In soccer, players and referees often find themselves on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. Players chase goals, glory, and trophies. Referees chase fairness, discipline, and order.
The tension between the two roles is ever-present. But what happens when a player decides to cross the line, not in protest or frustration, but to switch sides entirely?
It’s rare, but it happens.
While most referees climb the ranks through officiating academies and never step onto the pitch as professionals, a small group of former players chose the path less traveled.
They hung up their boots and picked up the whistle. And in doing so, they brought a unique perspective to the role, the perspective of someone who has played the game under pressure, under the lights, and under the watchful eye of referees just like the ones they would become.
Let’s look at the stories of seven soccer players who did exactly that.
1. Bob Matthewson
Bob Matthewson’s playing career was brief and largely unremarkable. After turning out for the Byker Youth Club, he was signed by Bolton Wanderers, where he made just six appearances over six seasons. A subsequent move to Lincoln City yielded zero first-team games.
But his refereeing career was a completely different story.
Matthewson began officiating in 1958 and quickly gained a reputation for fairness and authority. One of the most iconic moments in his refereeing career came during the 1974 FA Charity Shield at Wembley, when he sent off Kevin Keegan and Billy Bremner for fighting, a first for a major British club match at Wembley.
In 1975, he officiated a UEFA Cup semi-final between Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach. He also made a move to the United States in 1977 to officiate in the North American Soccer League, bringing his experience overseas.
Though he had few memories as a player, Matthewson’s name lives on as one of England’s most respected referees.
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2. Steve Baines
Born in 1954, he had a solid career as a professional footballer in England. A defender with grit and presence, Baines played between 1972 and 1987 for clubs including Nottingham Forest, Chesterfield, Huddersfield Town, and Bradford City.
While not a headline-maker, Baines was respected in the lower tiers of English football for his reliability and toughness. When his playing days ended, instead of heading into coaching like many of his peers, he took a different path—refereeing.
In 1994, he became a Football League assistant referee, working his way into the officiating scene. What made his story unique was that he ended up refereeing games involving the very teams he used to play for. That transition takes more than just knowledge of the rules, it takes grace, discipline, and a thick skin.
Baines remains the only player to have played over 300 league games and then become a Football League referee, a solid proof of his rare blend of experience on both sides of the whistle.
3. Sam Alisson
Sam Allison represents a modern example of this rare transition, and a historic one at that.
Allison played as a midfielder for several lower-league English clubs, including Swindon Town, Bristol City, Bournemouth, Exeter City, Clevedon Town, Bath City, Salisbury City, Chippenham Town, and Frome Town.
He also represented England and Great Britain Schoolboys, showcasing his potential at a young age.
Alongside his soccer career, he worked as a firefighter, a profession that speaks volumes about his character, discipline, and sense of duty.
After years of officiating in the English Football League, Allison made history on 26 December 2023 when he became the first Black referee in the Premier League in 15 years, following in the footsteps of Uriah Rennie.
His journey is one of resilience and representation, breaking barriers in a domain that has long lacked diversity.
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4. Dick Jol
Jol is one of the few men to have made a name for himself both as a player and a referee at the highest levels.
Jol began his playing career with NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands before moving on to Belgium, where he played for Berchem Sport, Menen, and KV Kortrijk.
While his playing days didn’t propel him into superstardom, it was during his second act, as a referee, that Jol found international recognition.
The pinnacle of his refereeing career came in 2001, when he officiated the UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Valencia, a match known for its drama and tension.
Jol made headlines by awarding three penalties during the game, two to Valencia and one to Bayern, all within 90 minutes.
Not many former players get to say they were in charge of a Champions League final, but Dick Jol does—and with that, he carved a rare path few have ever walked.
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5. Herbert Dale
Another name tied to Newton Heath, Herbert Dale, played for the club between 1886 and 1891, long before it rebranded to Manchester United. A sturdy defender, Dale was part of football’s Victorian era, a time when the sport was still shaking off its amateur roots.
After his career on the pitch ended, Dale transitioned into refereeing, taking charge of Football League matches throughout the 1890s. His knowledge of the game, combined with firsthand playing experience, gave him a natural authority on the pitch.
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Dale’s life in football didn’t end when he stepped off the field—it just evolved. He remains one of the early examples of footballers giving back to the game by enforcing the rules they once played by.
6. Ben Haverkort
Haverkort is another Dutchman who played professionally before becoming a highly regarded referee. Born in 1960, he spent his early playing days in the Ajax Amsterdam youth setup, though he never broke into their first team.
Instead, he found his niche in the Eerste Divisie, where he played for Telstar, SC Cambuur, and Emmen.
In 1995, after retiring as a player, Haverkort began his refereeing journey. By 1999, he was officiating in the Dutch national league, and by 2002, he had earned a place on the FIFA referee list.
Haverkort officiated UEFA Euro 2004 qualifiers and 2006 World Cup qualifiers, often serving as a fourth official on major international nights. He retired in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and poise.
His rise from a modest playing career to the international refereeing stage is a reminder that while not every player becomes a household name, their journey can still take them far.
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7. John Lloyd
Born in Wales, John Lloyd had a brief stint as a professional footballer. He played only two matches as an outside-right for Wrexham between 1965 and 1967. After such a short-lived playing career, many would have expected him to step away from the game altogether.
But Lloyd saw another opportunity.
He became a Football League referee in 1985, working his way up through the ranks to officiate both domestic and international matches. His understanding of the game, bolstered by even a small taste of professional playing, gave him a perspective that few referees have.
While not as high-profile as some on this list, Lloyd’s career is a reminder that even the briefest of playing stints can plant the seed for a long soccer career.
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Why Don’t More Players Become Referees?
It’s a question that lingers. If players understand the game better than anyone, why don’t more of them become referees?
The reality is that refereeing is a different game. It requires not just physical fitness, but deep rule knowledge, consistent judgment under pressure, and an ability to remain neutral—qualities that not every former player has or wants to develop.
It’s a tough, often thankless job that requires resilience and a passion for the integrity of the sport.
But the players on this list prove it can be done. They show that the transition from athlete to arbiter, though uncommon, is not impossible. It may just be one of the most noble ways to give back to the game they once played.
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