Sergei Karasev, a Russian football referee, topped the season’s earnings chart with a record 3.16 million rubles. This figure marked a high-water mark among referees in Russia, signaling a standout year on the field and a strong recognition of refereeing performance across the league system.
Karasev secured the top spot largely due to his officiating in the Russian Super Cup, where his work earned him 300 thousand rubles. In second place was Pavel Kukuyan, who finished with earnings of 2.97 million rubles, underscoring a competitive season among the country’s officiating ranks.
Both officials accrued substantial income from Russian Premier League matches, with Kukuyan and Karasev earning 2.155 million rubles in total from those games. Kukuyan served as the lead referee for nine matches, while Karasev did so for eleven. In addition to the regular match duties, Kukuyan participated in five matches as a VAR referee during the latter portion of the season, and Karasev officiated as VAR in one game, reflecting the growing role of video review in officiating at the highest level.
In the spring of 2022, the sport’s governing bodies took a significant step by suspending participation of the Russian national team and all Russian clubs in competitions overseen by FIFA and UEFA. This decision also affected referees, who were not appointed to matches organized under the aegis of those organizations. The consequence was a shift in assignments and a recalibration of careers for referees who previously worked at European and international levels.
Earlier in his career, Karasev had taken on appointments for matches involving foreign teams, demonstrating a track record of experience beyond domestic competitions. The current environment has required adjustments as international bodies reassess affiliations and eligibility, while domestic leagues continue to operate and provide pathways for referees to showcase their skills within Russia and neighboring regions. The evolving landscape keeps officials focused on accuracy, consistency, and fair play, even as external affiliations change. (Source: sporting federation and league records attribution.)