International Level: Referees who are on the FIFA List of Referees. Annual nomination by The Football Association to FIFA, selected from those eligible Referees as at the date of nomination determined by FIFA.
Level 1 National List: Referees selected by The Football Association to serve on the National
List of Referees and who meet the requirements of the promotion criteria for this level. National List Referees are those Referees that are selected by the Association, eligible for appointment to games in the FA Premier League, the Football League and other matches as determined from time to time.
Selection and promotion within Level 1 will be determined as follows: Referees who satisfy the criteria established by The Association from time to time and those who have been promoted from Level 2 for outstanding ability as determined by The Association from time to time.
Level 2 Panel List: Referees selected by The Football Association to serve on the Panel List of Referees and who meet the requirements of the promotion criteria for this level. Panel List Referees are those Referees that are selected by the Association, eligible for appointment to games in the Football Conference, FA Premier League Reserve League, Football League Reserve Leagues, Central League, the Football Combination and other matches determined from time to time.
Selection and promotion within Level 2 will be determined as follows: Referees who satisfy the criteria established by The Association from time to time and those who have been promoted from Level 3 for outstanding ability as determined by The Association from time to time.
Panel Referees (Level 2) are also National List Assistant Referees who have been successfully interviewed by members of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, through their performance as a Contributory League Referee.
Level 2 officials are regularly assessed for consideration for promotion to the National List of Referees (Level 1).
Level 3 Contributory Referees: Referees, other than those on the Panel List of Referees, selected to officiate on a Contributory League and who meet the requirements of the promotion criteria for this level. Contributory Leagues - are nominated divisions, within specific Leagues as determined and considered by the Football Association, suitable for the advancement of Referees from Level 3.
Selection and promotion within Level 3 will be determined as follows: Referees who satisfy the criteria established by The Association from time to time and those who have been promoted from Level 4 for outstanding ability as determined by The Association from time to time.
Promotion to Contributory League Referee (Level 3) requires the Referee to be selected for, and be successful, at an interview. The selection for interview, by members of the Contributory League Review Board, is based on the Referee's performance as a Supply League (Level 4) Referee and his performance as a Contributory League Assistant Referee. This is where the dedication, commitment and demands, both physical and the personal time, of Level 3 officials are that much greater than what the Referee has had to endure before. The step up into Level 3 is probably the biggest step in a Referee's career. It is here that total dedication is expected, and competition for promotion places becomes very competitive. Only the very best move up into the even higher levels.
Bandings
The Football Association, at its discretion, may issue bandings for Referees and Assistant Referees. These bandings are designed to give a Match Official an indication as to their individual position on the Merit Table. Due to the large number of Officials on the Referee and Assistant Referees Lists, the bandings will be from A-E, with Band A being the highest band.
Bandings are as follows:
- Band A Top 20%
- Band B 21%-40%
- Band C 41%-60%
- Band D 61%-80%
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Band E Bottom 20%
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