Women’s Super League faces wait until 2029 for full-time referees despite funding boost

Extra investment agreed at latest WSL board meetingCalls for fully professional match officials have grownWomen’s Super League clubs have agreed to a major funding increase for match officials but the wait for full-time referees in the English top tier is set to continue until 2029, the Guardian has learned.The extra investment, decided at the latest WSL Football board meeting, will focus on enhancing officials’ education, analysis and physical performance, it is understood. Continue reading…

Women’s Super League clubs have agreed to a major funding increase but the wait for full-time referees in the English top tier is set to continue until 2029 Women’s Super League clubs have agreed to a major funding increase for match officials but the wait for full-time referees in the English top tier is set to continue until 2029, the Guardian has learned. The extra investment, decided at the latest WSL Football board meeting, will focus on enhancing officials’ education, analysis and physical performance, it is understood. Although none of the parties involved are ruling out progressing to full-time WSL referees earlier, 2029-30 is the campaign that has been agreed for when the officials will be employed by Pro Ref, the official body, formerly known as PGMOL, responsible for match officials across English professional football.

Calls for fully professional WSL match officials have grown since the English women’s top tier became full-time players in 2018-19 and further the top two divisions were taken over by the independent WSL Football in 2024. A further three-year wait is likely to divide opinion. According to multiple sources, WSL