• The second edition of the FIFAe Referee Certification Programme to take place on 25 March, 16:00 CET

• Available for participants nominated by FIFA member associations.

• The programme is to take place online, to ensure global access.

In a commitment to establish a unified standard for esports refereeing across all FIFAe-sanctioned titles, FIFAe is launching the second edition of the FIFAe Referee Certification Programme. Following its success in 2025, this global initiative is meant to ensure referee development and professionalization and, ultimately, the integrity of esports competitions world-wide.

Similarly to last year, this year the programme is open to enthusiasts nominated by FIFA Member Associations to take part in the programme. Likewise, the session will be held online to guarantee participants are able to access from anywhere in the world.

Programme dates

• Registration start: 25 February

• Registration end: 18 March, 23:59 CET

• Session: 25 March, 16:00 CET Online

How to participate?

You can register via this link from 25 February. Please note that referees nominated by FIFA Member Associations will have priority.

Limited to 20 participants.

Curriculum

The FIFAe Referee Certification Programme focuses on the practical role of a FIFAe referee and offers hands-on experience on:

• Tournament formats

• Competition platforms and tools.

• Consistent decision-making through the strict application of tournament rules.

• Navigating conflict resolution.

• Deep understanding of integrity standards and fair play principles

In this edition, the programme places a stronger emphasis on hands-on experience and analysis, to prepare participants for the high-pressure environments of esports competitions at every stage.

Impact of the FIFAe Referee Certification Programme

Participants from the inaugural edition in 2025 highlighted how the curriculum translates global integrity standards into practical, domestic success:

Stewart Mmari, Assistant Internal Auditor and Compliance in the Tanzania Football Federation stated, “The Referee Programme was a valuable experience from an MA perspective, and the focus on integrity was my biggest takeaway” and that learnings on “how to stay impartial, communicate clearly, and handle situations transparently has already strengthened how we [the TFF] operate”.

Referee at the FIFAe Finals 2024 & FIFAe Finals 2025 Caio Bittencourt de Freitas reflects about his experience through the Referee Certification Programme, highlighting that “applying these learnings during the FIFAe Finals proved that this certification is very important for anyone operating at the highest level of esports.”

Philip Appelmann, former Head Referee for the FIFAe Finals in 2022, 2023 and 2025, now FIFAe Competition Manager, states that “the Referee Certification Programme consolidates years of experience and learning into a structured certification pathway” Moreover, he highlights that this programme, set to establish the operational standard across the entire ecosystem “directly translated into the strongest operational referee performance at a FIFAe event to date”, acknowledging that “Member Associations can apply these protocols and decision-making principles creating consistency from grassroots tournaments all the way to the global stage.”

For more information about the FIFAe Referee Certification Programme, go here