At the general meeting of the clubs in the Russian Premier League, held on 6 June, discussions centered on the rising costs of refereeing for league matches and the governance of the video assistant referee system. Officials outlined a plan to increase allocation for refereeing to 937.2 million rubles over four seasons, up from 775.3 million rubles in the 2022/23 to 2025/26 period. From the upcoming season, the proposed compensation for the chief match referee would rise significantly, averaging from 100,000 rubles per game to 174,000 rubles, while the assistant chief referee would see a jump from 47,850 rubles per game to 87,000 rubles per game, according to the report released by the RPL Telegram channel.
The discussion comes amid persistent concerns about match officiating across this season. Critics have pointed to the performance of referees, with Rubin Kazan coach Leonid Slutsky repeatedly voicing dissatisfaction, including fines and conditional suspensions tied to refereeing decisions. These criticisms reflect a broader push within the league to elevate the standard and consistency of on-field officiating.
Over the course of the season, a series of inquiries led to renewed scrutiny of referees’ performance. Some officials were required to undergo polygraph testing, and a number of referees were dismissed as a result of the investigations. The league’s governance body has emphasized transparency and accountability in its refereeing corps, aiming to restore confidence among clubs and fans alike.
In related remarks, Alexander Dyukov, the former president of the Russian Football Union, indicated that the idea of inviting foreign referees to oversee high-profile matches, such as the Super Cup, should not be assumed as a given approach. This stance underscores the league’s preference for domestic refereeing oversight while continuing to explore improvements to training, assessment, and technology-assisted officiating.