Recent developments in international football governance seem to be progressively leading toward an increasing use of technological devices for refereeing purposes. Opponents to change are often portrayed as old-fashioned and conservative. Philosophy might be of some help to overcome the dispute. In this paper, we first explore several concepts that are central to the current debate on football refereeing. Then, we determine the business of referees in relation to rules. We assess different arguments displayed regarding the role of chance and skills in competitions. Finally, we argue for the idea of referees as full players in football games.