. Referees who do it more for the love and challenge of it, not the money. If they (owners) want to upgrade the sports officiating, they could easily do it by creating a professional referee group. Earning a living doing the games. During the week, they train, and attend classes, as well as review films. They should be going through game critiques. 

Todays top level, and even youth referees, do an amazing job in very challenging conditions. Getting "it right", and controlling the games week in and week out. Lets face it, without the referee teams there would be no game. I think we are way past due on creating a professional, full time, referee group at the highest levels.

Soccerref

Anonymous · Answer

Obvious answer is Bangladesh. Seriously look at them. The bowlers are worse than most other test playing nations under 13 side.

Tresidentevil · Answer

What you don't say is that most premier league refs are also proffesionals in other fields, lawyers, doctors, bankers, civil servants. These guys are on massive wages BEFORE they get their ref money.

? · Answer

For One game, that seems like a good amount of money to me.  I don't think they are underpaid if that is how much they make per match.

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Here's what pro refs earn a year in europe's top nations. I think they desevre more do you?

4 Answers