Foto: @fotbollslasse på Instagram

Interview with football referee Tilde Larsson

Tilde is a student in northern Sweden who combines student life with being a football referee. She is young and has already refereed a lot at a high level in Sweden. Last year, she made her debut as an assistant referee in the highest league for women in Sweden, "damallsvenskan". For the year 2022, she has a clear goal - to become a referee in the men's division 3.

– Hi Tilde. Can you briefly tell us who you are?

– I'm 22 years old, turning 23 pretty soon. Grew up in Skellefteå but now lives in Luleå and moved here 3 months ago, for studies. I'm studying for a Master of Business Administration and am in my second year. In terms of football, I am an old player and have played in Division 1 and quitted playing for two years ago. I have both played and been a referee a lot at the same time. But now, since two years, I have only been refereeing.


– Do you remember when you started refereeing football?

– Yes absolutely! That was when I was 12 years old, the first course you are going with the football team. I started refereeing through it and in that football club. The same summer I also changed club, as a player, and kept in touch as a referee with both football clubs. For two years I refereed in both clubs as an local association football club referee. I remember that I refereed an incredible amount and I also clearly remember that I got a mass mailing with the whole season's matches and there you answered all the matches you could referee. There were many matches, really. Then after a couple of years I chose to go step 1 and move on to the next level.


– Do you remember any of your first senior matches, as a district referee?

– My strongest memory was from an early match that I was not really qualified for. I had refereed an local youth club match before the same day and then U19, ladies, would play a match and there was a crisis of assistant referees. I got a flag in my hand, here and there, and got an education shortly before what I was going to do. From that match, I also now have a referee colleague who is refereeing today. He was in exactly the same situation and was brand new that match. We refereed with each other just last weekend. A funny little story from one of our first matches, but where we were not really competent. I thought that match was great fun, but probably did not really know what I was doing. Afterwards, people were positive, so perhaps a contributing factor to continuing.


– What does it mean for you to be a football referee Tilde?

– A big question, because it is a lot. It is a lot of focus around the matches, both before and after. Trying to build a team, that is perhaps one of the most important things I think before the match. Then in the match, you act as a leader in the refereeing role and if you are the main referee, you are also the leader in the referee team. The leadership role is important to keep up in the team, but also during matches out there on the field. I really put a lot of time and energy into building the team spirit together with my assistants, so you know where you have each other and get to know each other quickly.


– Do you have any examples of how you build that team spirit?

– To call in good time before the match to my assistants. A pretty simple thing, but it's nice and important to get an impression of someone. Can we meet up before the match, if they have also traveled far. Can you eat together before the match? I often want to get to know the person quickly, the person behind the referee and then it is important to not only immediately start talking football and matches but you get to talk about other things.


– Do you benefit from the role as a referee in the rest of your life in any way?

– Yes. I think you benefit more from it than you think. When you travel around and meet new people, you grow as a person. You are exposed to different situations both before, during and after the match and learn to handle them, which is useful. I have previously worked at a grocery store and I used to draw the parallel that if a player is angry or upset or if a customer is upset, I thought the same thing - it's not me they are angry on as a person. You have to respect all people based on the situation you are in and above all for me in such a role at in the grocery store or as a referee. It will not always be 100% right decisions, but you learn and you grow with it.


– How can you handle such a situation then? Both at the store or as a referee.

– It is always tricky because every such situation is unique. I have tested most things, almost, trust me. And you have to try and both fail and sucess. I think the best thing is to let the other person finish talking, I think it feels respectful. Then if possible to meet the person in what they are annoyed about. We have a criterion that we refereeing by and look at, while the player is angry about something else, for example the extended arm that occurred before or after. Then I think it is important to address the problem that the person sees first, and then explain further. And at the same time do it calmly and respectfully.


– If a player talks too much then and never finish talking?

– Then you simply have to go in and cancel. There are definitely situations where you do not get anywhere. It just gets more and more. Such situations are also learned to detect and feel. When it arises, I, as a referee, go in and break it immediately. But basically, we can solve a lot with communication. We also have the cards for a reason, if you have to use them, you do it.

Foto: @fotbollslasse på Instagram


– Do you have a special referee memory that you want to share?

– Spontaneously I think when I went step 3 and had my second education oppurtunity. It was the league final in division 1 ladies and it was a good feeling around the match. I remember that match a little extra. There was quite a crowd, but above all the home team had an active home heel, who even had bengals. Then I thought "god, this is for real". It was a cool feeling. Then it was also a cool experience to referee in ladies highest league, last autumn. Where I refereed as an assistant, which was also great fun.


– What do you referee the most?

– Elitettan, next highest league for women in Sweden, is my primary division or home as a referee right now. Then there are long distances to the matches so it may not really be every round there for me, but almost. In between, I fill up by refereeing men, U19 and division 4 men. I'm about to go up in the men's third division and test it as well. That's the goal for this season, to referee division three men. Then I also fill up with assistant referee assignments in both the women's highest league and men's division two.


– You are a student at the same time as you referee and travel a lot in that role. Is it possible to combine it?

– It's going great. I understand the part that you have to have quite a lot of self-discipline and prioritize school to get things done. I think that I am quite good at it, at the same time as it is very nice and flexible because you can do things when it suits you.


– What do you dream of as a football referee then?

– The women highest league in sweden as a Referee must be a goal. But I think the long-term goal for me is that as long as I think it's fun to referee, I want to go as far as I can. There can be things in between. But I have the Damallsvenskan as a referee as a goal, beyond that I probably do not dare to dream here and now.


– There is a shortage of referees everywhere and there is more and more talk about it. What are your thoughts about it?

– I think first and foremost the local football clubs everywhere do a great job of getting children and young people to take courses to become youth and local football club referees. It is the first step towards becoming a referee. Here the clubs do a great job! As I see it, the local district clubs, the referee clubs, have a very big responsibility to catch these and at the same time make them want to move on. I can take an example. My partner started refereeing and refereed two matches, but he only did those two matches because he was terrified and thought it was to tough climate. It often depends on how the start goes and here you need help, support and so on. The districts need to start working more and support, early, and help the referees. Then I think there are many football players who can be awesome football referees. It is possible to combine! How can we work toward getting more referees? I have no answer here and now but something that we need to work on more clearly, is helping the younger referees. 


– Thanks Tilde! Good luck with the season, we will follow you.