In association football, the referee is the person responsible for enforcing the Laws of the Game during the course of a match. He or she is the final decision-making authority on all facts connected with play, and is the only official on the pitch with the authority to start and stop play and impose disciplinary action against players during a match. At most levels of play the referee is assisted by two assistant referees, who are empowered to advise the referee in certain situations such as the ball leaving play or infringements of the Laws of the Game occurring out of the view of the referee; however, the assistant referees' decisions are not binding and the referee has authority to overrule an assistant referee. At higher levels of play the referee may also be assisted by a fourth official who supervises the teams' technical areas and assists the referee with administrative tasks, and, at the very highest levels, additional assistant referees and/or video assistant referees.
Pierluigi Collina is an Italian former football referee. He was named FIFA's "Best Referee of the Year" six consecutive times and is widely considered to be the greatest football referee of all time. Collina is still involved in football, as an unpaid consultant to the Italian Football Referees Association (AIA), as the Head of Referees for the Football Federation of Ukraine since 2010, and as a member of the UEFA Referees Committee.
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.
Mark Clattenburg is an English professional football referee.
Howard Melton Webb, MBE is an English former professional football referee who officiated primarily in the Premier League from 2003 to 2014, as well as for FIFA as a FIFA international referee from 2005 to 2014.
Michael Dean is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League. He is based in Heswall, Wirral, and is a member of the Cheshire County Football Association.
Andre Marriner is an English professional football referee based in Sheldon, West Midlands. He is a member of the Birmingham County Football Association.
Martin Atkinson is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League and also for FIFA. He was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, but is now based near Leeds, and is a member of the West Riding County Football Association.
The 2016 UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2016 or simply Euro 2016, was the 15th UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Europe organised by UEFA. It was held in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016. Spain were the two-time defending champions, having won the 2008 and 2012 tournaments, but were eliminated in the round of 16 by Italy. Portugal won the tournament for the first time, following a 1–0 victory after extra time over the host team, France, in the final played at the Stade de France.
Alberto Undiano Mallenco is a Spanish football referee who currently resides in Ansoáin. He has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2004. Undiano is also a part-time sociologist.
Lee William Probert is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League. He was born in South Gloucestershire but is now based in Wiltshire and is associated with the Wiltshire Football Association.
Anthony Taylor is an English professional football referee from Wythenshawe, Manchester. In 2010, he was promoted to the list of Select Group Referees who officiate primarily in the Premier League, and in 2013 became a listed referee for FIFA allowing him to referee European and international matches. In 2015, he officiated the Football League Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Taylor later returned to Wembley in 2017 to officiate the 2017 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal, making it his second final appearance as referee with the first one being in 2013.
Damir Skomina is a UEFA Elite category football referee from Slovenia.
Felix Brych is a German football referee who is based in Munich. He referees for SV Am Hart München of the Bavarian Football Association. He is a FIFA referee, and is ranked as a UEFA Elite group referee.
Michael Oliver is an English professional football referee from Ashington, Northumberland. His county FA is the Northumberland Football Association. He belongs to the Select Group of Referees in England and officiates primarily in the Premier League. He received his FIFA badge in 2012, allowing him to officiate in major international matches. Oliver was appointed to take charge of the final of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Oliver was promoted to the UEFA Elite Group of Referees in 2018.
Paolo Tagliavento is a former Italian association football referee who currently officiates in the Serie A and the UEFA competitions; namely the European Champions League and the Europa League.
Jonathan Moss is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League having been promoted to the Select Group of Referees in 2011.
Jonas Eriksson is a former Swedish football referee. He was a full international referee for FIFA between 2002 and 2018.
Björn Kuipers is a Dutch football referee. He has been a FIFA listed referee since 2006 and an UEFA Elite group referee since 2009. He is assisted during matches by his countrymen Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra. A supermarket owner by occupation, Kuipers was appointed to referee several prestigious international finals like the 2011 UEFA Super Cup, the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final, the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final, the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final and the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final.
Craig Pawson is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League, having been promoted to the panel of Select Group Referees in 2013, as well as in the Football League.
