Captains will be the only ones allowed to speak to the referee and discuss a decision during matches at the upcoming European Championship in a bid to facilitate clearer communication, UEFA's managing director of refereeing Roberto Rosetti said.

In a first of its kind initiative, the Bangladesh Football Federation has given recognition to Alamgir Sarkar as the best referee for the month of December, and hailed the initiative as a step towards motivating referees to do a better job.

Referees being hooked up with microphones is nothing new in other sports such as the NFL, but it is only now being tested in football, just as the sport is still getting used to Video Assistant Referees and semi-automated offside technology

Referees will explain VAR decisions to stadium crowds and television audiences in a 12-month trial starting at next month's FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, soccer's law-making body said on Wednesday.

The World Cup final ended nearly a week ago but the drama around it continued as the match referee showed a photo on his phone during a news conference to respond to claims that Lionel Messi's extra-time goal should not have stood.

Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez said Wednesday the appointment of Stephanie Frappart to referee his team's crucial clash with Germany was a major milestone in a "sexist sport".

Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, has warned of a global shortage of match officials if efforts are not made to tackle abuse and violence towards referees at the grassroots level.

Referee Mark Clattenburg is set to leave the Premier League to join the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has announced.

Controversial footballer Joey Barton is alleged to have placed over 1000 football bets over a ten-year period and has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association.

England's Football Association will study referee Craig Pawson's report before determining whether to take punitive action against Leicester City following their eventful 2-2 draw at Stoke City.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes to see video referees used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia -- if its teething problems have been fixed in time.

Manchester City and Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players during Saturday's Premier League match, the FA said on Monday.

Willem II Tilburg midfielder Anouar Kali becomes the first player in the Netherlands to get his marching orders from the 'video assistant referee' (VAR).

The Czech Football Association (FACR) on Thursday bans two referees who appeared drunk on the pitch during a top-flight game between FK Pribram and Slavia Prague the day before.