Kota Watanabe (referee)

Kota Watanabe is a Japanese international association football referee and a VAR official.

Biography

Watanabe started playing football at his local club in Takatsuki, Osaka, when he was in the 4th grade of elementary school. After attending Yanagawa Junior High School in Takatsuki, he began pursuing his referee certification while attending Takatsuki Kita High School. Watanabe obtained his Level 1 referee certification in 2014 after graduating from Ryosai Medical and Sports College. In 2016, Watanabe received the Outstanding Referee Award for his performance at the 2016 Japan Football League.
In 2021, at the age of 30, Watanabe was bestowed with the international FIFA badge. In February 2023, he signed a professional referee contract with the Osaka Prefecture Football Association.
In 2019, Watanabe officiated in his first J1 match between Shonan Bellmare and Kawasaki Frontale. He finally reached, in 2024, the milestone of officiating in 100 matches as an assistant referee in the J1 League during the match between Gamba Osaka and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, becoming the 73rd Japanese referee to get to the level.