Referee With Us
HEAD REFEREE, MARK CLATTENBURG
From the finals of the European championships, and the Champions League - to 5 a side. Mark Clattenburg is our Head of Refereeing and one of our worldwide Ambassadors, He refereed the final at the Small sided World Cup in Lisbon (which was powered by us) and appeared again at the 2019 event in Crete and the return in 2022, when it returned after the pandemic.
Recognising our unrivalled position as the market leaders in Worldwide 5 a side football, Mark signed on as our referee’s chief in 2018.
INCREDIBLE INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
5aside.co.uk is the only small sided football league provider that operates leagues worldwide and we are able to give our referees unrivalled opportunities across the globe.
Whether it's refereeing at the Star Sixes Tournament in London, officiating in the World 5 A Side Cup in Dubai, or the European 5 a side Championships, if you are one of our Referees or Match Night Supervisors you will be offered the most incredible chances to further your career in ways that you could only dream of.
Where else would you be able to rub shoulders with genuine legends of the game? Players like Ronaldinho, Ryan Giggs, Robert Pires are 5aside ambassadors and all play in exhibition matches.
Where else in your 5 a side career would you be able to referee in front of crowds of 20,000 thrilled fans? The answer is no other company can offer you the access to the top players in the international game we can.
That is just one of the incredible benefits you could get just by being one of our officials. Just like Nathan East, from Warwickshire, with some of the greatest players to have ever played the game.
We run hundreds of leagues nationwide and are always on the lookout for Referees and Match Night Supervisors to join our ever growing team. If you are interested in either role, the chances are, wherever you live, we have a league near you.
We pay you an hourly rate dependent on a number of factors which we negotiate individually with you and also supply all equipment including; balls, bibs, cones.
Our reputation for looking after our referees is unparalleled. We believe, unlike any other organisation, that the referee must always attend a match without fear of intimidation, foul language directed at you, and in full confidence that we will support any decision you make. We know that’s important to you, and it’s vital to us.
As a new referee, you will be inducted by a member of our staff. You will then receive regular contact from a designated Area Manager for your league, who will ring each week after the league to discuss any issues or thoughts you may have.
We have a reputation for the strongest disciplinary structure of any organised football in the World.
You will be strongly urged to discipline players at every opportunity should they not obey your instructions. You are encouraged to dismiss players for offences such as swearing in your direction or consistently questioning your decisions.
Anyone that would like to apply to be a Referee/Match Night Supervisor in one of our leagues start your application today. If you want to League Manage please specify this in your application.
YOU’RE BETTER PROTECTED THAN EVER WITH US
WORLD RENOWNED INSURANCE
Your safety comes first and our insurance is the best in the industry. It is even more comprehensive than most football associations in the world. As an international organisation we have partnerships with the governing bodies of small sided football across Europe. We are the best because we treat our staff the best.
OUR REFEREE'S CHARTER
We believe in the following:
1. Any verbal abuse, including single swear words towards a referee, should result in a permanent ban for that player or team for all 5aside.co.uk competitions- forever.
2. If players are violent on the pitch then that should be dealt with by the police, not the governing body or league organiser.
3. Violence or abuse on the pitch should be treated exactly the same as if it were on the street.
4.Players and teams should not be allowed to play in a league where the referee that dealt with them initially, referees. If in doubt, the player or team simply cannot play. The referee is in charge and their views take precedent.
5. The referee should be treated with respect, as they are in rugby and hockey, and if they are not we don’t want those players in our leagues.
6. It shouldn’t be about money to keep a team in a league. If the referee doesn’t want them in the league then they shouldn’t be playing.
7. We never take the word of a player over and above the word of a referee.
8. We don’t believe in committees handing out insignificant punishments. If a player is abusive to a referee, they simply don’t play- ever.
9. If a referee recommends to us that a player or team might in the future cause a problem then we remove that player or team immediately. The referee is the sole authority on who plays or doesn’t play in the league.