Sign in Subscribe
Soccer players

Injury Incidence in Soccer Referees: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted by Mohammad Alghosi and colleagues from the University of Guilan has found that soccer referees experience a high incidence of injuries during matches and training sessions. The study, published in the journal Sports Medicine, analyzed data from 17 studies involving 3621 referees and found that the most common injuries were strains and sprains in the knee and ankle. The overall injury incidence rate was 2.19 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure, with on-field referees experiencing a higher rate than assistant referees.

Key Takeaways:

  • The most frequent injuries in soccer referees were strains and sprains in the knee and ankle, accounting for 55% of all injuries.
  • The overall injury incidence rate among referees was 2.19 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.30-3.69.
  • On-field referees experienced an incidence rate of 1.46 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure, while assistant referees had a lower rate of 0.84 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure.
  • Injury incidence was higher during matches (2.24 per 1000 hours of exposure) compared to training sessions (0.67 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure).
  • Female referees were underrepresented in the studies included in the review, highlighting the need for further research in this population.

Statistics:

  • 17 studies were included in the systematic review, encompassing 3621 referees.
  • 55% of all injuries among referees were strains and sprains in the knee and ankle.
  • The overall injury incidence rate among referees was 2.19 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure (95% CI 1.30-3.69).
  • On-field referees experienced an incidence rate of 1.46 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure (95% CI 0.76-2.81).
  • Assistant referees had a lower injury incidence rate of 0.84 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure (95% CI 0.36-1.97).
  • Injury incidence during matches was 2.24 per 1000 hours of exposure (95% CI 1.38-3.64), compared to 0.67 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure during training sessions (95% CI 0.36-1.24).

Sources:

  • Alghosi, M., et al. (2025). Epidemiology of Injury in Elite and Amateur Soccer Referees: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, [online] 45(10), 2089-2105. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-01458-6
  • NewsRx. (2025, October 17). Findings from University of Guilan Broaden Understanding of Science (Epidemiology of Injury in Elite and Amateur Soccer Referees: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis). Health & Medicine Week, 1462.

Read more