A vast majority of the dedicated referees I had the honour (up till now to meet and even share games with) to meet are very concerned with their personal appearance, not to say that some are also almost obsessed of looking at their best when entering the field of play.

I also concur to a large extent with this idea as the referee’s appearance is generally assumed to be the first step to insuring that the referee’s decisions will be accepted. The following article was developed by also using ideas from various sources dedicated to sports and officiating in general.

Appearance is also presumed to be important in the evaluation of the referees’ competence. Additionally it is often suggested that the presentation influences also the attitudes of the respective audiences toward a game. In fact, a common saying I have encountered many times among referees at top level is, “if you approach a game like a pick-up game, it will be played like one.”

To an outsider (I can vouch for this as I encountered certain situations when I received comments both from other referees who could not understand what a certain level of refereeing means as well as from certain individuals who, especially before certain non-competitive matches, happened to be close to the referees’ dressing room), the amount of pre-game primping exercised by most referees seems sort of narcissistic and too vain, especially for an activity such as refereeing which normally entails an amount of strenuous and demanding exercise.

The following might sound strange, yet especially in the international field, I have seen certain occurrences like the use of hairsprays, after-shave lotions, underarm deodorants and even mouthwashes. The occasional extensive use of such products underscores and stresses the importance the referees attribute to imagery.

Another area of concern among referees is the indirect claim to having some athletic competence and ability.

It is believed that audiences are unenthusiastic and unwilling to grant any legitimacy to persons who appear to have little or no athletic experience. Due to this, referees are particularly sensitive to any accusations of athletic incompetence. From my experience as a referee and even from my other ‘indirect’ experience of attending other games from other popular sports, I can easily state that next to criticisms of judgment, loss of control or autonomy, lack of knowledge of the rules and even arrogance, the most frequently heard complaint is an apathetic and unathletic image.

This is especially true with regards to being overweight. The stereotype accepted by society of an overweight person is of a person who is placid, lacking in mobility and even (at times!!) intelligence. This stereotype is also accepted by most referees, maybe also because it is associated with a general lack of conditioning.

Generally it is very difficult to be accepted if you happen to be visibly overweight, even if you happen to be an excellent referee. Studies have shown that first impressions have a big influence on how one perceives another person and referees are no exception to this social rule. Along the years I have encountered certain individuals who were denied chances because they were assumed to be potential unaccepted people by the sports audiences.

There are around or were certain exceptions (one can mention my friend from Italy Tiziano Zancanella who was visibly overweight even though he had a big-boned structure. However, Zancanella, who is an excellent referee and people manager, refereed in the Sydney Olympics and was also assigned a men’s semifinal game) and usually remnants of the old-block, i.e. not referees of the new generation as the latter tend to be more athletic looking.

One of the more humorous aspects I have seen of image concern is the use of girdle-like stomach compressors to insure a slimmer appearance. I have heard certain referees (even certain top European ones!) justify its use by referring to the back-supporting qualities of this ‘middle-body’ apparatus even though generally it is assumed otherwise.

Another consequence of pre-game primping is that it facilitates an image of composure, which, to some, is very important in the ‘selling’ process during a game. It is generally understood that audiences are particularly hesitant to accept any disadvantageous decisions from officials whose composure is in doubt. In reality, it simply provides them with an easy means for discrediting unwanted rulings. In certain sports this presents something of a paradox to certain referees as it is difficult for them to present an image of composure while at the same time displaying a reddened face, shortness of breath and the possibility of disarrayed clothing and hair normally associated with the movements in a game.