In English football, the FA Cup final, which is the deciding match of the FA Cup competition, is considered the highest domestic honour for referees to be appointed to officiate.

These were the match officials from the three most recent finals: The 2023 final was refereed by Paul Tierney, with Neil Davies and Scott Ledger as assistant referees. Peter Bankes was fourth official and Adrian Holmes was reserve assistant referee. David Coote served as the video assistant referee (VAR), with Simon Long as his assistant. The 2024 final was refereed by Andrew Madley, with Harry Lennard and Nick Hopton as assistant referees. Simon Hooper and Tim Wood were fourth official and reserve assistant referee respectively. Michael Oliver served as the VAR, Peter Bankes as his assistant, and Stuart Burt as the support VAR. The 2025 final was refereed by Stuart Attwell, with Adam Nunn and Dan Robathan as assistant referees. Darren England and Craig Taylor were fourth official and reserve assistant referee respectively. Jarred Gillett served as the VAR, Michael Salisbury as his assistant, and Darren Cann as the support VAR.

Selection By modern tradition, individuals are appointed to referee an FA Cup Final only once, a rule that has been in practice since 1902. They may have previously appeared as an assistant referee or fourth official.

However, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the tradition was broken when Anthony Taylor became the first referee for over a century to officiate a second cup final. This was decided to allow a referee who would be officiating in a maiden final to experience the occasion as intended, with friends and family present and a stadium full of fans. In 2021, with the same crowd restrictions in place, Michael Oliver also refereed a second final.

David Elleray commented on his selection for the 1994 FA Cup final:

Referees and assistants are chosen by the Football Association for their impartiality and their assessed performance scores for previous seasons. Only one referee has ever been replaced under the impartiality rule; Mike Dean agreed to pull out following questions in the media about him being able to referee a Cup Final involving Liverpool as he is from the Wirral, a peninsula situated near the city. Alan Wiley took his place.

Officials are informed of the appointment by the FA Referees' Secretary and sworn to secrecy until a public announcement can be made, usually the following day. There then follows a period of media attention resulting in interviews and features appearing in the national press.

Traditions When the Cup Final is held at Wembley Stadium, traditions include the "Eve of the Final" rally at a central London location, where the match officials are guests of honour at a meal provided for by the Referees' Association. Many members of the Association including serving and past Cup Final referees also attend.

Speeches are made and the officials are presented with mementos of the occasion and invited to autograph their refereeing colleagues' Cup Final programmes. The referees usually sleep at White's Hotel, with FA protocol stating that they should not leave the grounds.

On the morning of the Cup Final, the officials take a pre-match walk through Hyde Park before travelling by limousine to Wembley. Once there they are obliged once more to autograph Cup Final programmes and are invited to join any VIPs in the banqueting hall.

Fees For the 2013-14 season the officials' fees for the Cup Final were: referee and assistant referees £375 each; fourth official £320 and a souvenir medal each, plus travelling expenses.

Referees 1872–1977 YearRefereeAssistant referees1872Alfred Stair187318741875Charles Alcock1876W.S. Rawson1877Sidney Havell Wright 1878Segar Bastard1879Charles Alcock1880Francis Marindin1881William Peirce Dix1882Charles Clegg1883Francis Marindin18841885188618871888188918901891Charles J. Hughes1892Charles Clegg1893Charles J. Hughes18941895John Lewis1896William Simpson1897John Lewis18981899Aaron Scragg1900Arthur Kingscott19011902Tom Kirkham1903John Adams1904A. J. Barker1905Pat Harrower1906Fred Kirkham1907Nat Whittaker1908T. P. Campbell1909Jim Mason1910John Ibbotson1911John Pearson1912J. R. Schumacher1913Arthur Adams1914Herbert Bamlett1915Harry Taylor1916–1919no finals1920Jack Howcroft 1921S. Davies1922J. W. P. Fowler1923D. H. AssonR.A. Crump W.A. Moody1924Bill RussellJ. Cahill F.C. Winton1925Noel WatsonA.H. Kingscott R.T. Bradshaw1926I. BakerW.P. (Percy) Harper S.F. (Stanley) Rous1927William Frederick BunnellM. Brewitt G.E. Watson1928T. G. BryanC.H. Ridgway J.E. Sayce1929Arnold JosephsC.E. Lines C.F. Moon1930Tom CrewW.E. Mycroft L.B. Watson1931Harry KingscottH.N. Mee W.P. (Percy) Harper1932W.P. (Percy) HarperA.J. Casely W. Walden1933Eddie WoodG.T. Gould F. Ratcliff1934Stanley RousG.W. Ward F.C. Wells1935Bert FoggL.E. Gibbs A.H. Leppard1936Harry NattrassJ.M. (Jim) Wiltshire Dr. A.W. Barton1937Reg RuddG. Dutton E.W. Vokes1938Arthur James JewellG.C. Denton F.W. Wort1939Tommy ThompsonP. Snape S.A. Donaldson1940–1945no finals1946Ernest SmithR.A. (Reg) Mortimer G.V. Searle1947Jim WiltshireH. (Harry) Pearce H. Bryan1948C. Jack BarrickR.J. (Reg) Leafe W. (Bill) Ling1949Reg MortimerR.L. Aldridge V. Rae1950Harry PearceE.S. Vickery F.W. Chadwick1951Bill LingC. Fletcher R.J. Burgess1952Arthur EllisW.H. Evans A.W. Smith1953Sandy GriffithsRev. S.V. Davis G.F.J. Sawyer1954Arthur LutyP.F. Power F.S. Fiander1955Reg LeafeH.J. Husband R.L. Boscombe1956Alf BondN.C. Taylor K.E. Laflin1957Frank CoultasKen Aston B. Hills1958Jack SherlockEric Jennings S.A. Hibbs1959Jack CloughMajor C.H. Dennis George Readle1960Kevin HowleyR.H. Windle F. Reid1961Jack KellyHarry New W.J. Downey1962Jim FinneyR. Tinkler C.A. Brownlow1963Ken AstonW.G. Handley C.H. Pegg1964Arthur HollandS.B. Stoakes F.J. Bricknell1965Bill ClementsNorman Burtenshaw A.H. Goodfellow1966Jack TaylorW. Morris E.D. Wallace1967Ken DagnallV. James K.A. Gale1968Leo CallaghanB.J. Homewood W.B. Johnson1969George McCabeKen Burns F.C. Lane1970Eric JenningsBob Matthewson J.H.V. Jackson1971Norman BurtenshawGordon Kew J. Bell1972David H. SmithJohn Hunting C.H. Bond1973Ken BurnsA.E. Morrissey M.J. Bayston

reserve linesman: T.G. Bune1974Gordon KewH. Davey D.L. Stantion

reserve linesman: R. Driver1975Pat PartridgeRon Challis G.W. Holt

reserve linesman: C. Mallett1976Clive ThomasAlf Grey B. Marchant

reserve linesman: A. Appleby1977Bob MatthewsonClive White R. Rodell

reserve linesman: C.J. Riley

1978–2009: Fourth official era YearReferee Assistant referees Fourth officialRef(s)1978Derek NippardJ. BentJ. LydonW. Cleere1979Ron ChallisKeith HackettH. DempseyW. Harvey1980George CourtneyAlan RobinsonJ. BylesJ. Cunningham1981Keith HackettA. JonesD. HutchinsonJ. Penrose1982Clive WhiteA. HamilT. MitchellR. Guy1983Alf GreyColin DowneyJohn PardoeJohn Connock1984John HuntingA. SaundersN. ButlerV. Wood1985Peter WillisTerry HolbrookD. KeenJ. Harris1986Alan RobinsonRobbie HartAllan GunnC. Topliss1987Neil MidgleyR. NixonJ. HodsonD. James1988Brian HillMike PierceG. TysonDavid Redshaw1989Joe WorrallMike PeckArthur SmithJeff Winter1990Allan GunnL. WatsonC. ReeveRoger Milford1991Roger MilfordP. BrennanP. NewtonKeren Barratt1992Philip DonRob HarrisJohn HilditchKelvin Morton1993Keren BarrattRoy PearsonBrian WiggintonRoger Dilkes1994David EllerayPaul RejerGraham BarberGerald Ashby1995Gerald AshbyMark WarrenSteve BennettSteve Lodge1996Dermot GallagherAnthony BatesPeter WaltonPaul Durkin1997Steve LodgeDavid CrickDavid HorlickPeter Jones1998Paul DurkinBill JordanPhil JoslinGraham Barber1999Peter JonesDavid BabskiPhilip SharpMike Riley2000Graham PollDarren DrysdaleGraeme AtkinsAlan Wiley2001Steve DunnMike TingeyKevin PikeSteve Bennett2002Mike RileyGlenn TurnerRalph BoneMark Halsey2003Graham BarberNigel MillerKeith StroudMike Dean2004Jeff WinterRoger EastAntony GreenMatt Messias2005Rob StylesJim DevinePaul CanadineNeale BarryFA Cup Final 2005, report: TheFA.com website.2006Alan WileyOriginal referee Wirral-based referee Mike Dean was removed from the final after Liverpool made it through to the final. He was replaced by Premier League Select Group Referee, Alan Wiley.Ceri RichardsOriginal assistant referee Peter Kirkup woke up with a stye in his eye on the morning of the match, which affected his vision. He was replaced by Premier League Select Group Assistant Ref, Ceri Richards.Darren CannPhil Dowd"FA replace Cup final referee from the Wirral": Telegraph.co.uk website.2007Steve BennettPeter KirkupDave BryanHoward Webb2008Mike DeanMartin YerbyTrevor MasseyChris Foy2009Howard WebbDave RichardsonMike MullarkeyMartin Atkinson

2010–2017: Fourth official and reserve assistant referee era YearReferee Assistant referees Fourth official/Reserve assistant refereeRef(s)2010Chris FoyJohn FlynnShaun Procter-GreenAndre MarrinerStuart Burt2011Martin AtkinsonAdam WattsSimon BeckLee ProbertJake Collin2012Phil DowdStuart BurtAndrew GarrattMike JonesSimon Long2013Andre MarrinerStephen ChildSimon LongAnthony TaylorGary Beswick2014Lee ProbertJake CollinMick McDonoughKevin FriendSimon Bennett2015Jonathan MossDarren EnglandSimon BennettCraig PawsonHarry Lennard 2016Mark ClattenburgJohn BrooksAndrew HallidayNeil SwarbrickMichael Salisbury2017Anthony TaylorGary BeswickMarc PerryBobby MadleyAdam Nunn

2018–present: VAR and AVAR era YearRefereeAssistant refereesFourth official/Reserve assistant refereeVAR/AVARRef(s)2018Michael OliverIan HussinLee BettsLee MasonConstantine HatzidakisNeil SwarbrickMick McDonough2019Kevin FriendConstantine HatzidakisMatthew WilkesGraham ScottEdward SmartAndre MarrinerHarry Lennard 2020Anthony TaylorGary BeswickAdam NunnChris KavanaghLee BettsStuart AttwellStephen Child 2021Michael OliverStuart BurtSimon BennettStuart AttwellDan CookChris KavanaghSian Massey-Ellis 2022Craig PawsonDan CookEdward SmartDavid CooteDan RobathanPaul TierneySimon Bennett 2023Paul TierneyNeil DaviesScott LedgerPeter BankesAdrian HolmesDavid CooteSimon Long 2024Andrew MadleyHarry LennardNick HoptonSimon HooperTim WoodMichael OliverPeter BankesStuart Burt 2025Stuart AttwellAdam NunnDan RobathanDarren EnglandCraig TaylorJarred GillettMichael SalisburyDarren Cann 2026Darren EnglandTim WoodAkil HowsonSam BarrottSteven MeredithPeter BankesNick Hopton

Refereeing multiple finals RefereeNumber of finalsYearsFrancis Marindin91880, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890Alfred Stair31872, 1873, 1874Charles J. Hughes31891, 1893, 1894John Lewis31895, 1897, 1898Charles Alcock21875, 1879Charles Clegg21882, 1892Arthur Kingscott21900, 1901Anthony Taylor22017, 2020Michael Oliver22018, 2021

References