Alongside the fierce competition inside the ring at the IFMA European Championships 2025, a comprehensive programme of referee courses and technical workshops has been taking place throughout the week — reinforcing IFMA’s commitment to developing officials with the same dedication invested in athletes.
As part of IFMA’s regulations, all national teams are required to register one team referee for every six competing athletes. This structure ensures continuous growth in officiating capacity, increases opportunities for learning, and supports the delivery of fair, consistent competition throughout the year.
Over three days, IFMA conducted an intensive Standard IFMA Referee & Judge Course designed for new officials and those progressing through IFMA’s officiating pathway, delivered by Senior ITO Jury Member Günter Plank.
A special component of this edition took learning beyond the classroom — with sessions staged outdoors by the beach, allowing participants to learn and exchange knowledge in fresh air, sunshine, and nature. The course covered competition rules, judging criteria, ring control, decision structure, athlete protection, and code of conduct expectations for international officials.
In addition, a two-day WMC Workshop was held for both new and experienced officials, with approximately 30 participants in attendance, delivered by Senior ITO Jury Member Jens Wilke.
The workshop focused on:
• The official WMC rules and their differences compared to IFMA rules
• Aligning knowledge across officials to one unified standard
• Improving understanding of professional-rules officiating
• Expanding the pool of qualified WMC referees in Europe, especially as the continent hosts the highest volume of WMC title fights globally
The sessions aimed to strengthen the bridge between amateur and professional officiating structures, ensuring officials are prepared to support athletes across both platforms safely and confidently.
Investing in Officials = Investing in Sport
These courses reflect IFMA’s belief that the sport cannot progress on athlete talent alone — it requires knowledgeable, confident, and ethically grounded officials working side-by-side with athletes, coaches, and organisers.
By educating, accrediting, and elevating referees at events like the European Championships, IFMA continues building the foundation for fair, safe, and professionally delivered Muaythai across Europe and beyond.
