Webb calls time on refereeing career

adamhigginsuk
Aug 6, 2014
4 min read

Calling time: The vastly experienced Webb has decided to hang up his boots after a distinguished refereeing career at the top of the profession (Picture from the PremierLeague.com)

HOWARD Webb has brought an end to his refereeing career spanning 25 years to become the PGMOL's technical director.

In the role, Webb will be responsible for overseeing the technical direction and standards which govern match officials as part of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.

The 43-year-old from Rotherham, who took up the whistle in 1989, progressed through the Northern Counties and Football League to become a Premier League referee in 2003.

He has since handled over 500 domestic games, the Champions League and World Cup finals and every major final in English football.

"I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career after a wonderfully rewarding 25 years on the pitch," Webb said in a statement.

"I have spent over a decade with the best seat in the house for Barclays Premier League matches, been lucky enough to be involved in nine UEFA and FIFA tournaments, and taken charge of the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup finals.

"Refereeing has given me so much and it's important that match officials who have had the rewards remain in the game to pass on their knowledge.

"I also have much more to learn about the business of refereeing and the best place for me to do that is with PGMOL. It's an incredibly positive working environment and we all have a common goal of improving refereeing."

Webb completed the prestigious domestic set early in his career, overseeing the Community Shield in 2005, the League Cup final in 2007 and the FA Cup final in 2009.

The career of the former South Yorkshire police sergeant peaked in 2010 when he became the first ever referee to take charge of the Champions League and World Cup finals in the same year.

Although Inter Milan's 2-0 win over Bayern Munich passed without incident, the global spectacle at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg was anything but as Webb brandished 14 yellow cards and a red to Dutch defender Johnny Heitanga in their 1-0 defeat by Spain.

He also admitted afterwards he should have sent off Holland midfielder Nigel de Jong for a chest-high challenge on Spain's Xabi Alonso.

Webb was made an MBE in 2011 for services to football and was selected to officiate at Euro 2012 - where he oversaw three games including a quarter final - after taking charge of the Championship play-off final between Blackpool and West Ham.

Webb, whose father Bill was a referee for 35 years, was on the Fifa list of officials for nine years and went to six major international tournaments - two World Cups, two European Championships and two Confederations Cups.

He was the English representative in Brazil 2014, taking charge of Colombia's group stage win over Ivory Coast before what proved to be his final swansong - the first round of 16 match as the hosts edged past Chile on penalties.

In 2013/14 - his final campaign - he handed out 135 yellow cards and four red cards in 43 games in all competitions.

Webb was regarded as England's leading official and was hugely respected across Europe, where he regularly officiated high-profile Champions League games, and the globe.

"Howard has been the foremost referee of his generation and an inspiration for match officials in this country and around the world," said PGMOL general manager Mike Riley.

"We are very excited that Howard's knowledge and skills are being retained and shared for them and the rest of PGMOL's officials.

"Last season we trebled the funding for referee coaching and training and we will continue to invest in match officials from the Premier League down to the contributory leagues.

"We want to accelerate the development of referees from the semi-professional game so that we have an even stronger talent pool to pick from at select group level. There is no one better to lead on that than Howard Webb."

From the 17 remaining Select Group officials, it is widely expected that Mark Clattenburg, Michael Oliver and Andre Marriner will assume responsibility for some of the so-called big games which Webb has often been considered first-choice for.

Webb's new role involves informing and educating on refereeing matters by joining the PGMOL management team and working on a development programme to help Level 3 referees progress to the top.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher hailed Webb's unrivalled contribution and believes he is "as close to perfection as it could be in modern refereeing".

He told Sky Sports News: "His preparation is so meticulous and because of that you get the result on the pitch. He may feel now that he’s done everything he can in refereeing and he’s looking now to build another career."

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke also paid tribute to Webb, saying: "On behalf of The FA, I would like to pay tribute to Howard Webb for a magnificent and unrivalled refereeing career.

"Howard has taken charge of the biggest games going - not least the 2010 World Cup Final.

"It is no surprise that he was one of our most important ambassadors for The FA's 150th anniversary celebrations in 2013."

Howard Webb's games to remember - or forget

WEBB'S REFEREEING CAREER: