{"product_id":"the-impossible-job-the-truly-unbelievable-world-of-football-referees","title":"The Impossible Job: The Truly Unbelievable World of Football Referees - **PREORDER, SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE**","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBooed by crowds. Sworn at by players. Spat on from the stands. Threatened, accused, hated. Welcome to the world of football refereeing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe watch referees every week. But almost none of us understand what the job really demands.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this meticulously reported book, William Ralston goes deep inside football's most exposed role, speaking to officials from Sunday league pitches to World Cups to show what it takes to officiate at the highest level. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith rare access to UEFA, FIFA, and PGMO, he embeds with referees across Europe’s five major leagues – Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, and the Premier League – following them through training camps, assessment rooms, and matchdays, where a single call can define a career. He also learns to referee himself, experiencing first-hand the speed and scrutiny that come with every call. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThrough defining matches and controversial decisions, he examines the influence of VAR, how referees judge fouls, and the excruciatingly fine margins between control and chaos. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn unprecedented look inside refereeing, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Impossible Job\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e will change the way you watch football forever.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWilliam Ralston is a freelance writer living in London. His work has appeared in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eFinancial Times,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eGQ\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eGuardian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eWired\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, among other publications. He won the Best Sportswriting award at the 2023 British Journalism Awards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMessage from Stanchion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003eSigned copies are available to preorder. They will be signed at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.eventbrite.com\/\" class=\"text-link\"\u003eour event with the author on 10 September 2026\u003c\/a\u003e and sent as soon as possible after that. Signed copies can not be sent any sooner than that.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003eIf you preorder a signed copy with any other items, your order will be shipped once signed copies are available after the event. They will not be sent separately.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003eUnsigned copies will be sent as close to publication date (27 August 2026) as possible.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSeven Dials\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e24 x 16 cm\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHardback\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e416 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAugust 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e9781399631891\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"William Ralston","offers":[{"title":"Signed (sent after 10 September 2026)","offer_id":58198963192189,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Unsigned (sent around publication of 27 August 2026)","offer_id":58198963224957,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/Preorder-WilliamRalston-square.png?v=1779447692","url":"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.com\/products\/the-impossible-job-the-truly-unbelievable-world-of-football-referees","provider":"Stanchion","version":"1.0","type":"link"}