The Impossible Job

Name: The Impossible Job
Price: 49.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9780241726716

The Truly Unbelievable World of Football Referees

William Ralston

$49.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

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English

Viking
27 September 2026

Prose: non-fiction; Sporting events, tours & organisations; Football (Soccer, Association football)

Based on unprecedented access, the harsh and hilarious life of a football referee - from Sunday leagues to the World Cup

Booed by crowds, sworn at by players, spat on from the stands, threatened, accused, hated-welcome to football refereeing. We see referees every week, yet few understand what they endure on and off the pitch. In this revealing book, journalist William Ralston interviews officials from grassroots leagues to the Premier League, Champions League and World Cups, uncovering the truth of this impossible job. With access to UEFA, FIFA and PGMOL, he explores selection, training and rising pressures. He also immersed himself with referees across Europe's top five leagues-Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Premier League-examining VAR, key decisions and costly mistakes. The Impossible Job offers a powerful new perspective that will change how you watch football.

By: William Ralston
Imprint: Viking
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 240mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 40mm
Weight: 750g
ISBN: 9780241726716
ISBN 10: 0241726719
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 27 September 2026
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

William Ralston is a freelance writer living in London. His work has appeared in the Financial Times, GQ, the Guardian, Vanity Fair, and Wired, among other publications. He won the Best Sportswriting award at the 2023 British Journalism Awards.

Reviews for The Impossible Job: The Truly Unbelievable World of Football Referees

Refereeing is not about being liked, but about being trusted and trust is hard to earn, easy to lose. This book understands that. -- Slavko Vincic * 2024 Champions League final referee * Loving football from the perspective of someone who enforces the rules gives you a different way of seeing the game. This book captures the complexity of an often criticised role and the emotional weight referees carry. It shows the human being behind the referee – their emotions, his fears, and joys. * Champions League and Serie A referee *