PGMOL Chief Howard Webb says footballers cannot become VAR referees

The Professional Game Match Officials Board is the group responsible for the referees in English football. The head of the organisation, ex-referee Howard Webb, spoke to the media in England regarding a variety of topics, including VAR’s potential changes, hearing referees mid-game and ex-footballers becoming referees.

Webb, who was the referee of the 2010 World Cup final, appeared on Sky Sports’ programme, Monday Night Football, in which he talked hosts Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville through various decisions that had caused controversy throughout the season. Exclusive audio footage, normally only heard between referees and clubs in private, was played out on the show. “We’re looking to do this [release audio] as much as we possibly can,” Webb said during the broadcast.

Why can’t the referees play audio live during games?

“Tonight is obviously something new. We’re making a small step forward. Going forward into next season we will look to do more of the same.” VAR controversies have been the subject of furious debate all season, with many people now in favour of scrapping the idea altogether.

“When people can hear the audio and dialogue, they are much more prepared to accept the final decision”, said Webb as he explained the reasoning behind some of the Premier League’s more controversial decisions. “We can’t play it live, FIFA don’t allow us to play it out during the game - who knows where that might go in the future - but there is nothing to stop us showing that information later”, he added.

‘I want referees to be humanised’

The day after the broadcast, Webb appeared on UK radio station TalkSPORT, where he was interviewed by ex-Crystal Palace owner, Simon Jordan. Here, Webb was less keen on allowing referees to be interviewed after games, in the same style as players and managers. “I want [referees] to be humanised, I want them to be seen for the people that they are”, he said. “I worry about the dynamic of them being spoken to only when something has gone wrong. We’re not in the same world as coaches and players who are interviewed when they score a hat-trick. I can foresee a situation that we only get spoken to when there is a mistake.”

He was also asked by the radio hosts whether or not ex-players could become referees or VAR officials: “At the moment we are not able to go outside of the refereeing fraternity to employ VARs, FIFA don’t allow non-referees who are performing in the professional game, to be VARs. That position might change. We can use their expertise in some kind of consultancy role behind the scenes, but we can’t put them in the chair at the moment.”

Webb continued, and spoke about the meetings between clubs that happen throughout the season in which the normally exclusive audio is shared. “Every club has told me that the 50/50 decisions go against them! But that’s the world in which we work”, he commented on the response from the teams in England’s first and second division.