Top Premier League referees are the highest-paid officials in Europe’s big five leagues, according to newly-released data.
The Athletic were able to get their own well-remunerated mitts on pay details for officials in England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and North America’s Major League Soccer.
The numbers reveal that the Premier League's highest-ranking referees are paid up to £147,258 per annum, plus over a thousand pounds a pop in match fees and yet more in performance-related bonuses.
Top Premier League referees earn highest wages in Europe
With the likes of Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver overseeing up to 30 games per season in the competition, their overall pay would come in at around £180,000 per year before bonuses, European competition and international duty.
Some less-experienced Premier League officials might expect to earn less than half that, however, with £73,191 the lowest annual salary the Athletic were able to report. That is apparently in line with the officials who usually take charge in the Championship.
That means that although the creme de la creme of English referees are the top earners in the five leagues surveyed, some are earning less than officials in Spain’s La Liga, who all earn a flat rate of £124,256 per year regardless of seniority.
Officials in EFL Leagues One and Two generally officiate part-time on top of a regular Joe job and get paid a flat fee per game plus travel expenses.
How much referees are paid, by league
- Premier League: £73,191-£147,258 per annum, plus £1,116 match fees and performance bonus
- La Liga: £124,256 per annum, plus £4,205 match fees
- MLS: £98,822-£130-442 per annum
- Serie A: £76,954-£77,345 per annum
- Ligue 1: £66,716-£67,058 per annum
- Bundesliga: £52,977-£70,067 per annum
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