How many miles do soccer referees run?

Football (soccer) is a physically demanding sport—and not just for the players. During a match, which typically lasts 90 minutes, football referees must follow the action around the pitch, staying within 20 yards (18.3 meters) of the ball. On average, a ref will run between 6 and 8 miles (9.7 to 12.9 km), including frequent bursts of sprinting. By comparison, players average about 7 miles (11.3 km) per match. It is probably not surprising that refs undergo fairly rigorous training and must pass a fitness test in order to officiate at higher levels of the game.