In Africa, studies devoted to violence against football referees are rare. This study aims to characterize threats and aggression against referees during football matches in Congo. The qualitative study, which took place in Brazzaville from February to April 2024, included 9 referees with international or federal certification. The semi-directed interviews conducted with these referees addressed the following points: the types of threats and aggression; their causes; refereeing decisions; sources of violence; the management of said threats and aggression. The results highlighted the predominance of verbal aggression, the perpetrators were more spectators and players. Refereeing decisions directly opposed to the opinions of players/coaches/spectators were the major sources of threats and aggression. The impact of socio-cultural and political capital on these behaviors was also noted. Self-control was the main strategy for managing these distressing situations. In short, the study highlighted the complexity of the phenomenon of aggression towards referees.