Where Did They Get That Ref From?

Last updated : 28 October 2010 By Covsupport News Service
Ever wondered how a referee is picked to take charge of a Coventry City match?

Well, according to Refworld, the appointment of Match Officials to games is produced using the following criteria:

  • Current form of the official
  • Position on Merit Table
  • Exposure to clubs with regard to frequency of appointment
  • Proximity to ground or City in which they were born or live
  • Any history with the clubs involved
  • Team that they support
  • International Appointments (Referee that has a UEFA game on Thursday will only be available for a Sunday or Monday game)
  • Experience

    So who appoints the referees, Assistant and Fourth Officials to our matches? It is the The Professional Game Match Officials Limited which was formed in 2001 to provide match officials for all professional football matches played in England.

The Board is made up of the chief executives of the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League with a Non Executive Chairman.

  • The General Manager - Mike Riley
  • National Group Manager - David Allison
  • FA Head of Senior Referees - Neale Barry

The trio are tasked with the responsibility of developing excellence in officiating in the English game at the Professional Level. The General Manager and his team of Managers and Coaches is responsible for the training, development and monitoring of Referees and Assistant Referees.

The General Manager also decides which referees will officiate at Premier Leagues matches while David Allison decides Football League matches and consults with the Football Association over FA Cup.

The top-flight referees are continually monitored at games and attend fortnightly meetings in which, amongst other matters, their performances, via the use of the once Ray Ranson owned ProZone, are evaluated.