The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word REFEREES
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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More clues leading to the result REFEREES
Buddy explains!
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does REFEREES mean?
REFEREES noun- An umpire or judge; an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game.
- A person who settles a dispute.
- A person who writes a letter of reference or provides a reference by phone call for someone.
- An expert who judges the manuscript of an article or book to decide if it should be published.