Football is currently on top among the richest sports in the world by annual revenue. It is generating billions of dollars through broadcasting rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and international competitions.
As the game continues to grow, women are also making their mark in football officiating. Female referees and assistant referees now work in several major football competitions, including leagues in Europe and international tournaments.
However, their earnings depend on their roles, experience, competition level, and the payment structure established by their football associations. Let’s take a closer look at their salaries and the officials who have helped shape the game.
Female Football Referee Salaries Across Different Leagues
Female football referees do not receive the same salary worldwide. Some officials earn a fixed annual retainer alongside match fees, while others receive payments based mainly on the matches they officiate.
Another important distinction is the role they perform. A referee who controls the match on the pitch may receive a different payment from an assistant referee who monitors offside decisions or a video assistant referee who reviews incidents.
Below is the match fees comparison for different referees in association leagues:
| #No | Leagues | Match Referees | Assistant Referees | Video Assistant Referees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LaLiga | $6,188 | $3,100 | $3,600 |
| 2 | Bundesliga | $4,450 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| 3 | Chinese Super League | $4,200 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| 4 | Serie A | $3,600 | $1,050 | $1,050 |
| 5 | Ligue 1 | $3,100 | $1,550 | $1,050 |
| 6 | UAE Pro League | $3,000 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| 7 | Premier League | $2,500 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| 8 | Major League Soccer | $1,500 | $600 | $600 |
| 9 | CAF Champions League | $1,200 | $750 | $750 |
| 10 | AFC Champions League | $800 | $650 | $650 |
| 11 | AFCON Cup | $750 | $500 | $500 |
| 12 | USL Championship | $500 | $300 | $300 |
I will now look at the top five leagues individually, including their financial strength, officiating structure, and interesting milestones involving women in football refereeing.
1. LaLiga
The Spanish football league, LaLiga, attracts a worldwide audience through clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid. The major contributors to the league’s financial strength are:
- Broadcasting agreements
- Sponsorships
- International commercial partnerships
These factors help explain why elite Spanish football can support substantial matchday officiating budgets.
One of the most interesting stories in Spanish refereeing involves Guadalupe Porras Ayuso. In August 2019, she became the first woman to serve as an assistant referee in a LaLiga match. Her appointment was a major milestone because women had historically been underrepresented in the officiating teams of Spain’s top men’s competition.
LaLiga’s international visibility also makes its officiating appointments particularly significant. Officials must make decisions under intense pressure, with millions of viewers following major matches.
For female officials, reaching this level demonstrates the professional opportunities available in elite football.
2. Bundesliga
The German Bundesliga has a strong commercial foundation, supported by large attendances, broadcasting income, sponsorships, and established clubs such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The league’s popularity and organised competition structure help sustain professional officiating operations.
Germany also has an important history of women entering high level football refereeing. Bibiana Steinhaus Webb became the first woman to referee a Bundesliga match in September 2017, when she officiated the game between Hertha BSC and Werder Bremen.
Her achievement was significant because she moved from officiating in Germany’s lower divisions to becoming a referee in its top men’s league. She had already built an extensive career in women’s football and international competitions before making that breakthrough.
Although Steinhaus retired from on field refereeing in 2020, her career remains an important example of how women can progress through the officiating system.
3. Chinese Super League
Chinese football has experienced periods of substantial investment, particularly during the expansion of the Chinese Super League in the 2010s. Several clubs attracted international players and coaches with lucrative contracts, bringing additional attention to the competition.
This investment helped raise the league’s international profile and demonstrated the financial ambitions surrounding professional football in China. However, the league’s economic circumstances have changed over time.
The Chinese Super League also operates within a different football environment from Europe’s major leagues. Its match fees and officiating arrangements reflect the competition’s own financial conditions, regulations, and appointment structures.
For female officials, the broader development of football in China is relevant because professional refereeing opportunities depend on investment in competitions, training programmes, and officiating development.
4. Serie A
Italy’s Serie A ranks fourth, with estimated match fees of $3,600 for match referees and $1,050 each for assistant referees and video assistant referees.
Italian football has a long tradition of:
- Tactical sophistication
- Defensive organisation
- Intense competition
Clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Napoli attract substantial domestic and international audiences.
The league’s financial structure supports a professional refereeing system in which match officials receive compensation according to their roles and appointments. The use of video assistant referees has also added another specialised responsibility to modern officiating.
Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi is one of the most important names in the history of women refereeing in Italian men’s football. In October 2022, she became the first woman to referee a Serie A match, taking charge of Sassuolo against Salernitana.
Her promotion followed years of experience in Italian football and represented a major step forward for women seeking opportunities in the country’s highest division. It also showed that progression into elite officiating depends on experience, performance, and professional development rather than gender alone.
5. Ligue 1
Ligue 1 is at 5, with estimated match fees of $3,100 for match referees, $1,550 for assistant referees, and $1,050 for video assistant referees.
French football benefits from established clubs, broadcasting agreements, sponsorships, and a strong player development system. Paris Saint Germain has attracted particular international attention, while clubs such as Marseille, Lyon, and Monaco also contribute to the league’s profile.
France has also produced important female refereeing milestones. Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a Ligue 1 match in April 2019, when she officiated Amiens against Strasbourg.
She later became the first woman to referee a men’s FIFA World Cup match, taking charge of Germany against Costa Rica at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That appointment was a landmark moment for football officiating worldwide.
Frappart’s career demonstrates how officials can progress from domestic competitions to the international stage. Her achievements also highlight the importance of training, experience, and consistent performance in securing major appointments.
10 Highest Paid Female Football Referees in Association Leagues in 2026
Based on the reported figures and available estimates, the following are the highest paid female football referees in Association Leagues in 2026.
| No. | Referees | Leagues | Base Salary | Match Fee | Annual Earnings | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guadalupe Porras Ayuso | LaLiga | $72k | $3.1k | $85k | Assistant Referee |
| 2 | Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi | Serie A | $52k | $1.2k | $65k | Assistant Referee |
| 3 | Maria Marotta | Serie C | $52k | $1k | $60k | Assistant Referee |
| 4 | Tori Penso | Major League Soccer | $35k | $900 | $50k | Match Referee |
| 5 | Kathryn Nesbitt | Major League Soccer | $30k | $600 | $40k | Assistant Referee |
| 6 | Brooke Mayo | Major League Soccer | $30k | $600 | $40k | Assistant Referee |
| 7 | Al Zaabi | UAE Pro League | $12k | $800 | $16k | Assistant Referee |
| 8 | Yoshimi Yamashita | AFC Champions League | $12k | $800 | $16k | Match Referee |
| 9 | Xie Lijun | Chinese Super League | $10k | $500 | $12k | Assistant Referee |
| 10 | Makoto Bozono | J1 League | $8k | $300 | $10k | Assistant Referee |
Last Take
Female football referees are increasingly visible in major competitions, and their achievements have helped open doors for future generations of officials.
From Guadalupe Porras Ayuso in Spain to Bibiana Steinhaus Webb in Germany, Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi in Italy, and Stephanie Frappart in France, these women have reached milestones that were once difficult to imagine in men’s professional football.
The estimated match fees in this comparison provide a useful look at differences between leagues and officiating roles. However, actual earnings depend on appointments, contracts, and competition rules.
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