Viking wins six-way auction as underbidder for William Ralston's dive into world of football refs
Viking has won a six-way auction as the underbidder for journalist William Ralston’s deep dive into the "unbelievable" world of football referees.
Editorial director Shyam Kumar acquired UK and Commonwealth Rights, excluding Canada, to The Impossible Job: The Truly Unbelievable World of Football Referees from Max Edwards at Apple Tree Literary, and will publish in hardback, e-book and audiobook on 27th August 2026 to coincide with the start of the 2026/2027 football season. WW Norton will publish the North American edition in January 2027.
The publisher described the book as "eye-opening and jaw-dropping", as Ralston interviews referees at all levels of the game – from amateur Sunday leagues to the Premier League, Champions League clashes and the final of the World Cup – to get the "full, unvarnished truth of this essential but impossible job".
The synopsis continues: "With unrivalled access to UEFA, FIFA and PGMO – the body responsible for Premier League referees – Ralston uncovers the intense selection process, the brutal physical and psychological training regimes they have to go through, and the pressures that intensify as officials rise through the game."
Ralston immersed himself in the lives of leading referees in Europe’s five major leagues – Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Premier League – on match days and at home, and trained as a referee himself to experience the pressures first hand.
He investigate the increasing influence of VAR, the escalating demands of the game, the way referees judge fouls, the art of getting a game right and the consequences of getting it wrong.
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Ralston is a freelance writer living in London. His work has appeared in the Financial Times, GQ, the Guardian, Bloomberg Businessweek, Vanity Fair and Wired, among other publications. He won the Best Sportswriting award at the 2023 British Journalism Awards.
He said: "Top football referees make hundreds of decisions under extraordinary physical and mental pressure, yet they’re almost never credited. In fact, we often think they’re failing. We demand perfection, even though it’s impossible. They experience many of the downsides of being a top footballer without the adulation, the money and the glory.
"I wanted to write The Impossible Job to understand who referees really are and what they’re really doing, and how they’re doing it. I hope people come away with a deeper appreciation of the skill, judgment and humanity involved in the job. I’m thrilled to be published by Viking, who have been incredibly supportive in bringing this story to life."
Kumar said: “With unprecedented access to some of the best referees in the world as well as those grafting at the bottom of the football pyramid, William provides readers with a window into the heart of refereeing. The Impossible Job is my favourite kind of sports narrative: informative, fun and truly original – it’s a must read for anyone who loves the sport.
"Combining narrative flair with incredibly meticulous reporting, William has produced a modern classic in sports writing and I’m hugely proud to be publishing his debut book."
