AUTHOR EVENT: William Ralston in conversation with Anthony Taylor ‘The Impossible Job: The Truly Unbelievable World of Football Referees’
House of Books & Friends is thrilled to welcome William Ralston, author of The Impossible Job: The Truly Unbelievable World of Football Referees. William will be in conversation with Anthony Taylor, a world-class retired referee. The event will take place on 15th September from 6pm – 7pm, and will include a discussion between the two, a Q&A, and a chance to get your book signed by William.
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About the book
Booed by crowds. Sworn at by players. Spat on from the stands. Threatened, accused, hated. Welcome to the world of football refereeing.
We watch referees every week. But almost none of us understand what the job really demands.
In 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.
With 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.
Through defining matches and controversial decisions, he examines the influence of VAR, how referees judge fouls, and the excruciatingly fine margins between control and chaos.
About the author
William Ralston is a writer living in London. His work has appeared in the Financial Times, GQ, the Guardian, Vanity Fair, and Wired, among other publications. He won the Best Sportswriting award at the 2023 British Journalism Awards.
About Anthony Taylor
Anthony Taylor is one of the most experienced referees in world football, having officiated at two FIFA World Cups, hundreds of Premier League matches, and some of Europe’s biggest UEFA Champions League ties. He retired in 2026 after refereeing at the FIFA World Cup.