Referees to Declare Support Publicly

In a surprising move aimed at restoring trust among football fans, Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), has announced plans to publish a list detailing the club affiliations of Premier League referees. This decision comes in the wake of a tumultuous season marked by controversies, including Nottingham Forest's criticism of referee Stuart Attwell, a known Luton Town supporter, officiating a crucial match during the relegation battle. Webb emphasized the importance of transparency, stating that the PGMOL will disclose referees' personal connections to clubs to mitigate potential conflicts of interest. He noted that the organization reviews these affiliations before making officiating appointments, highlighting the necessity of maintaining impartiality in officiating. The list will include referees like Darren Bond, a Wigan fan, and Jarred Gillett, a Liverpool supporter, who do not officiate matches involving their respective clubs. The PGMOL has established a policy prohibiting referees and VAR officials from officiating games involving clubs they support or have personal ties to, as well as those in the same city. While the organization initially indicated that individual declarations would be made public, it later clarified that only the policy would be released, citing a miscommunication. This initiative follows Nottingham Forest's misconduct charge for questioning the integrity of officiating, underscoring the need for greater accountability and transparency in the officiating process as the new season approaches.