Promotion, Progress, and the Journey Ahead – A Message to Our Match Officials

A huge congratulations to all our Level 4 referees who have earned promotion to Level 3, as well as those invited to the upcoming observation day as part of their continued development.

These achievements are not just based on what happens during the 90 minutes. They are the result of a season’s worth of dedication across multiple areas: on-field performance, monthly Laws of the Game tests, mandatory FA learning modules, club marks, fitness tests, and official match observations. It’s a demanding process—and every one of you should be proud of what you’ve achieved.

We also want to take a moment to acknowledge those who have been reclassified down a level over the past few days. It’s important to remember that progression in refereeing goes both ways—and this is part of maintaining high standards and accountability in our game.

But a setback is not the end. In fact, this year’s Emirates FA Cup Final referee is living proof—having once been reclassified down a level themselves. They used that moment not as a defeat, but as fuel to come back stronger, and now stand on the biggest domestic stage in English football.

So to those facing disappointment: keep working, keep training, and keep believing. Your journey is far from over.

As we now shift into pre-season, fitness tests begin next month and preparation is key. Whether you’re celebrating a promotion, chasing the next step, or rebuilding from a setback—this is your time to push forward.

We are proud of every single one of you. Let’s keep raising the standard.