# Referee

All time

# costly

France lock fined €30k for 'cheats' outburst and criticism of Wayne Barnes

Yoann Maestri voiced his disgust with the officials after his team’s Six Nations victory against Wales.

9.2k

Mar 29th 2017, 5:46 PM

# Man in the Middle

Reilly to referee Mayo game for first time since controversial 2014 All-Ireland semi-final replay

Reilly will take charge of the match between Mayo and Donegal.

39.4k

Mar 28th 2017, 3:00 PM

# Man in black

'I sent off the player... He struck me in the aftermath'

League of Ireland official Rob Rogers chats to The42 about the highs and lows of taking charge at various tiers.

11.2k

Feb 23rd 2017, 5:58 PM

# Man in the Middle

'Donal wouldn't want us missing out' - hurling ref takes charge of game two days after brother's funeral

Alfie Devine took charge of the match between Meath and Derry.

5.3k

Feb 22nd 2017, 7:15 AM

# payday

One of the Premier League's top referees is quitting to move to Saudi Arabia

Mark Clattenburg is leaving English football.

9.7k

Feb 16th 2017, 2:01 PM

# class of 95

'They called you a lot of other things, but they didn't call you 'Sir''

Welsh referee Nigel Owens remembers his early days officiating in the amateur game.

11.0k

Feb 4th 2017, 9:30 AM

# Punishment

Under-fire referee Mike Dean demoted to the Championship

The official has endured a difficult December, following a number of controversial Premier League decisions.

11.0k

Jan 18th 2017, 8:02 AM

# Reaction

'It's the third time in a row I have won against Arsenal, and 3 times it was about the referee'

Ronald Koeman was unhappy that Arsene Wenger blamed a mistake by referee Mark Clattenburg for Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Everton.

4.5k

Dec 14th 2016, 9:36 AM

# Man in the Middle

'I'll always reflect on where we started, the highs, lows and everything in between'

The 2016 Major League Soccer decider takes place in Toronto later this evening and Cork native Alan Kelly will be at the centre of it.

22.4k

Dec 10th 2016, 8:50 PM

# two finger salute

This Irish rugby fan's cheeky selfie with referee Nigel Owens ended in a sound gesture

This fan got a two-finger salute, an excellent selfie, and a jersey out of it. Good haul.

8.6k

Dec 5th 2016, 10:07 AM

# Man in the Middle

Corkman Alan Kelly named MLS Referee of the Year for second consecutive season

Kelly was the clear winner with 63% of the vote.

4.0k

Nov 5th 2016, 4:00 PM

# put up or shut up

The black card is here to stay in Gaelic Football and why the sin bin would not work

GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail gives his views.

18.0k

Oct 13th 2016, 11:58 AM

# Analysis

Referee controversy in Dundalk-Derry and more League of Ireland talking points

Plus, water water everywhere as Wexford Youths secure historic win.

4.3k

Apr 4th 2016, 3:19 PM

# Tragedy

Player kills referee for red card in Argentina

Cesar Flores, 48, was refereeing a match between local youth teams.

47.2k

Feb 16th 2016, 9:53 PM

# Video

Referee unwittingly provides assist for Wigan goal

Sheffield United boss Nigel Adkins will not have been too happy with Andy Woolmer.

5.1k

Jan 13th 2016, 9:10 PM

# History Maker

'I don't expect red carpets rolled out for me' - the groundbreaking female GAA referee

The Cavan woman made history in last night’s Dr McKenna Cup game.

5.5k

Jan 7th 2016, 5:12 PM

# Controversy

This is the penalty Anthony Foley was furious about after Munster's defeat

Romain Poite left the Munster coach deeply annoyed.

21.9k

Dec 13th 2015, 3:02 PM

# Complaint

'The referee had a terrible night' - Bosnia coach

Björn Kuipers awarded Ireland what looked a dubious penalty in the first half.

13.1k

Nov 17th 2015, 12:21 AM

# Man in the Middle

Former League of Ireland official Alan Kelly voted MLS referee of the year

The Cork native was recognised by players, managers and the media.

4.9k

Nov 10th 2015, 12:30 AM

# Final

World Rugby appoint Nigel Owens to referee the World Cup final

Irishman John Lacey will referee Friday night’s bronze final between Argentina and South Africa.

10.5k

Oct 26th 2015, 2:34 PM

# vicious assault

Investigation after volunteer referee attacked during schoolboy soccer match

It happened towards the end of a Dublin District Schoolboy League under 15s match in Dublin on Saturday.

47.2k

Oct 26th 2015, 2:14 PM

# Controversy

Real Madrid caught up in Clasico corruption row

The complainant alleges he also received a phone call from a senior member of the referees’ committee.

6.7k

Oct 22nd 2015, 9:13 PM

# Ouch

Watch: Football referee takes one in the crown jewels

Men of Ireland – look away now.

4.2k

Oct 1st 2015, 7:10 PM

# Ref Justice

Brazilian referee takes the law into his own hands by pulling out a gun during red card dispute

That’s one way to deal with play-acting.

7.7k

Sep 29th 2015, 1:42 PM

# Man in the Middle

Who was the hardest Irishman for this ex-Premier League referee to deal with?

Former top official Howard Webb has given us a run-down on past encounters with Keanes Roy and Robbie, Martin O’Neil and Mick McCarthy.

14.1k

Sep 19th 2015, 6:00 AM

# contrast

Rugby referee Nigel Owens has some interesting thoughts on officiating in soccer

The Welshman says there is a big difference between the way players are dealt with in the two sports.

12.0k

Sep 15th 2015, 11:39 AM

# Taking Charge

Meath ref to take charge of third All-Ireland senior final for Dublin and Kerry clash

David Coldrick will be the man in the middle.

8.4k

Sep 8th 2015, 4:15 PM

# Oi ref!

Top-flight referee starts Facebook page to explain decisions

Is this the future of refereeing?

9.2k

Aug 11th 2015, 8:22 PM

# Case for defence

Top hurling referee Gavin to appeal proposed one-month ban after Offaly club game incident

Brian Gavin is set to take charge of Kilkenny against Waterford next Sunday.

9.8k

Aug 6th 2015, 11:33 AM

# Behind The Scenes

Man in the middle: a day in the life of Irish MLS referee Alan Kelly

The42.ie gets exclusive access and goes behind the scenes to see how the Irish official prepares for a high-profile MLS fixture.

25.8k

Jul 20th 2015, 7:15 AM

# Referee

'You can't say anything to that man' - Sean O'Brien on Wayne Barnes

The Tullow Tank felt Steffon Armitage’s breakdown efforts were ‘completely illegal’.

16.0k

Apr 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

# Flying the flag

Irish referee Michelle O'Neill picked for the World Cup

The Wexford official has been chosen for this summer’s finals in Canada.

6.7k

Mar 31st 2015, 9:29 PM

# Not so solid crew

Has a referee ever looked more satisfied to be sending off a player?

Sorin Stoica is VERY happy with his decision.

10.4k

Mar 30th 2015, 10:19 AM

# Punishment

Footballer jailed for punch that killed referee

A player reacted to being booked during a game in America.

11.2k

Mar 15th 2015, 10:20 PM

# OFFICIAL

Ireland have 'no gripes' with Wayne Barnes after Wales defeat

Joe Schmidt said his side have to take responsibility for ‘what happens in our ruck’.

18.2k

Mar 14th 2015, 7:23 PM

# OFFICIAL

A Frenchman has been appointed to referee Leinster's Champions Cup quarter-final

Jérôme Garcès will be in charge when Bath come to Dublin.

4.1k

Mar 6th 2015, 12:44 PM

# Anger

Iran demand life ban for referee after controversial call at Asian Cup

Delegation chief Houshang Moghaddas said they would lodge a formal complaint against Ben Williams.

7.2k

Jan 25th 2015, 1:35 PM

# History

The men's All-Ireland League will have its first-ever female referee tonight

IRFU match official Helen O’Reilly takes charge of her first Ulster Bank League clash.

4.6k

Jan 16th 2015, 3:53 PM

# play the whistle

Good news! Romain Poite won't be refereeing an Ireland game in the 6 Nations

Though we won’t have Nigel Owens either.

5.7k

Dec 9th 2014, 6:31 PM

# GAA

GAA referee tells of suicide attempt after Twitter abuse

The official suffered abuse on the social media network after a club game.

25.6k

Dec 5th 2014, 7:35 AM