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

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 and WSL 2 clubs – the primary shareholders of WSL Football – were told at the all-club meeting this month of the three-year funding plan to transition to full-time match officials for the 2029-30 campaign. Insiders have told the Guardian there was initially a mixed response, with some clubs hoping the move would happen sooner, before the funding plan was voted on and approved.

One WSL club’s senior executive, who did not want to be named, told the Guardian it was “about time” that there was a specific timeframe but that they were disappointed it was three seasons away.

Another senior WSL club source welcomed the commitment to funding the education and training needed to improve the quality of officiating.

At the board meeting, it is believed clubs the league and clubs discussed balancing the desire to have full-time officials as quickly as possible with a need to enhance standards and provisions.

Many of the officials working in the WSL hold other full-time or part-time jobs. It is understood the new deal followed extensive discussions between WSL Football, the Foootball Association and Pro Ref.

The WSL has repeatedly stated its “intention” to move to having full-time officials but this is believed to be the first time a timeline has been agreed.

In 2021, the FA said it had no immediate plans to introduce full-time referees to the top two divisions of English women’s football.Referees in the English men’s game became full-time professionals in 2001 across the Premier League and the EFL.

There is a seat for a WSL representative on the Pro Ref board for the first time this season, after the launch of Pro Ref this summer, giving the WSL a greater say in the decision-making processes, alongside Premier League and EFL representatives.