Leading the way for representation and diversity in elite football refereeing

What was your background before starting the KTP?

I’ve always been passionate about football, not just as a sport, but as something that can be used as a tool for social good. I knew early on that I wanted to work in the game but my path into this KTP definitely wasn’t a straightforward one!

I studied Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick, before going on to complete a Master’s in International Sport Management at the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB). It was during my Master’s that my interests really came together. For my dissertation, I researched the underrepresentation of South Asians in match officiating and without realising it at the time, I ended up citing the work of my future KTP academic supervisor, Professor Daniel Kilvington!

Before returning to football, however, I wanted to gain experience in a completely different environment. I joined the Unlocked Graduates scheme, where I worked as a frontline prison officer whilst completing an MSc in Leadership in Custodial Environments as part of the programme. The role was challenging and the programme strongly focused on applying research to frontline practice to create more rehabilitative environments. I loved that join up of working in academia and applying it in the prison environment and this was a real attraction for taking up a KTP and combining the academic and business worlds in football.

After this, I spent three years working as Alumni Manager at Unlocked Graduates before starting my role at Pro Ref in April 2025. When I then saw Professor Kilvington advertise a KTP focused on improving representation and diversity in elite match officiating, it genuinely felt like the stars aligning. The themes I had been working on academically and professionally had come together in one role, I applied for it and have been really lucky to get this position.

What was the motivation for Pro Ref to undertake a KTP?

Increasing representation among match officials at the elite level has been a long-term focus for Pro Ref.

There has previously been relatively little academic research that centres on the lived experiences of match officials from under-represented backgrounds.

The KTP offered the opportunity to strengthen this ongoing and embedded commitment of Pro Ref, working in partnership with Leeds Beckett University which has an academic team with extensive experience of embedding EDI initiatives across a wide range of sports, created the right conditions for this KTP to come about.

Can you give an overview of the project?

The KTP is a 30 month project, and I am embedded within Pro Ref’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion function. My workplan is structured across several stages and focuses on collecting and analysing data on the lived experiences of match officials from minority backgrounds, embedding those findings into practice and supporting a welcoming environment of cultural inclusion within the organisation.

Alongside this, the project is also exploring the development of an EDI consultancy offer. The ambition is to extend the impact of this work beyond Pro Ref and into wider areas of football, other sports and potentially other sectors.

I’m supported by a strong network around the project, including my line manager at Pro Ref, four senior academics at Leeds Beckett University, as well as a Leeds Beckett KTP Supervisor and an Innovate UK KTP Supervisor.

What opportunities have you undertaken as part of the KTP?

The opportunities so far have been genuinely incredible. I’ve presented research at academic conferences in different countries, including Germany and Ireland and have had the chance to contribute to international conversations around EDI in sport, taking part in the United Against Online Abuse Spring Convening Roundtable, hosted in Paris by the FIA – Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile at their headquarters.

One particularly unique opportunity has been completing a self ethnography by undertaking the refereeing course myself, qualifying as a referee, and documenting my experiences of officiating. That process gave me a completely different perspective on the realities of the role and has strongly informed my research.

I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across the game, including Kick It Out, The FA, County FAs and even FIFA. A significant part of my role involves regularly attending CORE X camps – a programme designed to provide support and opportunities to match officials from diverse backgrounds at the semi-professional level into the professional game. I collect data from these camps and feed insight directly back to the coaching and leadership teams, helping shape how support is delivered.

I also love that the KTP encourages continuous personal development and has a ringfenced professional development budget just for you. I have been able to utilise this for various opportunities such as taking part in a Leadership Assertiveness Course with the Aspire Leadership Academy, attending the Associate for Sporting Directors Conference at Everton FC and it will allow me to go to the World Football Summit in Madrid. We also as part of the KTP get the chance to spend two weeks at Ashorne Hill in Leamington Spa where we take part in sessions with KTP Associates from all over the country working on loads of different things. You learn so much from these and you meet incredible people who become a good support network for you and also the food there is unbelievable!

What has been achieved so far?

Now 12 months into the project, the past year has been incredible with a lot of hard work. The early months were focused on really understanding Pro Ref as an organisation, that meant learning internal systems and processes, getting to grips with existing EDI policies and spending time meeting hundreds of match officials and staff across events and camps. Alongside this, I undertook extensive background research to understand the officiating landscape and the EDI work that had come before.

Since then, a number of substantive projects have taken shape. Together with Professor Daniel Kilvington, I co authored a research report on abuse directed at match officials, which we presented to the Pro Ref Leadership Team – including Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb, the referee of the 2010 World Cup Final. The findings from this work are now being explored further with stakeholders such as The FA to look at how they can be embedded more widely.
Alongside this, we are currently conducting research into:

• The experiences of match officials operating at Levels 3 and 4 of the men’s non-league game and Level 3W of the women’s game;
• The experiences of female and ethnically diverse officials at in the professional game, with a focus on how support structures can be developed and how pathways into the elite game can be strengthened for the next generation.

So, what’s next?

One of my key ambitions going forward is to support a more joined up approach to EDI in match officiating across sports. I’ve already been in conversation with organisations including England Rugby, England and Wales Cricket and the LTA, with the aim of developing an EDI Match Officiating Network where good practice, challenges and learning can be shared.

I’m also keen to continue presenting at international conferences and learning from how different football confederations approach EDI in officiating. A major next step within the KTP is working closely with the Leeds Beckett academic team to develop a commercial EDI offer that can generate income for the organisation while creating impact across different sports and sectors.

I am loving the work so far, as part of the KTP there is also the chance to undertake a fully funded PhD with Leeds Beckett post-KTP and this is an offer I am considering as there is such little research around the lived experienced of marginalised groups in match officiating this feels like such a great opportunity to make a big impact.