23 Jun 2024

Showing the worldwide referee shortage the red card

From Sunday Morning, 11:30 am on 23 June 2024

The pressure on referees comes from all angles – but has the vitriol directed at officials reached a tipping point, turning potential referees away from taking charge of grassroots rugby and football matches?  

Mike Hester was New Zealand’s first refereeing representative at a FIFA World Cup and now leads New Zealand Rugby’s strategy for increasing and improving participation at grassroots level. 

Mike joins Jim to discuss how to solve the refereeing crisis.  

Atalanta's Italian midfielder Cristian Raimondi (hidden, background) receives a yellow card from the referee Andrea Gervasoni (front) during the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Atalanta on April 7, 2013 at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. Atalanta won 4-3. AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP)

Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE