Introduction: First division (D1) referees in Burkina Faso suffer emotional violence when refereeing
football matches.
Objective: The aim was to analyse the emotions felt by these referees during D1 national championship
matches.
Method: The survey was conducted by interviewing 30 first division football referees. The content
analysis method was used to analyse the data.
Results: Insults, threats and physical assaults are situations of violence experienced by D1 referees in
Burkina Faso. Fear, anger and sadness were the negative emotions most frequently experienced.
Discussion: This study made it possible to describe situations of violence and to identify the negative
emotions felt by these D1 referees.
Conclusion: As a determinant of sporting performance, it seems imperative to include emotion
management in referee training in Burkina Faso

football, referees, violence, emotions