who is the referee

A referee is the official in charge of enforcing the rules and keeping a sports contest fair and safe.

Who is “the referee” in general?

• In most sports, the referee is the main on‑field official who has final authority over decisions during a game.

• Their job is to apply the sport’s rulebook, manage time, handle fouls or penalties, and maintain order between the competing teams.

• Depending on the sport, the role can have different titles such as umpire, judge, or technical official, but the core idea is the same: they are the neutral decision‑maker.

What does a referee actually do?

• Enforces all rules and regulations of the game, deciding what is allowed and what counts as an infraction.

• Starts and stops play, manages the game clock, and signals when a period or match is over.

• Issues disciplinary sanctions (like yellow/red cards in football, personal fouls in basketball, or penalties in American football).

• Works with assistant officials (linesmen, judges, VAR, etc.) but keeps ultimate authority over decisions on the field.

Examples by sport

• Association football (soccer): One central referee controls the match, assisted by two assistant referees and sometimes a fourth official and VAR team.

• American football: The “referee” is the lead official of a larger crew that includes umpire, line judge, back judge, side judge, and others.

• Other sports (like basketball, hockey, combat sports) use referees with similar responsibilities: enforce rules, ensure safety, and decide outcomes of disputed actions.

If you meant “who is the referee” for a specific match, event, or sport (for example, a particular football game or UFC bout), tell me the event name and date and I can help look up that specific person.