Queensland's New Referee Journey
As part of Football Queensland’s 10-point Referee Plan, a new referee framework has been implemented to transform refereeing.
Designed to remove barriers this new structure is a fast, simple and flexible pathway for match officials to start at their club and when ready, progress into the FQ referee ecosystem.
How do I get started?
Referees under 18 years of age complete a 30-minute online module to get started as a Club Referee OR
complete a Junior Football Match Official Course to become an FQ Referee.
Who do I sign up with?
Referees under 18 years of age can sign up with their club OR
fast-track their journey and sign up as an FQ Referee.
Who appoints me to matches?
Referees under 18 years of age are appointed to matches by their club OR
if you become an FQ Referee, FQ will appoint you to matches.
How do I get started?
Current Club Referees and individuals just starting their referee journey, and are aged 18 and older, must complete a Junior Football Match Official course to become an FQ Referee.
Who do I sign up with?
Whether you're a current Club Referee or just starting your referee journey, if you're 18 or older you need to sign up as an FQ Referee.
Who appoints me to matches?
As an FQ Referee, Football Queensland will appoint you to matches.
fq referee pathway
The Football Queensland Referee Pathway provides match officials in Queensland with the opportunity to progress from grassroots to professional officiating.
Queensland has a long and proud history of producing some of Australia’s best referees. Members of Queensland’s football community have officiated at the top level, both domestically and internationally, including in the Isuzu Ute A-League and Liberty A-League, AFC Champions League, AFC Asian Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and FIFA World Cup.
Whether you want to referee at the local level, remain active in the game following injury or retirement, or make a career out of refereeing, Football Queensland is dedicated to making your journey as rewarding as possible.
Officiating the world game
Looking for a new challenge within football? Or just looking for a way to earn some extra cash while staying involved in football? Refereeing is a great way to stay active and involved in the world game.
Queensland has a long and proud history of producing some of Australia’s best referees. Members of Queensland’s football community have officiated at the top level, both domestically and internationally, including in the Isuzu Ute A-League and Liberty A-League, AFC Champions League, AFC Asian Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and FIFA World Cup.
Whether you want to referee at the local level, remain active in the game following injury or retirement, or make a career out of refereeing, Football Queensland is dedicated to making your journey as rewarding as possible.
Become a referee - Key Steps
What a week at our first-ever Multicultural Youth Program (MYP) School Holiday initiative! 🙌🌏
From earning their Junior Football Match Official (Level 4) referee accreditation to experiencing a high-performance training environment, participants gained valuable insights into the many pathways available within football.
The program provided young people from diverse communities with new experiences, skills and opportunities to stay connected to the game.
Congratulations to proud Queenslander Alireza Faghani who has been appointed to referee his first Hahn @australiacup Final when South Melbourne FC face Melbourne Victory FC at AAMI Park on Saturday night!
Queenslands Night of Nights ✨
A reminder of timings ahead of an amazing week ahead the evening will commence with the Gala Reception from 5:00pm, where the FQPL 2, FQPL 1 and NPL Awards will be presented, with the exception of the NPL Coach of the Year and NPL Player of the Year awards.
The official Gala Ceremony will begin at 6:30pm, celebrating excellence across Queensland football with presentations for our Community, Service to Football, Advanced Club, Referee and Futsal Awards, as well as the prestigious NPL Coach of the Year and NPL Player of the Year honours.
📅 Saturday, 10 October
📍 Brisbane City Hall
View all award nominees via the event page.
Meet the nominees for the 2026 Dieter Klose Award! 🏅
Awarded to the Community Referee of the Year, the Dieter Klose Award recognises officials whose commitment to grassroots football continues to support the growth and success of the game throughout Queensland.
Join us at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday, 10 October for the 2026 Queensland Football Gala as we celebrate this year`s nominees and reveal the recipient of the award.
Congratulations to the nominees for the 2026 Futsal Referee of the Year Award. 🌟
Through their expertise, decision-making and commitment to the indoor game, these officials continue to play a vital role in delivering quality futsal competitions across Queensland. Join us at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday, 10 October, as we reveal the winner at the 2026 Queensland Football Gala.
