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La Liga referees earn highest salaries in Europe—here’s what they make

5. February 2025
Mateu Lahoz (foto: Getty Images)
La Liga referees are the best-paid officials in European football, earning salaries comparable to some players in smaller Spanish clubs.

The discussion around refereeing in Spain has intensified following controversial decisions in Real Madrid’s recent match against Espanyol, where an uncalled foul on Kylian Mbappé sparked outrage. The head referee failed to use VAR, leading to significant backlash.

As a result, the president of the referees’ committee called an emergency meeting, and reports from AS suggest that up to ten referees have been suspended for errors—including the main referee of the Real Madrid vs. Espanyol match, Muniz Ruiz, and the VAR official, Iglesias Villanueva.

How much do La Liga referees earn?

According to Marca, top-flight referees in Spain receive the highest salaries in Europe. Their earnings break down as follows:

  • Base monthly salary: €12,500
  • Match fee: €4,830 per game
  • Annual sponsorship earnings: €25,000 (referees have a main sponsor whose logo appears on their jerseys)

A referee officiating 20 La Liga matches per season can earn a total of €265,000 per year. This figure does not include additional income from international matches. For instance, former referee Mateu Lahoz once earned as much as €335,000 in a single year.

How much do assistant referees and VAR officials earn?

  • Assistant referees: €5,500 per month + €1,800 per match
  • Main VAR referee: €2,100 per match
  • Assistant VAR referee: €900 per match

How La Liga referees compare to other leagues

Compared to La Liga’s top referees, match officials in other major European leagues earn significantly less:

  • Bundesliga (Germany): up to €194,000 per year
  • Serie A (Italy) & Premier League (England): around €160,000 per year
  • Ligue 1 (France): approximately €145,000 per year

With such high salaries, suspensions or removal from the La Liga refereeing list can be a serious financial blow, making every decision on the pitch even more scrutinized.

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