Growing numbers in Lithuania
Just a few years ago, not only Lithuania but the whole of Europe faced a significant shortage of referees – according to UEFA calculations, about 40,000 referees were needed across the continent to meet the demands not only in professional but also in lower-level, grassroots football.
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To address this issue, UEFA launched a new campaign “Be a referee,” encouraging young people to choose a referee career and thus pursue a career in football and climb the career ladder.
This initiative was also implemented in Lithuania – the Lithuanian Football Federation and the Lithuanian Football Referees Association (LFTA) regularly held seminars for beginner referees, inviting young people to try refereeing.
“We held seminars in different Lithuanian cities, attended by the best referees in our country, who could share their experience and encourage young referees to join our ranks,” said Sergejus Slyva, president of the Lithuanian Football Referees Association (LFTA).
This led to a significant increase in the number of football referees in Lithuania – the number of licensed Lithuanian referees grew from 310 (summer 2024) to 424 (summer 2026).
For example, the number of licensed male football referees in Lithuania increased from 275 to 399 over two years, and female referees from 35 to 37.
“These numbers became a positive impulse and a sign that young referees see prospects in refereeing and are willing to try themselves in this field,” added S. Slyva.
Along with the number of referees, the level of referee training is also increasing – theoretical and practical sessions are constantly held for the country’s referees, physical standards are implemented, and continuous qualification improvement takes place.
“We pay considerable attention to Lithuanian referees and their development, so naturally, we want to gain experience from the best. Therefore, we want to provide conditions for our referees to improve their competencies and learn from top-level specialists, such as the former legendary English referee Howard Webb, who visited our country some time ago,” emphasized LFF president Edgaras Stankevičius.
In recent years, the number of matches organized in our country has also increased, requiring a larger number of licensed referees to officiate.
The number of matches organized in 2024 was 794, and last year this number rose to 936.
From children’s competitions to UEFA tournaments
The work of a referee can also be fascinating because successful performances at lower, initial levels later allow reaching the highest, elite level not only in Lithuania but also on the international stage.
First appointments may be delegated to work at children’s or youth championship matches, then the path opens to LFF I or LFF II leagues, and later to the highest football division in our country.
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“We monitor referees working at all levels, so they are evaluated annually, they can be promoted to officiate at higher leagues, and all this, in case of success, culminates in obtaining an international referee license, which allows starting in UEFA tournament matches,” explained S. Slyva.
The best Lithuanian referees then gain the opportunity to obtain an international license, which later allows working in UEFA tournament qualifiers and main stages.
This list is updated at the end of each year, and for 2026, the ranks of Lithuanian referees holding international licenses have grown by as many as nine names.
Both men and women referees acquire international categories, officiating important European Championship qualifiers or Women’s Nations League matches.
Currently, however, the Lithuanian football referees’ flag in the international arena is carried by Donatas Rumšas, who at the end of last year also received special recognition and was promoted for the first time in his career to the UEFA Elite group of referees.
Having worked at the highest level for more than a decade, the Palanga native became the first Lithuanian major football referee to receive such recognition in our country’s history. Earlier, such recognition was received by futsal referee Dominykas Norkus.
D. Rumšas and his team also made history last spring when they became the first referees to officiate a UEFA tournament quarterfinal match. But that was not the end – their good work was further recognized, and Lithuanian referees later officiated in the UEFA Europa Conference League semifinal matches, once again inscribing their names in the history of Lithuanian football referees.
Last year was no less memorable for the Lithuanian women’s refereeing sector, especially for assistant referee Irina Pozdejeva, who also received several exceptional recognitions.
First, she was invited to work at the European Women’s Football Championship held in Switzerland, and then her work was again recognized when she officiated at the U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, where she had the honor to work in the final matches.
“Perhaps more girls will read this news, watch matches, become interested in the football referee profession, and believe that it is possible to reach such a big event as the European Championship from a small Lithuanian market. I hope these efforts will bring changes,” said the referee after returning from the European Championship.
“Refereeing is not just a way to be in football – it is a path through which one can grow, improve, and reach an international level,” urged LFF president E. Stankevičius.
