Mike Riley retires as head ref

So Mike Riley is retiring from PGMOL – Professional Game Match Officials Ltd.

Anyone know why referees are employed by a Limited Company and not the Football Association?

Colin,

I think it's been this way since they became professional, years ago now.

Howard Webb will be taking Riley's place – but not until December. Actually, I see he will have a new title: Chief Refereeing Officer.

[Riley was the Managing Director of PGMOL – out with the old and in with the new. I can see this upsetting a lot of (older) people...]

Hasn't fatty Jon Moss already been given a sinecure at PGMOL following his triumphant exclusion of Huddersfield from the EPL?

At least it won't be Crappenburg who has just taken over refereeing in Egypt with the task of eliminating corruption and improving standards. Beggars belief.

It had been rumoured some time ago that Howard Webb was being brought back to replace old mother Riley, who was being 'invited' to retire. He is the head of VAR in the MLS apparently so it made him a logical appointment as MK@ 2 states.

Anyway, refereeing standards without the three stooges surely couldn't get any worse could they?

I would stand up and cheer if Webb gets Riley's job, as is being reported in multiple media outlets. Webb may have been too arrogant for most tastes, but he knows his stuff and will not hesitate to demand the highest standards from both the pitch officials and the VAR people. And he won't suck up or play favorites.

Colin #1, it's because the FA, the Premier League and the Football League are legally separate entities who all use the referees. All three fund the PGMOL, which technically does not employ the refs -- they are self-employed.

At this year's World Cup, they are putting a chip in the ball to pinpoint the offside rule. No doubt if successful, we will have it in the Premier League the season after next.

Mike Dean, that favourite official of so many, has retired but is set to be given a new job, according to reports in The Times:

Wirral resident Dean, 54, retired from top-level refereeing at the end of the 2021-22 campaign after 22 years, making him England's longest-serving referee. But he is set to return to the Premier League next season as a dedicated video assistant referee (VAR).

He will follow in the footsteps of Lee Mason, by becoming the second dedicated VAR to be appointed by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL).

What's not to like?

Referees have a tough job and it's getting harder.

We all expected big improvement when they went full time years ago and then help from fourth officials and then VAR.

It hasn't happened and has in fact created more controversy.

For the poor referee he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. You please one team and piss off the other.

Human nature won't change and screaming at the referee from players, managers and fans won't make them better.

We just have to show more tolerance but with so many overpaid prima donnas in the game it's hard for any referee to get respect.

We all have our views on who are decent and those who are downright awful and be it Riley, Webb or Clive Thomas they all have their bad days and I wouldn't have their jobs for the abuse they get.

Riley – the chinless wonder. A terrible ref and a worse boss of them.

Riley, Ace of Shite. Won't be missed. Won't be selling many books.