Professional Game Match Officials Limited

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) is the body responsible for refereeing games in English professional football.

Formerly known as the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB), the PGMOL was formed when English referees became professional in 2001, to provide officials for all games played in the Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and Football Association (FA) competitions.[1] In doing so, England became the first country in the world to fully professionalise its referees.[1] The organisation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee owned and funded by the Premier League, EFL, and the FA.[2][3]

Staff
Employee Title
Howard WebbChief Refereeing Officer[4]
Danielle EveryChief Operating Officer[4]
Adam Gale-WattsTechnical Director[4]
Jon MossSelect Group 1 Director[4]
Mike JonesNational Group Director[4]
Bibiana Steinhaus-WebbWomen’s Professional Game Director[4]
Wayne AllisonCoaching Director[4]
Steve McNallyPerformance Support Director[4]
Kevin FriendSelect Group 2 Manager[4]
Phil BenthamVideo Assistant Referee Coach[5]
Martin AtkinsonSelect Group 1 Coach[6]
Alan WileyReferee Coach[7]
Mike MullarkeyHead of Assistant Referees[8]
Rebecca SmithReferee Coach[6]
Steve ChildAssistant Referee Coach[9]
Chris FoyHead of Community and Public Engagement[10]
Richard BeebyInternational Referee Development Manager[11]
Paul RussellHead of Psychology[12]
Simon BreivikHead of Fitness and Medical[13]
Lee MasonReferee Coach[14]
Andre MarrinerFootball Insights Coach[14]
Chris KiwomyaFootball Insights Coach[14]

Evaluation

The Select Group referees meet twice per month for training sessions and analysis of match videos and data.[2]

The PGMOL have their own sports scientists, sports psychologists, physiotherapists, sprint coaches, podiatrists and vision scientists which mirror football clubs to help improve referee performance.

Every Premier League match is evaluated by a former senior referee to measure the referee's technical performance, along with fellow players and managers (match delegates) who assess accuracy and consistency of their decision making and management of their game to ensure the correct result[2]

Sponsorship

The PGMOL changed its sponsorship for the 2010–11 season from Air Asia to its parent group, Tune Group.

For the 2012–13 season Expedia sponsored the officials,[15] but this agreement ended after a year.

For the start of the 2013–14 Premier League season PGMOL had no sponsor, but part way through the season EA Sports signed a long term agreement which saw their logo on the arms of all officials in the Premier League and EFL until 2019.[16] In 2022, the sponsorship was renewed until the end of the 2024-25 season.[17]

Controversies

Mark Halsey claim

In September 2016, Mark Halsey, a former member and referee, claimed that PGMOL asked him to lie in match reports. PGMOL denied the claim, and no further action was taken.[18][19]

Employment status

In 2018, HMRC challenged the employment status of PGMOL appointed referees.[20] The tax authority claimed that referees are employees, not self-employed as PGMOL claimed. The tax tribunals sided with HMRC, but the appellate court reversed, determining that their referees are self-employed.[21] The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom heard the HMRC's appeal on 26 June 2023.[22]

Apologies and acknowledgements of error

Howard Webb stated that increased transparency was his goal for VAR under his tenure.[23] After he joined, PGMOL began issuing corrections and apologies more frequently. Prior to his arrival, such admission were rarer and more often delegated to independent panels.[24]

Date Favored Team Disfavored Team Nature of the Call Nature of the Mistake PGMOL Action
22 February 2020[25] Tottenham Hotspur Chelsea Red card not awarded VAR did not think the challenge was avoidable. PGMOL Head of Public Engagement Chris Foy attribute mistake to "human error by video officials"
26 February 2022[26] Manchester City Everton Penalty not awarded for handling VAR deemed insufficient evidence of contact[27] PGMOL Referees Chief Mike Riley issued an apology to Everton.
6 November 2022[28] Aston Villa Manchester United Excessive distance on free kick Head official over-measured the distance and ignored the complaints of players. PGMOL Select Group 1 Manager Jon Moss assured the center official would be spoken to.
7 January 2023[29] Liverpool Wolverhampton Wanderers Onside goal disallowed VAR did not have access to appropriate camera angles The center official allowed the coach to discuss the error before normal protocol would allow and personally apologized.
29 January 2023[30] Liverpool Brighton Hove Albion Red card not awarded VAR did not deem the yellow card a clear and obvious error PGMOL stated that the foul was worthy of a red card.
11 February 2023[31] Crystal Palace Brighton Hove Albion Offsides goal allowed VAR incorrectly placed offsides line Howard Webb issued an apology to Brighton. Referee John Brooks was removed from VAR for two games.
11 February 2023[31] Brentford Arsenal Offsides goal allowed VAR measured from wrong defender Howard Webb issued an apology to Arsenal.
8 April 2023[32] Tottenham Hotspur Brighton Hove Albion Penalty not awarded VAR did not deem the non-call a clear and obvious error Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb issued an apology to Brighton.
14 August 2023[33] Manchester United Wolverhampton Wanderers Penalty not awarded VAR did not deem the non-call a clear and obvious error Head official and both VAR officials were suspended from further matches.
30 September 2023[34] Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool Onside goal disallowed Miscommunication between VAR and on-field officials Acknowledged the "serious human error" and released the referee audio from the match as well as subsequent matches to indicate new preventative procedures.[35][36][37]
8 October 2023[37] Manchester City Arsenal Red card not awarded Error in judgment by head official Howard Webb admitted it was an error and review policies on officiating foreign games.

References
  1. Ralston, William (21 March 2023). "The impossible job: inside the world of Premier League referees". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  2. "Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) group officiate all Premier League matches", Premier League, retrieved 18 February 2022
    "Professional Game Match Officials", Premier League, 14 December 2012, archived from the original on 17 December 2012
  3. Corporate information from UK Companies House at https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04195554/filing-history
  4. "Leadership Team".
  5. "Phil Bentham".
  6. "Premier League to undergo 'radical referee shake-up' after clubs complain over declining standards".
  7. "Alan Wiley".
  8. "PGMOL".
  9. "PGMOL".
  10. "PGMOL".
  11. "We want to create a pathway for Indian referees to reach elite level".
  12. "For me well-being is like a cup".
  13. "PGMOL".
  14. "Lee Mason set for PGMOL return as referees' coach after VAR blunder last season".
  15. "Expedia Signs Up As Official Sponsor Of Professional Referees And Match Officials". Expedia. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  16. "EA SPORTS becomes long-term partner of PGMOL", Premier League, 20 January 2014, archived from the original on 15 February 2014
  17. Sonawane, Akshay (29 August 2022). "EA Sports, PGMOL sign partnership extension". SportsMint Media. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  18. Rumsby, Ben (4 September 2016). "Mark Halsey reveals incident he claims he was told to lie about by referee bosses as Gary Neville calls for investigation". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  19. "Mark Halsey: Professional Game Match Officials Limited denies former referee's lie claims". BBC Sport. 3 September 2016.
  20. Professional Game Match Officials Ltd v Revenue & Customs (PAYE and NIC) [2018] UKFTT 528 (TC), 30 August 2018, retrieved 10 October 2023
  21. Revenue and Customs v Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, [2021 STC 1956, [2021] EWCA Civ 1370, [2022] 1 All ER 971, [2021] BTC 27] (EWCA 17-Sep-23).
  22. "Commissioners for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (Respondent) v Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (Appellant)". The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  23. "Howard Webb exclusive: New PGMOL chief refereeing officer says VAR talks could be aired for better transparency". Sky Sports. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  24. "Premier League: VAR has made six incorrect interventions this season with 42 deemed correct". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  25. "VAR made wrong call on Lo Celso - Foy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  26. Magowan, Alistair (1 March 2022). "Everton receive handball apology". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  27. Johnson, Dale (1 March 2022). "Man City handball controversy: PGMOL sorry". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  28. Luckhurst, Samuel (27 December 2022). "Referee group agrees with Manchester United over wall vs Aston Villa". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  29. Madeley, Steve. "The images VAR didn't see of Wolves' disallowed winner at Liverpool - and the reasons why". The Athletic. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  30. Johnson, Dale (30 January 2023). "PGMOL: VAR red-card error over Fabinho tackle". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  31. Humayun, Ali. "Howard Webb contacts Arsenal about VAR 'error'". The Athletic. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  32. Johnson, Dale (9 April 2023). "Sources: PGMOL sorry to Brighton for VAR error". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  33. Humayun, Ali. "Man Utd-Wolves ref, VAR dropped after Onana pen error". The Athletic. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  34. "Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool: Contrasting emotions but both sides can be Premier League title contenders". BBC Sport. 30 September 2023.
  35. "VAR audio released from Liverpool's disallowed goal by Luis Diaz in defeat at Spurs". Sky Sports. 3 October 2023.
  36. "PGMOL release VAR audio from Spurs v Liverpool". Premier League. 3 October 2023.
  37. Rumsby, Ben (10 October 2023). "Michael Oliver was wrong not to show Mateo Kovacic a red card, admits referees chief Howard Webb". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
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