The London FA has released a new YouTube documentary following a group of ten grassroots referees from across the capital who travelled to Portugal to officiate at the 2026 Iber Cup, one of the world’s largest and most recognised international youth football tournaments. London FA’s participation in the event and subsequent documentary shows how international experience, targeted mentoring and access to competitive football can help officials take the next step in their careers.
The proportion of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic referees registered with London FA has risen from 4.7% in 2022 to 8.2% in 2026, supported by ten targeted courses delivered over three seasons. However, more must be done to ensure this progress translates into greater representation throughout the refereeing pathway, particularly at higher levels of the game.
London FA is addressing the challenge, ensuring that officials from all backgrounds have the opportunity to progress into higher levels of football. As part of its work in this area, London FA aims to expand opportunities such as the Iber Cup to include more women (currently account for 10%) and people from ethnic minority backgrounds (currently account for 8%), helping to create a more inclusive pathway for the next generation of match officials.
The documentary captures the referees’ experiences in Portugal, offering an insight into the demands of officiating in an international tournament and the role that investment and support can play in helping officials fulfil their potential.
The impact of the Iber Cup initiative is already clear. Seven of the ten referees who travelled to Portugal as part of the London FA contingent were subsequently promoted, highlighting the potential of development opportunities that allow officials to test their skills in competitive environments, build confidence and gain valuable experience beyond grassroots football.
Individual success stories from the Iber Cup include Robbie Maris and Amir Badrashi, both of whom progressed along the promotion pathway following the experience. Amir was also named London FA Match Official of the Year 2026, underlining the impact that providing referees with the right opportunities and support can have on their development.
Deryll David, Referee Development Manager at London FA, said: “We’re seeing more referees coming into the game than ever before. Our focus now is making sure they have the opportunities, support and experience they need to progress. The Iber Cup has shown just how valuable these experiences can be.
“We also know that opportunity needs to be accessible to everyone. We want to see more women and ethnically diverse community members represented throughout the refereeing pathway, and that means actively creating opportunities for them to develop, gain experience and take the next step. Our ambition is to build a pathway where talented referees, regardless of their background, can see a future for themselves in the game.
“By investing in initiatives like the Iber Cup and providing targeted mentoring, we can help more officials reach their potential and strengthen representation at the higher levels of football. We hope this documentary demonstrates the difference these opportunities can make.”
The organisation is keen to build on the success of the Iber Cup initiative by investing in more international developmental experiences; targeted mentoring and opportunities that ensure talented referees from underrepresented backgrounds can access the same routes to progression.
The new documentary is available to watch on YouTube and highlights the importance of creating clear, accessible pathways for aspiring referees. As the London FA looks to the future, its ambition is to ensure that more women and people from diverse backgrounds can thrive in football officiating with the support to progress as far as they wish.
