Absolute power? Elements of the sociology of football referees in France

This article is devoted to soccer referees in France who regulate more than 600,000 sporting events each year. The aim here is to identify the main dimensions of a complex activity, to characterize the heterogeneity of the group and to question the mode of government to which it contributes. The sociological elements proposed come from a literature review, a survey of 5,000 French referees, and about twenty-nine interviews covering almost all levels of refereeing. The article shows the existence of various profiles of referees and the unequal distribution and consistency of powers that result from them. Thus, the use of power and its discretionary dimension depend on the position held by the referees in the hierarchy and in their careers.