This article has printed in “Tejarat_e_Farda” magazine, Dated: Saturday, October 21, 2023.

https://www.tejaratefarda.com/fa/tiny/news-45484

Why Doesn’t the Refereeing Institution in Iranian Football Function Properly?

Judgment in Offside

Vahid Namazi, Journalist and Football Researcher

When Frank Lampard’s clear goal against Germany in the 2010 World Cup was overlooked by the referee, FIFA, ignoring the sarcastic remarks from furious English media who saw their team’s elimination as a conspiracy by Sepp Blatter, announced it would take action to address refereeing errors and implement a program to minimize human mistakes. Eight years later, the Russia World Cup introduced the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, and gradually, per FIFA’s regulations, all leagues and tournaments were required to adopt this tool as a new component of football match officiating. Five years after the Russia World Cup, Iranian football still lacks VAR, with its only experience limited to two Asian Champions League matches—Persepolis vs. Al-Nassr and Nassaji vs. Al-Hilal. The Asian Football Confederation’s borrowed VAR system was briefly hosted at Azadi Stadium and dismantled after the matches. A few weeks later, in a crucial league match between Persepolis and Gol Gohar at the same stadium, a suspicious header by the visiting team’s striker was pulled out of the goal by Alireza Biranvand, sparking a new wave of protests, statements, complaints, and accusations. In this scenario, perhaps the most overlooked and unfairly treated individuals are the referee and assistant referee of that match, who, with minimal communication tools and relying solely on their eyesight, had to guess whether the ball crossed the line. Imagine this judgment taking place in Iran’s best and largest stadium—now consider how much harder it is to officiate such critical moments in cities like Anzali, Qaemshahr, Arak, or Qazvin, with their poor lighting and intense atmosphere fueled by the excitement of fans in non-standard stadiums.

This report aims to answer the question: “Why doesn’t the refereeing institution in Iranian football function properly?”

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It’s October 1988. I’m a teenager, thirsty for football. A couple of months ago, I tasted the thrill of going to a stadium and watching a match live at Azadi Stadium for the first time. Now, I’m determined to go again to watch one of the two crucial Tehran Club Cup matches. My father is against it, insisting I focus on my studies. After much effort, I convince him. As I’m about to leave, he says, “I’m coming too.” I’m stunned. Dad at the stadium?

Persepolis is playing at Azadi, but we end up at the old city stadium on Mofatteh Street because that’s where the life-or-death match is happening: Esteghlal vs. Daraei. Persepolis is firmly at the top of the table, refusing to let go. Esteghlal and Daraei need to collect every point to catch up with Ali Parvin’s team in the coming weeks. We park the car in a nearby alley and head toward the stadium. The crowd is overwhelming, pushing and shoving to get in. There’s not a single empty spot on the stands, with fans standing several rows deep behind the fences, craning their necks to see the game. I tell my dad, “There’s no space. Let’s go back.” He looks at me and says, “I told you not to come. Now that we’re here, we’ll stay—for luck and for the spectacle.” Forty thousand Esteghlal fans are behind their team, but it’s not their day. Daraei, the tough and wealthy team of that era, scores, and the crowd erupts in anger. The most vulgar insults rain down from all sides. I don’t dare look up at my dad. Esteghlal concedes a second goal. A furious silence engulfs the Shiroudi stands, followed by an eruption of rage from 40,000 furious men, chanting “Shir Samavar…” (a derogatory insult) at the referee with all their might. They reject the referee’s decision, and this rejection persists until the end of the match. Esteghlal concedes a third goal, shattering their dream of reaching the top. Thousands of “Shir Samavar” insults weigh heavily on the unfortunate referee’s memory forever.

However, this angry tragedy in Iranian football hasn’t always been directed at referees by fans. There have been many instances where referees—whether due to genuine mistakes or, sadly, bias toward one team—have provoked furious fans themselves. Worse still, beyond these two factors, the approach to addressing this major issue in Iranian football, from the 1960s and 1970s to today, has been a passive, unprincipled, and flawed “village elder” mentality. From February 7, 1970, when the Tehran derby was marred by controversy due to Abolghasem Haj Abolhasan’s incorrect decision to disallow a valid Persepolis goal, prompting Persepolis goalkeeper and captain Aziz Asli to slap the referee, causing him to abandon the match and forever earning the nickname “Taj Abolhasan” among Persepolis fans, to just a few weeks ago when, in an Iran League One match between Kheybar Khorramabad and Damashian Rasht, players protested the referee’s call, attacked him, beat him, and abandoned the match, this “wound” has only deepened without healing. The situation has reached a point where this “anarchy” has seeped into youth football. Just a month ago, in a Tehran youth league match (between Aria Pars and Oghab Aria Naghsh), players and the coaching staff of Oghab assaulted the referee.

Regardless of whether the referee is at fault, every time a controversy erupts over refereeing decisions, the governing bodies of Iranian football have merely bandaged the wound by erasing the problem (e.g., bringing in foreign referees for derbies, a practice dating back to the 1960s and 1970s) or imposing temporary penalties (like short-term suspensions for players or referees). However, the infection festering within this wound has been consistently ignored—an infection that has weakened the foundation of refereeing in Iranian football and dragged its frail body to the slaughterhouse.

Why Is the Refereeing Institution in Football and Investment in It Important?
Just as the judiciary is one of the four pillars of economic development—ensuring robust contracts, guaranteeing duty fulfillment, and fostering profitability while paving the way for secure investment—the health and efficiency of the refereeing institution in football are crucial for fostering fair competition and facilitating the development of one of today’s most significant global phenomena, which attracts massive investment. Although referees rarely receive the recognition they deserve, they may be the most critical individuals on the pitch. While “wrong” decisions by referees and the resulting damage to star-studded teams spark all sorts of attacks against them, their correct or remarkable calls during a match rarely earn praise. Nevertheless, per the rules, referees are the “primary enforcers” of the game’s laws, and FIFA, as the highest authority in football, grants referees broad decision-making powers to ensure they prioritize the law over fear of consequences (e.g., financial losses for a player or club). This is precisely why threatening a referee carries severe penalties. FIFA and other governing bodies, like the International Football Association Board (IFAB), are constantly developing new ways to improve referee performance, reducing errors (which are inevitable and impossible to eliminate entirely) to boost confidence in the game’s stakeholders and advance football. Various human and technological advancements, such as the expanded role of the fourth official since 1991 to assist the referee, the addition of two extra assistant referees, and ultimately the introduction of VAR, reflect FIFA’s commitment as football’s governing body to prioritizing refereeing, its components, and ensuring the security of massive global brand investments in the sport.

In leagues or tournaments with seasonal revenues exceeding tens of billions of dollars and broadcasting contracts approaching a staggering $10 billion, prioritizing the refereeing institution not exchangers only highlights its importance and prestige but also ensures investment security and transforms football into a safe platform for attracting more capital, fostering a drive for continuous development and multifaceted economic, social, and even political gains.

In today’s world, where social and economic development are paramount, ensuring security for individuals and investments is the primary duty of any institution attracting them. Extensive changes (in rules and implementation methods) and efforts to advance football refereeing to make “more accurate” decisions in countries at the forefront of football development and investment acceptance are driven by this very reason and continue to evolve. When the risk of investing in a football club increases due to a referee’s erroneous call costing valuable points to a team backed by an investor’s money, the “flow of money” will shift elsewhere, reducing the income of those seated at football’s table.

The Importance of Infrastructure
For years, this realization has prompted countries with multi-billion-dollar leagues to secure, strengthen, and develop the “infrastructure of the refereeing institution,” transforming their football leagues into low-risk environments for investors. When the refereeing institution performs effectively, investments (including sports infrastructure and quality human resources) are not wasted. Similarly, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and recently Saudi Arabia—consistent Asian rivals of Iran in football—have adopted this approach. Alongside developing their leagues, accepting private and public sector investments, and attracting skilled footballers and global stars, they have also focused on developing their refereeing institutions to ensure maximum security for investments (both human and financial).

However, money alone cannot advance refereeing in football. The refereeing institution requires proper infrastructure, sound and up-to-date policymaking, and aligning referees’ salaries with those of on-field stars. Alongside FIFA and IFAB’s decisions to advance refereeing and introduce new technologies (e.g., real-time radio communication for referees or VAR), countries have supported these changes by reforming or creating necessary infrastructure and policies. Additionally, by establishing strict deterrent laws against improper communication with referees by clubs or stakeholders and transforming refereeing into an attractive, well-paid profession, they have minimized common suspicions of bribery and corruption, making such acts so risky and consequential that no one dares consider them. A referee who is legally and financially supported would have to be insane to make biased calls and favor one team over another.

Saudi Arabia Buys Big Referees Alongside Ronaldo
Before the massive influx of investment from countries like Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia into their domestic leagues, they tested the waters by investing in European clubs like Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and Newcastle, gaining serious experience at the highest level to apply in their own countries. Their development-focused approach to football wasn’t limited to clubs and their investments. The refereeing institution in these countries also evolved simultaneously, with critical steps like “referee training” and increasing referee salaries to provide financial support, alongside leveraging the expertise of top-tier global refereeing institutions.

One of Saudi Arabia’s first developmental steps to advance its league’s refereeing institution was hiring Mark Clattenburg and Howard Webb, renowned former Premier League referees, as “heads of refereeing and training” for Saudi football. Clattenburg stepped away from the Premier League in February 2017 to join Saudi Arabia for two years, missing out on officiating major global and European tournaments due to regulations at the time but playing a key role in advancing Saudi football refereeing. He identified the significant issue of inadequate physical fitness and training among Saudi referees and gradually worked to raise the standards of refereeing and rule comprehension. Six years later, while refereeing in Saudi Arabia has improved, the Saudi Pro League’s officials continue to focus on developing training and refereeing standards while eagerly acquiring global expertise. The reason is simple: a league that connects Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, N’Golo Kanté, and Jordan Henderson to Saudi clubs with astronomical salaries must have referees of the same caliber. Thus, they targeted Premier League referees, and after negotiations with English officials, they offered tax-free salaries exceeding £300,000 for referees working in the Premier League.

Australia and Singapore
Beyond Saudi Arabia, which, with its hundreds of billions in its Public Investment Fund (PIF), pursues ambitious projects and spends lavishly, let’s look at two other Asian examples of different quality levels to examine referee salaries in Australia and Singapore.

Australia, a football powerhouse in Asia and a serious rival to Iran internationally, is relatively advanced with suitable infrastructure. While Iran and Australia’s football levels can be considered comparable, Australia’s development of human resources in its refereeing institution is far richer and more advanced. Its openness to immigration and elite talent has made skilled human resources a powerful tool, as in other developed nations. Alireza Faghani, who reached the pinnacle of Iranian football refereeing, officiated at the World Cup and Olympics, and earned global acclaim, is one such elite talent absorbed by Australia. The Australian Professional League has paved its way by investing in human resources and leveraging the expertise of refereeing and football elites, approaching global standards. Referee salaries in Australia are paid in two ways: four referees work full-time for the league and federation, receiving fixed monthly salaries, while non-federation referees earn AUD 2,000 per match (approximately 32,000 IRR per AUD), with assistant referees and fourth officials earning around AUD 1,500.

Singapore, an advanced country with high per capita income but no significant football presence in Asia, pays experienced referees with eight years of experience over SGD 51,000 annually (approximately 36,000 IRR per SGD), while less experienced referees earn around SGD 31,000. These incomes are expected to rise by about 10% by 2028 (with near-zero inflation), with top-tier Singaporean referees earning around SGD 56,000.

Where Is the Paradise for Football Referees?
How much do “elite” global referees earn, and what salaries do top leagues or FIFA and continental confederations pay for international tournaments? The following salaries depend on factors like experience, referee rank, the importance of the match, and personal sponsor attention.

1. Premier League (England): To maintain its global appeal and thrilling matches, the Premier League ensures referees are well-compensated. A rookie referee can earn around £42,000 annually, while experienced referees officiating 28–30 matches a year earn over £70,000 (excluding match fees and bonuses of about £1,500 per game), potentially reaching £200,000 with bonuses. Championship League (England’s second tier) referees have similar fixed salaries, but match fees are around £600 per game.
2. La Liga (Spain): La Liga’s referee salary model mirrors the Premier League. Rookies can earn around €70,000 annually, while experienced referees earn about €250,000 for 20 matches a season. Match fees can add up to €6,000 monthly.
3. Bundesliga (Germany): Rookie Bundesliga referees earn around €40,000 annually, while experience and recognition can raise this to €80,000 for 20 matches. They also receive €4,000–5,000 per match.
4. Serie A (Italy): Serie A referees start with about €50,000 annually. More experienced, renowned referees can earn up to €200,000 for 15–16 matches, with match fees ranging from €2,500 to €4,500.
5. Ligue 1 (France): Ligue 1 referees start at €35,000 annually, but experience and consistent performance can raise this to €100,000 for 23–24 matches. Match fees range from €2,500 to €3,500.
6. MLS (USA): Rookie MLS referees start at $600 per match, increasing to $1,500 with experience and match importance. Annual earnings range from $30,000 to $45,000, depending on matches and experience.
7. International Tournaments: Officiating international or major tournaments is more lucrative. FIFA paid $70,000–$90,000 per referee for the last two World Cups, plus $3,000 per match. Assistant referees received $25,000–$35,000 and $2,000 per match. The introduction of VAR was a significant rule change, with 24 VAR referees at the 2022 World Cup earning about $3,000 per match, rising to $5,000 in later stages. FIFA also pays $500 per day ($350 for assistants) for travel days. UEFA invites referees with over five years of domestic experience to the Champions League, paying €7,000 per match. The AFC considers a match officiating mission four days, paying $300 per day plus $100 for additional costs.

Football Refereeing in Iran: Whistling in Hell!
A friend of mine seriously entered refereeing a few years ago. Starting from scratch, he progressed from youth matches to lower-tier Tehran provincial leagues. During one match in a nearby city, when his call displeased the home team’s fans, they smashed his car and beat him so badly that he quit refereeing for good. That’s a summary of refereeing in Iranian football!

About a decade ago, the Iranian Football Federation created a new Refereeing Department to support the Referees Committee and reform the refereeing structure. Per the statutes, the Referees Committee was responsible for policymaking (e.g., training and development), while the department executed those policies. However, structural weaknesses, disagreements, personal biases, and, most critically, the federation’s inefficiencies over the past decade have brought refereeing to the brink of collapse. The refereeing structure within the federation is one of the weakest components of Iranian football’s executive body. With each season, the federation’s severe shortcomings and the Referees Committee’s inability to attract sponsors or secure support from wealthier federation sectors have turned Iranian football refereeing into a barren wasteland.

The Referees Committee exists in name only, with one person making all decisions. Its meetings are irregular, and its members constantly clash with the chair. The Refereeing Department functions merely as a secretariat, at odds with the committee. The number of referees officiating Premier League matches has surged, and the inexperience of many has frustrated all teams. The gap between a referee’s or officiating team’s assignments is so wide that when their image appears on TV, you’re reminded they’re still in the league! Refereeing standards in Iran have plummeted. Since Alireza Faghani’s migration, no Iranian referee has officiated significant continental or global matches. Experts say Iran’s refereeing level now lags behind Uzbekistan, Qatar, the UAE, and China. Refereeing errors have peaked, angering winners and losers alike. Demotivated and neglected by the federation, referees make no effort to improve, and elevating refereeing quality is forgotten amid disputes between the committee, its members, and the department. Introducing VAR to Iran has turned from a dream into a tragicomedy. Despite its global use for years, VAR’s absence in Iran is blamed on sanctions, broken promises by service providers, inadequate stadium infrastructure, and lack of cooperation from FIFA and AFC.

While Iran’s Premier League’s financial transactions reach about 7,000 billion tomans, with player salaries nearing an astronomical 3,000 billion tomans per season, referees earn 5–6 million tomans per match, totaling 60–70 million for a season (after taxes and injury-related medical costs), essentially officiating for free and receiving no respect.

Imagine yourself as an Iranian Premier League referee, officiating a match between two teams whose players’ contracts total 200–300 billion tomans. You recall that referees of your experience and age in Spain or England earn about 250 times more annually and are supported by their federations and the law. Their mistakes can be corrected with VAR, and they aren’t threatened with death or assault by fans. Would you continue whistling in this hell, or, like my battered friend, grab your life, jump into your smashed car, and steer clear of football forever?