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Pro Ref
Pro Ref is the new name for PGMOL, renamed for the start of the 2026/2027 season. It is the body responsible for referees in the English pyramid, from training and development through to appointing match officials for matches across the Premier League, the EFL, and all other FA competitions.
Seeing Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb on TV admitting error after the contentious winning goal in the Manchester derby was like having Déjà vu. How many times do we have statements and apologies from the referees? In this game, Enzo Fernandez was clearly offside and interfering with play for Haaland’s goal, yet VAR awarded it.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The former name of the official refereeing body in England responsible for the training, development, and match appointment management of referees and assistants for professional football matches in the English football pyramid. It was originally called the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB) and for the start of the 2026/2027 season has been renamed again to Pro Ref.
PGMOL admitted “significant human error” in October 2023 for an incident where Luis Diaz had an incorrect goal ruled out for offside for Liverpool away at Spurs, leading to the famous “Check complete” audio from the VAR gaining notoriety.
The ref. The man in black. The whistle. The man or woman in the middle. The referee is in charge of each football match, they blow the whistle to start and end the game, award fouls, and have a yellow card and red card ready to give to players committing fouls. They are basically the police on the pitch, sent by Pro Ref (previously PGMOL). They work each match alongside a team of assistant referees (previously called linesmen) and a 4th official on the side of the pitch looking after substitutions and taking verbal abuse from managers and coaches. Who would be a referee? They receive plenty of angry insults from the stands, players, and the touchline.
Maybe the most famous referee of all was Pierluigi Collina, known for his stern yet fair refereeing style and intense eyes. The Italian ref was a standout, had great authority and was respected by pretty much everyone from players and coaches to fans and commentators, a rare feat. He refereed a World Cup final, Champions League final, UEFA Cup final and Men’s Olympic Football final.