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The Economic Times
The Economic Times
National

The World Cup's hidden runners: Referees keep pace with players and pressure

When a World Cup match turns on a split-second decision in the dying moments, the referee ​is expected to be in the right place at ​the right time - no small ask when battling everything from Miami humidity to Mexico City's lung-busting ​altitude.

While fans focus on players chasing goals, referees are sprinting just as hard, typically covering 12 to 13 kilometres per match according to FIFA - a distance comparable to many outfield players.

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