Breaking the Silence: Supporting Deaf Referees in English Football

Football often calls itself “the beautiful game for all,” but inclusion must extend beyond players on the pitch, it must also embrace those who officiate the game.

Recently, FA referee Sean Noone shared a public LinkedIn post that has sparked important conversations about accessibility in refereeing. In his own words, Sean described finding it “extremely frustrating” to access support and opportunities within the FA referee system as a Deaf official.

Sean wrote that over recent seasons, a number of Deaf referees have experienced a lack of understanding and, at times, what feels like indirect discrimination from within the match officiating community. He contrasted this with the FA’s visible and commendable work to support BAME referees, noting that similar progress for Deaf and disabled referees has been harder to see.

One of the most concerning points Sean raised is that the number of active Deaf referees in England has dropped from 12 to just 3 in recent years. He believes this decline is partly due to a lack of targeted support from some Referee Development Officers and the wider FA structure.

While these are Sean’s own experiences and perspectives, they open the door to a much wider question: how can English football ensure true inclusion for match officials of all backgrounds and abilities?

Why This Matters

• Retention: Every referee lost reduces the depth and experience in the officiating pool.

• Representation: Young Deaf players and aspiring referees benefit from seeing role models succeed at all levels.

• Unique strengths: Many Deaf referees develop exceptional visual awareness and concentration - assets to the game when supported effectively.

  
  

A Constructive Way Forward

Building on Sean’s call for greater inclusion, there are steps the football community could explore:

• Creating a dedicated FA strategy for Deaf and disabled referees.

• Providing accessibility and Deaf awareness training for Referee Development Officers.

• Using visual match signals and technology to aid communication.

• Establishing an advisory group of Deaf referees to guide policy and practice.

  
  

Sean’s post isn’t an attack - it’s an invitation. It’s a chance for the FA and the refereeing community to listen, learn, and adapt so that the “beautiful game” truly is a game for all.

If football can commit to building pathways for inclusion at every level, we won’t just keep Deaf referees in the game - we’ll enrich the game itself.