A new era for English refereeing
Professional Game Match Officials, the body that has overseen English football’s top‑flight referees since 2001, is undergoing a major transformation. From the start of the 2026‑27 season it will operate under the new name Professional Game Referees, or Pro Ref.
The rebrand is accompanied by a structural overhaul that merges the former Select Group 1 and Select Group 2 into a single Professional Referee Group. This change is intended to create a clearer pathway for elite officials while allowing the Premier League, English Football League, the Football Association and the Women’s Super League to share the cost of a three‑year funding package.
The financial boost, sourced from the Premier League, EFL, FA and WSL, will be directed toward development programmes such as CORE X, which seeks to support officials from historically under‑represented communities, and the Player to Match Official scheme that will fund ten former professionals to train as referees.
Howard Webb, who continues as chief refereeing officer for Pro Ref, says the modernised organisation will improve pathways for talented officials and help the FA’s grassroots ambitions. Webb, who returned from a stint with Major League Soccer’s Professional Referee Organization, introduced the Elite Referee Development Plan to fast‑track the best young officials. Recent promotions, including Thomas Kirk and Farai Hallam to Premier League duties, illustrate the new competitive environment.
The initiative also includes a Player to Match Official programme that will see ten ex‑players embark on referee training, and a broader effort to increase diversity among the officiating ranks. The changes follow extensive stakeholder consultation, including input from the Football Supporters’ Association, and are backed by a fully funded three‑year plan.