JFA documentary follows five young Japanese referees with Referee Abroad at Gothia Cup
Five young referees from the Japan Football Association (JFA) travelled to Gothenburg this summer to take part in the Referee Abroad international refereeing programme at the Gothia Cup. JFA followed their journey and has now released a special 36-minute episode of its Referee Cam series, documenting their experience throughout the week in Sweden. The five […]
CNN Feature Highlights Referee Abroadโs Role in the Global Conversation on Officiating
A new CNN Sport feature on the demanding road to becoming a World Cup referee has drawn attention not only to the extraordinary standards required at the highest level of the game, but also to the growing importance of organizations working to support referees worldwide. The article cites Referee Abroad, along with its president, Daniele […]
A New Asian Chapter: Referee Abroad Expands Across Malaysia, Singapore and China.
For many years, Asia has been one of the most requested destinations among referees looking to combine football, travel and cultural discovery. In 2026, Referee Abroad is proud to take another major step forward on the continent, offering more opportunities than ever before for referees to experience football in one of the world’s most diverse […]
Referee Abroad Announces First Official Cooperation with the Japan Football Association
We are proud to announce the first official cooperation between the Japan Football Association and Referee Abroad, marking an exciting step forward in our shared commitment to international referee development. The JFA will select five promising young referees who will travel from Japan to Sweden to take part in the Gothia Cup โ globally recognised as the โYouth […]
First-Ever Referee from Saint Martin Joins Referee Abroadโs Global Network
For the first time in Referee Abroadโs history, Saint Martin is now represented within our international refereeing network, as Daniel Defoe becomes the islandโs first official to join our global community. With referees from more than 80 countries having joined Referee Abroad over the years, Danielโs journey marks an important new milestone both for our […]
Refereeing Beyond Borders: Live with FIFA Referee Rob Jones
Referee Abroadโs Refereeing Beyond Borders initiative, supported by the Erasmus+ program, is dedicated to fostering unity and collaboration among football referees from diverse cultural backgrounds worldwide. As a key part of this project, we had the privilege of hosting a live webinar featuring Premier League and FIFA referee Rob Jones. During the session, Rob shared […]
English County FAs and Referee Abroad: A Long-Standing Pathway to International Experience
English referees have been a constant presence at Referee Abroad tournaments for over a decade, thanks in large part to the involvement and support of County Football Associations across England. This historic link has played a decisive role in making England one of the most represented countries at international youth tournaments such as the IberCup […]
Refereeing Beyond Borders
Referee Abroadโs Refereeing Beyond Borders, backed by Erasmus+, aims to unite all referees, and is now in full swing across 2025-2026. Our Mission To empower referees through international tournamentsโfostering personal growth, expanding networks, and enhancing skills via mentorship, hybrid training, and exposure to global standards. We aim to strengthen European referee collaboration and enrich cultural […]
An Italian Referee’s Tale: From International Referee Experience to Lifelong Connections
Referee Abroad’s ‘Refereeing Beyond Borders’ program has won support from the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, with numerous national football associations backing it. No more so than Italy, where AIA launched the Erasmus Arbitrale programme: it isnโt just about improving on-field refereeing skills โ itโs about building international connections, developing cultural intelligence, and creating memories that […]
First Time at Referee Abroad? Your Essential Checklist
Whether it’s your first time at a Referee Abroad tournament, or you are already a seasoned veteran, we have come up with this useful checklist of things to prepare yourself before flying out and enjoying your international experience! 1: Refereeing Essentials 2: Travel Essentials 3: Our community Unlock your full career potential with Referee Abroad: […]