World Cup 2026 referees SHOULD be paid more than ever - they are a huge part of the show

Whether we like it or not, there has never been so much focus on referees.

You can bet this World Cup will see controversy, a star name having a go at the officials and refs will be in the spotlight like never before. VAR has increased powers, the stakes have never been higher and we expect our referees to be completely faultless in each and every game.

And we are talking about the most watched, most talked about and most important game on the planet. It is all building up to the World Cup final in the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.

Every football fan - and millions besides - will be tuning and the ref will be under extreme pressure in the biggest game of his life. So, this is a long way of saying it… the refs deserve every penny they receive. They are worth their weight in gold.

FIFA have appointed the best of the best and they deserve to be paid the best money in football.

Yes, the money they are being paid to referee at the World Cup was surprising to me. We are talking about up to $100,000 to be at the tournament.

Why is it surprising? Because I did not know how much they will pocket for being in charge of games.

And it’s genuinely interesting. In classic old fashioned journalistic fashion, a good story is telling you something you don’t know.

View 2 Images

But the best refs should be paid the best rates. And just think about what the players are earning from their clubs and commercial deals. It’s mind-blowing stuff. Blimey, £75,000-a-week in Premier League terms feels a bit low. Dozens of players earn four times that a week. A week!

And again, why on earth not? They are in the entertainment business. This ridiculous argument about why footballers shouldn’t earn X amount because nurses and doctors deserve it is just ridiculous.

Of course doctors and nurses should earn more. But that is a separate argument. And one that deserves more time and respect. It is absolutely nothing to do with footballers or refs.

The fact of the matter is refs have become part of the show. They are part of the theatre. And therefore, they should be well paid for being part of a tournament with a turnover of billions.