Ex-Referee Mark Clattenburg Reveals Potential Earnings for World Cup Officials

Referees officiating at the upcoming 48-team World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, could potentially earn between US$60,000 and US$70,000 for the entire tournament. This estimate comes from former English referee Mark Clattenburg, who shared his projections in a podcast interview.

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They could receive between US$60 and US$70 thousand for the entire tournament.

FIFA generally keeps financial agreements for officials confidential, making Clattenburg's insights valuable. He explained that referees receive a daily stipend for their time at the tournament, in addition to a per-match fee. The earnings increase for officials who progress to the later stages of the competition, similar to prize money structures for participating teams.

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I'll tell you what the salary was during the 2018 World Cup, as it hasn't actually increased much.

Clattenburg noted that the salary structure has not significantly changed since the 2018 World Cup. He recalled that top referees earned around 60,000 euros during the Euro 2016 tournament, which included officiating the final. "You get a bit more in the final stages and the last games," he added.

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You get a bit more in the final stages and the last games.

Comparing these figures to professional earnings in the sport, Clattenburg suggested the amounts might seem relatively low. However, he believes FIFA has set a high per-match value, leading to substantial overall earnings for those who reach the final. The 51-year-old Clattenburg, a highly recognized English referee, has officiated major finals including the 2016 Champions League final and Euro 2016 final. Post-retirement, he has become a prominent media commentator and analyst on refereeing matters.

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If you compare it to what is paid in the game, it seems quite low.