FA Cup final assistant referee Dan Robathan says spinal tumours ended his career

Premier League and Fifa assistant referee Dan Robathan has revealed that spinal tumours ended his officiating career, months after he ran the line at the 2025 FA Cup final. In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, the 38-year-old described continuing difficulties with walking and the psychological impact of losing the role that had shaped much of his life.

Robathan officiated at the final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in May 2025, a highlight of a career that began when he first took up a flag at the age of 10. He went on to work at more than 200 Premier League matches as well as World Cup qualifiers, progressing from grassroots football to the international game.

He initially believed his symptoms were sciatic nerve pain and the effects of physical wear. By September 2025, however, he felt something was seriously wrong after experiencing bladder problems and sexual dysfunction. Robathan told Newsbeat that a neurosurgeon identified two benign tumours in his spine. He said he was warned that pressure on a motor nerve could affect the function of his leg.

Robathan said he was instructed to lie down and remain still, which he did for 15 days. Surgeons subsequently removed one tumour, while leaving the other in place because it was considered safe. His recovery has not restored the physical capabilities required for his former work: he told the BBC that he still has days when walking is difficult and his back is intensely painful.

The change has also left him confronting the loss of an identity built around refereeing over 28 years. Robathan is working with a psychologist as he considers what to do next. Although he has options that could keep him in football, he said he was unsure whether remaining involved in a sport he can no longer officiate would be right for his mental health.

For now, Robathan wants to prioritise his son, fiancée and stepchildren. He also hopes to advocate for men’s mental health and encourage men to speak about health problems. He has not settled on a new role, telling Newsbeat that any return to football would depend on rediscovering the motivation to become involved.