Visit from FIFA referee John Brooks

Published by Uppingham School on Friday 9th of January 2026

We were delighted to welcome Premier League and FIFA referee John Brooks to Uppingham this afternoon for a talk on professional refereeing, the roles within officiating sport at a professional level, and the technology used in officiating football.

After an inspiring insight into what it is like to be a professional referee, pupils got the opportunity to experience what being a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is like for themselves, using the angles and information available to professional referees during a live game.

Thank you to John for a brilliant afternoon!