Table of Contents
- So, what language do soccer referees speak?
- Do soccer referees need to speak English?
- What happens if the referee can’t speak the same language as the players?
- What language do World Cup referees speak?
- Recap: What language do soccer referees speak?
Soccer is a truly global game, and players and coaches from all around the world compete in international tournaments. Given that the referee is in charge of the action on the field with such an international collection of players and coaches, it begs the question – what language do soccer referees speak?
In this article, we explain what the expectations are in relation to a referee’s language skills and explain what the unofficial language of soccer is on the field of play.
So, what language do soccer referees speak?
Rightly or wrongly, most international soccer referees speak to the players on the field in English. That being said, FIFA has four official languages – English, Spanish, French, and German, and referees who are bilingual are in a better position than those who can only speak one language.
Of course, if a match is competed between two teams that don’t use English as their language – perhaps a World Cup match between Spain and France, the referee is likely to converse in a language that the majority of the players can understand.
Interestingly, FIFA and UEFA don’t take the language barrier into consideration when appointing referees to fixtures, and so long as they can speak English, they are awarded some of the biggest soccer fixtures on the planet.
Do soccer referees need to speak English?
Of all the languages in the world, English is the most important for soccer referees. On the field in international fixtures, most communication between players, coaches, and referees is done in English, so of course, it’s important for referees to have a good command of the English language.
However, in domestic matches, the main language of the country is used by the match officials, so a La Liga game in Spain would be in Spanish, a Bundesliga game in Germany in German, and so on and so forth.
But the reality is that so many players from different parts of the world play soccer in leagues that they’re not native to. As a result, you have a huge confluence of languages and cultures, and you might find that even though a match is taking place in the Spanish league, the majority of the players on the soccer pitch can’t actually speak Spanish!
So, in these instances, it’s advantageous if the referee can speak more than one language. Sometimes they will give their directives in one language to a specific set of players, and other times they will converse with other players in different languages.
As is the case in all walks of life, being bilingual in soccer is extremely advantageous, particularly because it is truly a global game in the present day.
What happens if the referee can’t speak the same language as the players?
Occasionally, there are times when referees, coaches, and players might not be able to understand one another. This is particularly the case in international soccer tournaments like the World Cup, where teams from all around the world come together to compete in the same country.
Helpfully, even if a player isn’t able to speak the same language as the referee, they will be able to understand the decision that the referee has made. This is because the referee identifies their decisions with hand signals, making it easy for players to understand what is happening around them.
What’s more, it’s not actually necessary for players and match officials to talk throughout the game. Of course, communication is helpful, and being able to understand one another prevents arguments and disagreements, but in theory, at least, a referee could conduct an entire game without saying a word – relying solely on hand gestures, the whistle, and cards!
What language do World Cup referees speak?
As the World Cup is an international tournament, the referees will speak to the players primarily in English. As mentioned, FIFA expects referees to have a good command of English, as it’s essentially soccer’s unofficial language.
That being said, officials from a variety of countries are represented, and you will find that match officials can communicate with players in various languages on the field of play, and they will make the decision about which language to use when the game is in play.
Another thing to mention is that communication between the teams of match officials is typically done in English. At previous soccer tournaments, officiating teams from the same country have been allocated to matches together, enabling ease of communication between the team.
However, in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the match officials are often from different nations, meaning that they all need to agree upon a language before the match begins to ensure that there are no miscommunications when they head onto the field!
Recap: What language do soccer referees speak?
Due to its prominence as the unofficial language of soccer, the vast majority of soccer referees speak to players and coaches in English. However, many referees are bilingual and will communicate to the players on the field in whichever language makes sense to them.
In international tournaments, referees are expected to speak English, but having a knowledge of other languages is undoubtedly beneficial, particularly if the players and coaches from both teams don’t typically use English in their respective countries.
But – rightly or wrongly – English is the main language used by soccer referees in international tournaments like the World Cup.