Former Premier League referee Howard Webb has returned to English football to become the chief refereeing officer of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
“It’s an excellent opportunity for me, I am very proud of what has been achieved during my tenure here (PRO) and I aim to have a similar impact with the PGMOL, using the elite referee development plan as a real driving force.” Webb said.
Webb has officiated in the English topflight for a little more than a decade — refereeing in 296 Premier League games from 2003 to 2014.
He was the center referee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa where Spain beat the Netherlands to the trophy. He also refereed in the Champions League finals that same year.
Web is the current general manager of the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) in the United States and Canada but is set to resign from that position when his contract expires, to become the new PGMOL Chief in a yet to be confirmed date.
The Yorkshireman began his back career in 1989, progressing through the Northern Counties and Football League to become a Select Group referee in 2003.
In 2014 he was appointed director of referees for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation after retiring as a technical director of the PGMOL.
He will be rejoining the PGMOL for the second time in his career.