PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS LEVEL AMONG FOOTBALL REFEREES IN LIGHT OF MASSES ABSENCE DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This study aimed to determine the level of psychological stress among football referees in light of the holding of matches without the masses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study recruited 300 approved referees in the official Jordan professional football league. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) was used for the study. The sample members included 138 (46%) court referees, and 162 (54%) line referees. On average, there was psychological stress among football referees masses absent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Court referees reported that a high level of psychological stress among court referees was higher (15.36) than the line referees (14.62). Referees experienced modest degrees of psychological stress as a consequence of COVID-19's mandatory absence from stadiums. Because the fifa has training programs, and several very experienced referees who help referees with less experience, these officials are better able to deal with difficult situations.