Identify and Analyze the Antecedents and Consequences of Refereeing Crisis in Professional Football

The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the antecedents and consequences of refereeing crisis in professional football. Methodologically, the present study was a sequential mixed-method (qualitative-quantitative). In the qualitative section, for in-depth interviews, a targeted sampling method was used. Data were coded based on the qualitative content analysis approach after interviewing 15 experts. In the quantitative section, 10 experts were selected based on judgmental sampling, and data were analyzed by DEMATEL technique. Findings in the qualitative section showed that the antecedents of the refereeing crisis include 48 primary concepts and 6 sub-categories (Executive Management, Training and Employment, Supports and Environmental, Technical, Psychological) and the consequences of the arbitration crisis include 38 primary concepts and 6 sub-categories (Abnormal Behaviors, Weakening of the Refereeing Profession, Attitudinal, Technical, Psychological Consequences and Economic Damages). In the quantitative part, the results showed that the components of Executive Management, Support and Training and Employment (in antecedents) and Technical Consequences and Weakening of the Refereeing Profession (in consequences) are the most important and effective components. Therefore, it is suggested that football decision making organizations, in order to prevent and combat the refereeing crisis and reduce its consequences, first put the influential factors in the center of attention and priority consideration.