‘Women can’t referee’: exploring the experiences of female football officials within UK football culture

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore the experiences of four female football officials who officiate in men‟s and boy‟s football matches in the UK. The research presents a view of men‟s football from a position that has hitherto been overlooked in the social exploration of football culture. Drawing upon ethnographic data collected over a four-month period, the article offers an insight into some women‟s experiences of sexism and marginalization in predominantly male football contexts. Participant observations, formal semi-structured interviews and a range of informal conversations facilitated in-depth data collection. The results demonstrate a wide range of abuse at female football officials that could generally be construed as sexist. The women used various strategies to overcome the hostile attitudes that often greeted their presence on the football pitch. Moreover, they continuously negotiated their identities as females and football officials in a space where masculinity is prevalent.