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Coventry University researcher examines how football referees deal with intense World Cup pressure
Referees will find themselves under intense pressure at the World Cup
University news / Global Business Services
Wednesday 03 June 2026
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Pressure to perform at the World Cup is not just something football’s superstars have to worry about this summer - with a Coventry University researcher helping to shine a light on the huge scrutiny referees will face.
Dr Tom Webb, a refereeing expert at the university’s Research Centre for Resilient Business and Society, has co-written a new chapter examining the pressures facing referees at the tournament and how they deal with that spotlight for the updated book The Business of the FIFA World Cup.
Examining the business and management of the Men and Women’s World Cup competitions the book explores key issues and debates surrounding the tournament, from governance and corruption to security and the media, and looks closely at the technical processes that create the events.
Dr Webb, who has conducted extensive research into the difficulties sports organisations have in recruiting and retaining officials, examines how FIFA works to support referees, not just with their decisions on the pitch but also their mental health.
The chapter has been co-written with Coventry University PhD student Joshua Gray and Robyn Bate, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management at the University of Portsmouth.
The World Cup is the ultimate spotlight - it’s a mega event on a level few other global competitions can get near, with billions of viewers across the globe. It places officials under extreme pressure and they know that if they have a bad game in the group stages, they are most likely not going to get another chance to referee during the tournament.
These are referees who are deemed to be the very best in the world but it is still an incredibly tough environment. The support available to referees is better than it has ever been but that is not to say that operating in this environment isn’t challenging. It’s not just about supporting officials on the pitch when they make decisions, it’s also their lives off the field for these referees who may have to be away from home for an extended period of time.
This approach covers things like technology to help with decisions but also things like working with psychologists to support their mental health.
FIFA organises training camps and group meetings with all the prospective World Cup referees before the tournament and they are provided with extensive training. It’s also about supporting officials who come from different football environments and competitions from around the world to operate at the same level throughout the competition.
It will be interesting to see how technology helps referees at this World Cup and our chapter looks into how this is used to support officials.
Dr Tom Webb
Read more about Dr Webb’s research into referee recruitment and retention.
The Business of the World Cup, published by Routledge is available (6th July 2026)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003121794
