Howard Webb is to return to the Premier League as Chief Refereeing Officer in December when he takes over from Mike Riley. Why in mid-season?
Howard had to fulfil his contract in America, where he has been in charge of referees in the MLS, and their season does not coincide with our own.
After retiring from active refereeing, Howard went to America and conducted the trials of VAR held in the North American MLS League.
There is no doubt he was successful, introducing it as it was intended. He had no offside lines drawn and I remember him talking in Canada as there are Canadian teams in the MLS, saying that if you have to look at the key video angle more than twice, it can’t be clear and obvious.
When that task was completed, it coincided with Peter Walton, another ex-Premier League referee, retiring from his position in charge of referees in the MLS. Howard was no doubt the obvious choice to take his place, which was perhaps a form of apprenticeship for the PGMO position.
The first PGMO Referees manager was replaced after tampering with the Laws of the Game. His place was taken by Keith Hackett who introduced a great number of innovations. He employed two fitness coaches, with programmes for training at home with heart monitors to prove the referees had carried out the training.
He also added a sprint coach, because referees often have to sprint from a standing position. At least equally important is having the right angle when viewing incidents.
Keith introduced PROZONE. which not only showed how much and how fast the referees ran, but it was also stopped to show their viewing angle of incidents.
All this was shown and discussed at their fortnightly meetings. He also commissioned a booklet of nutrition for referees, showing what and when to eat for maximum fitness as well as employing a sight scientist.
Much of this was swept aside when Mike Riley took over the position, and he also made the mistake of allowing his referees to ignore the monitor when VAR was introduced, for which he was rebuked by FIFA.
He also decided offside would be judged by the nearest toe which in the first year disallowed 20 goals that should have stood. It will be interesting to find Howard’s views and actions on his return.
Howard’s wife, the former leading German woman referee, Bibiana Steinhaus, will I’m sure be pleased to see him return to England, where she is in charge of women referees in the Women’s Super League. I wonder what they will talk about over supper.
By Dick Sawdon Smith
