Review of Injury Types and Region Seen in Football Referees

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, types, and injury regions of sports injuries among licensed male and female football referees working in the 8th Region of the Turkish Football Federation. Methods: This research was conducted using a cross-sectional survey model. The study group consisted of 130 volunteer football referees aged between 18 and 41 years. Data were collected through two different questionnaires administered via face-to-face interviews, and the analyses were performed using the SPSS 26.0 software. Results: According to the findings, the most common type of injury was muscle injuries. These were followed by knee and ankle sprains. It was determined that most injuries were concentrated in the lower extremities. In addition, statistically significant differences were found between refereeing experience and age, as well as injury frequency. The injury rate among male referees was higher than that among female referees, and this difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: It was concluded that most sports injuries among football referees occur due to physical strain and sudden movements during matches. Therefore, proper physical preparation and preventive exercise programs play an important role in reducing the risk of injuries.