Tom Webb

Dr Tom Webb is Associate Professor in the Centre for Business in Society at Coventry University, UK. He is an expert in the global management, leadership, operational environment and working practices of sports officials. Dr Webb has published extensively on the subject of sports officials, including over 40 peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters. In addition, Dr Webb has published four books including Referees, Match Officials and Abuse: Research and Implications for Policy (published in 2020) and a book on the subject of elite referees in football entitled, Elite Soccer Referees: Officiating in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A (published in 2017). Tom has worked with a number of high-profile sporting organisations such as UEFA, The Premier League, Dutch FA (KNVB), French FA (FFF), RFU, MCC, LTA, RFL and World Netball. Dr Webb’s research focuses on abuse, aggression and maltreatment of sports officials, the mental health and well-being of sports officials and the governance and careers of sports officials. He is the founder of the Referee and Match Official Research Network and contributes extensively across national and international media platforms including ESPN, BBC TV, BC 5 Live, SkySports, TalkSport, ITV, the Times, the Telegraph and the Guardian.