The Premier League are set to launch a new development scheme to help improve the standard of refereeing in English football, The Athletic can reveal.
In a shareholders’ meeting last week, the Premier League announced the creation an ‘Elite Referee Development Plan’. The aim is to establish a new global standard in match officiating performance and development.
It is understood the Premier League hope the long-term scheme will provide an answer to some top-flight critics by increasing the standard of refereeing and help officials from under-represented backgrounds break into the game’s highest levels.
Their aims include an increased English presence at major tournaments. No English referee made it to the 2018 World Cup, the first time that happened in 80 years, as Mark Clattenburg was the nominated official and moved to Saudi Arabia.
The programme will work in a similar manner to the Premier League’s successful Elite Player Performance Plan which was introduced in 2012.
In the short-term, the Premier League want to develop its select group of referees and increase representation within the first 12 months. No black or Asian referee has officiated a Premier League match in over a decade.
In the long-term, it is hoped the plan will completely modernise the pathway for young referees. This will result in more and better elite match officials and a broad and diverse pool of referees at every level of the English game.
It is understood that Tony Scholes, who was appointed the Premier League’s new chief football officer in November 2021, to effectively replace Richard Garlick, will play a leading role in the implementation of the scheme. The scheme has been worked on alongside the Football Association, English Football League and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the organisation led by current referees’ chief Mike Riley.
A Premier League spokesperson said: “There are many ideas being looked at as part of a draft plan to develop and enhance refereeing at the elite level. The plan is a work in progress with a number of different improvement areas being explored.
“It was initially discussed with clubs last week and we will continue to work with PGMOL and the Professional Game Board before any proposals are agreed.
“Similar to EPPP, the main priority is and will always be to create more and better home grown match officials with greater support and a strong performance culture.”
(Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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