Topics: Referee, Lawyer, Football, Two Careers, Balance, Career Tips, Swiss Football Association, Protekta.
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Good morning Mr. Dudic. You are a football referee for both the  Swiss Football Association  and FIFA, and you officiated the Swiss Cup Final in 2024. Less known is that you also work successfully as a lawyer at  Protekta Legal Insurance. Could you give us an overview of your career and explain how you ended up in both careers as a referee and a lawyer?

Football has been an important part of my life since I was 5 years old. I started playing football early and was always on the pitch. My father, who is also a referee, encouraged me to take the football referee course when I was 16 so that I could earn my first pocket money. At 16, I took the course and that’s how I got into refereeing.

After high school, it was clear to me that I wanted to study. The only question was what to study. In the end, I chose law over economics and later obtained my law degree and attorney's license.

This allowed me to build both careers well. During my studies, it was especially helpful that I could work as a referee on the side.

What fascinates you about refereeing, and how do you manage to find balance between your two careers as a referee and a lawyer?

What fascinates me about refereeing is that for 90 minutes, you have to manage 22 different personalities. You need to be able to run the game, bring calm, and make quick decisions. Additionally, you have to be physically and mentally at a high level. This challenge is what fascinates me about this varied job.

I find the balance between refereeing and working as a lawyer in my free time. It’s important to me that I have enough time to unwind, whether that’s spending time with family, friends, going out for a nice meal, or traveling when I have time. Of course, good organization is also necessary to balance both professions.

The interactions with football players, coaches, and club officials are actually quite similar to those with clients. In both areas, it is important to find the personal connection. - Alessandro Dudic

What experiences and skills from your career as a referee have proven useful in your legal career? And vice versa, is there something from your legal career that has helped you as a referee?

The most important experiences I bring from refereeing into my legal career involve dealing with people. The interactions with football players, coaches, and club officials are actually quite similar to those with clients. In both areas, it is important to find the personal connection – it’s about human interactions everywhere. It’s helpful when you can recognize and read these cues. I see this as a central point that I can take from refereeing.

Additionally, there are certain moments when you have to make a decision and be decisive. This skill can be brought from refereeing and is definitely useful in the legal career.

On the other hand, I can bring quite a bit from my legal career into refereeing. In my opinion, both fields require a structured approach and clear processes. As a referee, you need structured procedures just like in law – whether it’s showing cards, giving warnings, or managing free kicks.

The clear structure in approach and working meticulously are essential points that I bring from my legal career into refereeing.

You know both the world of football and the legal profession. What can lawyers learn from football players?

I would say that lawyers could learn from football players to be a bit more straightforward in certain situations and sometimes adopt a "let it be" attitude.

Was there a particular game or moment in your career as a referee that has had a significant impact on you?

A special moment for me is always the first match in a new league – whether it’s the first match in the Challenge League or the first match in the Super League.

The absolute highlight, however, was certainly the Cup Final this year. It was a big deal, the whole atmosphere was extraordinary, and you could feel the pressure. It was a huge highlight and a real privilege to be able to officiate that match.

As a referee, the VAR supports you in difficult decisions. Do you sometimes wish for a VAR in your everyday life as a lawyer, to record and document all the details?

A VAR for lawyers seems pretty unimaginable. Fortunately, however, there are colleagues and superiors who can keep an eye on your work. In that sense, you might have a certain kind of VAR after all.

Overall, refereeing and legal practice are, in my opinion, two quite distinct fields of activity.

How do you see your professional future? Do you plan to continue combining both careers, or is there a direction you’d like to move towards more strongly?

At the moment, my professional future looks like I want to continue combining both careers. Later, it will show whether I’ll still work in a law firm or pursue a different legal path.

It’s not worth trying to do 100 things at once – less is more, but with greater commitment. - Alessandro Dudic

What advice would you give to young lawyers who want to succeed in multiple fields at the same time?

I would advise young lawyers who want to succeed in multiple fields to follow their passion. If you have multiple passions, it's important to stick with them. However, it’s not worth trying to do 100 things at once – less is more, but with greater commitment. Once you’ve decided on a path, you really need to go full speed ahead.

Thank you for the fascinating insights into your career and refereeing. We wish you continued success.

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