Do you know how much Serie A referees earn? A staggering amount, here are all the amounts
Quanto guadagnano davvero gli arbitri? Cifra clamorosa ed il confronto con gli altri paesi europei – SerieAnews
Every Sunday during Serie A matches, referees are in the spotlight. Between controversies, questionable decisions, and the famous criticism from fans and coaches, their work always seems to be in the spotlight. Despite all this, few stop to think about how much these professionals actually earn.
When a game ends with some refereeing error, the debate flares up, but often the reality behind the scenes is not known, let alone how much these referees take home at the end of the month. The truth is that Italian referees are among the highest paid in Europe. Yes, despite the criticism, Serie A referees are in a financially privileged position.
Arbitri, ecco il guadagno: si divide in tre elementi
According to an analysis by Gazzetta dello Sport, Italian referees occupy the third place in the special compensation ranking, just behind those of Spain and Germany. Not only that, compared to their colleagues in England and France, our whistlers can boast higher pay. But how exactly does their compensation work?
In Italy, the earnings of referees consist of three main elements: a fixed annual fee, a token for each match refereed, and reimbursement for expenses. Put like that, it sounds simple, but behind each element are important numbers. A Serie A referee, for example, earns about 4,000 euros for each match he or she directs.
Arbitri, ecco il guadagno: si divide in tre elementi (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
And if we consider an average of 20 games a year, his annual earnings can come close to 160,000 euros. A figure that, surely, is not bad for someone who is at the center of one of the most stressful and pressured professions in the sports world.
But it does not end there: there are other figures that contribute to the flow of earnings, such as the fourth official (500 euros per game), assistants (1,400 euros) and VAR-related roles.
The VAR, for example, receives 1,700 euros per match, while the AVAR earns 800 euros. In Serie B, on the other hand, the fees are naturally lower, but still significant compared to other leagues. A B referee, for example, earns about 2,000 euros per match, with decreasing figures for other roles.
Il confronto tra Serie A ed i campionati top d’Europa
But are these numbers really that high when compared to European peers? Actually, no. According to data from the Spanish La Liga, referees earn 4,830 euros per game, with annual earnings exceeding 260,000 euros.
Il confronto tra Serie A ed i campionati top d’Europa (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
In Germany, by contrast, a Bundesliga match director earns as much as 5,800 euros per match. Despite this, Italy still remains among the top, with 159,708 euros per year on average for a Serie A referee, more than what Premier League (157,895 euros) or French Ligue 1 (145,208 euros) whistlers earn.
Controversy over refereeing is a constant in soccer, but the numbers tell us that Italian referees are well paid, even if their work is often never fully recognized.
If it were not for those crucial decisions during a game, which perhaps make the difference between a win and a loss, how many other professions could boast so much public debate each week? After all, behind every controversial decision there is always a person who, amidst the booing and criticism, brings home a handsome payoff.
This article How much do referees really earn? Clamorous figure and comparison with other European countries appeared first on SerieANews.
