WSL sets 2029 target for full-time referees after funding boost

Published: 2026-10-08

Women’s Super League clubs have approved increased funding for match officials, but full-time referees are not expected in the English women’s top flight until the 2029-30 campaign.

The three-year plan, agreed at a WSL Football board meeting after discussions involving the league, the Football Association and Pro Ref, will fund improvements to officials’ education, performance analysis and physical preparation. Many referees working in the WSL currently hold other full-time or part-time jobs.

WSL and WSL 2 clubs, which are the main shareholders of WSL Football, were told of the timeline at an all-club meeting. The initial response was mixed: some clubs had hoped full-time officials could be introduced sooner, while others welcomed the investment in training and standards.

“It’s about time” there was a specific timeframe, one senior WSL club executive told the Guardian, while also expressing disappointment that the change was three seasons away.

The league has previously stated its intention to move to full-time officials, but the 2029-30 target is understood to be the first specific timetable agreed. A faster transition has not been ruled out.

The plan comes as the women’s top tier continues to seek parity with the professional status of its players, who have competed in a full-time league since 2018-19. The men’s Premier League and EFL referees became full-time professionals in 2001.

Pro Ref, formerly known as PGMOL, launched this summer. A WSL representative has a seat on its board for the first time this season, alongside representatives from the Premier League and EFL.