Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Ph.D. student in sport management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Sport Management, Ahvaz, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Sport Management, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
The decline in the number of football referees in many countries in recent years has emerged as a significant challenge in the governance of football, highlighting the critical need for the development and advancement of refereeing. This study aimed to identify and analyze the factors influencing the advancement of football refereeing in Iran. Employing an exploratory mixed-methods approach, the research was conducted in two phases: qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative phase, eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with refereeing experts until theoretical saturation was reached. Based on the findings of this phase, a researcher-made questionnaire was developed, and its face and content validity were confirmed. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy was 0.866, indicating the suitability of the sample for factor analysis. In the quantitative phase, the questionnaire was distributed among all active referees and assistant referees participating in the Premier League, Asian competitions, and the World Cup (n = 110). The results revealed twelve principal factors significantly affecting the advancement of football refereeing in Iran: physical fitness, knowledge and awareness, the structure of the federation and provincial football associations, personality traits, perceptual–motor characteristics, family, occupation and profession, clubs and fan associations, media, anthropometric indicators and physical health, psychological skills, and the disciplinary system. The findings suggest that the systematic development of these factors can facilitate the improvement of Iranian referees’ performance at both national and international levels. Accordingly, it is recommended that football federation officials, refereeing committees, and provincial organizations incorporate these indicators into their policy-making and training programs.
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