How are sambo bouts refereed?
A · Advanced · Penalties and officials · 2 of 2Each bout has an arbiter on the mat and two side referees, from three different countries, who score independently and decide by majority. A Deputy Chief Referee at a monitor oversees each mat, can stop a bout for video review and rules on fourth warnings and withdrawals. Protests follow the procedure in the rules.
How it works
- Arbiter: on the mat.
- Side referees: two.
- Countries: three different.
- Decisions: majority.
- Deputy Chief Referee: video monitor.
- Video review: may stop the bout.
- Table side referee: oversees the table.
- Protests: set procedure.
The glossary has the arbiter, the side referee, the referee trio, the Deputy Chief Referee, the warning and the red and blue.
Tricky cases
Can two referees overrule the arbiter?
Yes. Decisions are by majority.
Who raises the winner's hand?
The arbiter.
Can a decision wait for video?
Yes, the Deputy Chief Referee can delay it.
Who runs the scoreboard?
The table side referee oversees it.
Why the rule exists
Referees from three countries guard against national bias.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trio | Majority | L SS 10.4 |
| Countries | Three | L SS 10.3 |
| Video | Deputy Chief | L SS 12 |
From the rule book
FIAS, International SAMBO Rules: Sport SAMBO, articles 10 to 15 and 36. Checked 15 October 2026. Official documents: FIAS International SAMBO Rules (Sport and Combat).