Immigrants as refs?

[westboy]

I read somewhere that we were desperately short on referees. Could immigrants who speak English at a reasonable level could come over here, be trained up and provide a service in an area we need it instead of taking other jobs. As football is so international there are people all around the world who would love to be involved in it. Good idea? Once Sven gets off the wage bill we will have money to coach them the only problem is the langauge but still there must be enough people

[FourOneFourOne]

Problem is that when they're earning their trade they'd only be earning £40-£50 a week max on a Saturday and Sunday morning, not really enough to stop them needing another job.

Only the best would get past this level.

[boro_boy]

They will also become corrupt as if they were on a wage like that and people paid them to win a match for £10,000 then they would take the offer up. Its a definate no no for me.

[FourOneFourOne]

By the time they're in a pro league they'd be on a much better wage than that.

[Nafe]

Its not as if they can come into the country and become a referee straight away without any qualifications, like they do as painters and decorators but I see where your coming from.

I think this may take some time before we start seeing this.

[FourOneFourOne]

It's easy to become a Sunday League referee, only takes about 4 weeks.

It's more of a hobby at that stage though.

[westboy]

They will also become corrupt as if they were on a wage like that and people paid them to win a match for £10,000 then they would take the offer up. Its a definate no no for me.
To be honest refs nowadays don't earn mega-bucks, and are part-timers so it is the same problem.

[notts ref]

FIFA listed refs in the Premiership (your Poll's, Webb's, Bennett's etc) They are on a flat wage of about 30,000 a year. Then they get x amount per match. Then they get their kit, travel expenses etc.

[boro_boy]

thats a good paid job for just reffing a game.

[westboy]

If they are on that much why do they need another job or is it just so they have something to do?

[notts ref]

Some of them don't have 'other jobs'. They will either be training in the week, travelling, or being guests at seminars.

[westboy]

I read in a programme for Euro 2004 that all refs have jobs and they listed the occupation of all the ones at the tournament (presumeably the top ones).