Vladislav Radimov Opposes Women Referees at 2026 World Cup
June 26, 2026 · Global
Vladislav Radimov argued that only men should officiate at the World Cup, citing the limited availability of suitable male referees.
Former Zenit and Russian national team midfielder, Vladislav Radimov, opposed the involvement of female referees in the 2026 World Cup. In an interview broadcast on Thursday, June 18, Radimov commented on the appointment of a female referee, Tori Penso, who officiated the group A match between South Africa and the Czech Republic which ended in a 1-1 draw.
"I believe that in the men's World Cup, only men should be referees. Not because I'm anti-women, but because for many decent male referees, this is the pinnacle of their career. And they don't get the chance, because the number of referees is limited. Not because Penso referees are bad!" Radimov said in a broadcast on "Match TV".
At the 2026 World Cup, there will be a total of 170 referees on duty, including 52 main referees, 88 assistants and 30 video referees.