oversee and enforce rules in a game, sport, or competition. Their role is to:

Ensure fair play.

Make decisions on rule violations.

Keep the game or match running smoothly.

Examples in context:

In football, the referee blows the whistle for fouls.

In boxing, the referee stops the fight if a boxer is in danger$BTC

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In academic or professional settings, “referees” can also mean people who vouch for your skills or character.