The UEFA elite referee category is the highest classification for football referees [1] appointed by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), [2] typically including some of the most experienced football referees in the globe. [3]
Referees in this category are eligible to officiate the most important matches in UEFA club and international competitions, including the UEFA Champions League [4] and UEFA European Championship. [5] [6] [7] [8]
UEFA operates a hierarchical referee classification system designed to assess officials based on performance, experience, physical fitness, and consistency. This elite category represents the top tier of this system and consists of a limited number of highly experienced football referees from UEFA member associations who have demonstrated sustained excellence at both domestic and international level. [9] [10]
Referees in the elite category are normally appointed to officiate:
Match appointments are made by the UEFA Referees Committee following assessments by referee observers and performance analysis.
Promotion to the UEFA elite referee category is based on several factors, including:
Referees are reviewed annually [11] and may be promoted to or removed from the elite category depending on performance assessments. [12]
