In brief
The PGMOL, which regulates refereeing in Premier League, EFL, and FA games, includes Premier League officials.
Every referee that the Premier League uses is covered in detail in this page.
Sam Barott, who previously officiated 15 Premier League games, is the only referee to be promoted to Select Group 1 this season.
Refereeing football in the present day is difficult because social media puts more emphasis on every play. Premier League officials are regarded as the best in the nation, and many must rise through the ranks from non-league to reach the top. Once judged suitable for the level, a referee will be placed in the so-called ‘Select Group 1’.
This season, Sam Barrott is the sole referee to be promoted to Select Group 1. In a match between Sheffield United and Fulham last season, he made his Premier League debut. He officiated 15 Premier League games last season and will now serve as a fulltime referee.
The referee
Premier League debut
Attwell, Stuart
August 23, 2008
Taylor, Anthony
February 3, 2010
Michael Oliver
August 21, 2010
Pawson Craig
March 2, 2013
Madley, Bobby
April 27, 2013
Tierney, Paul
August 30, 2014
Scott Graham
November 29, 2014
Hooper, Simon
August 8, 2015
Kavanagh, Chris
April 8, 2017
Madley, Andrew
March 31, 2018
Coote, David
April 28, 2018
Bankes, Peter
August 31, 2019
Tim Robinson
December 14, 2019
Jones, Robert
December 21, 2019
Darren England
January 18, 2020
Gillett, Jarred
September 25, 2021
Salisbury, Michael
November 27, 2021
Harrington, Tony
December 15, 2021
Bramall, Thomas
August 30, 2022
Darren Bond
January 3, 2023
Smith, Josh
May 20, 2023
Barrott, Samuel
October 7, 2023
Allison, Sam
December 26, 2023
Welch, Rebecca
April 5, 2021
PGMOL Explained
All Premier League, English Football League (EFL), and Football Association (FA) games are officiated by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, or PGMOL. It is funded by all three of the previously listed organisations. Along with a group of managers and coaches, Managing Director Mike Riley is in charge of the PGMOL, which educates 177 referees and 117 assistant referees.
Since he frequently discusses the different refereeing calls from the weekend on Sky Sports’ Mic’d Up program with former football player Michael Owen, PGMOL chief Howard Webb is arguably the most known face of the organisation. Since its debut, the segment has received a lot of media attention, with fans captivated by the call-making procedure and the exchange of information between VAR and the on-field referee.
Sam Allison
Before spending the majority of his career playing semi-professionally at Chippenham Town, Sam Allison began his career as a player for Swindon’s School of Excellence. In order to prolong his involvement in the game, he transitioned into refereeing. In addition to his efforts on the pitch, he was employed by the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, where he eventually rose to the position of station manager. The 42-year-old worked at the pinnacle of English football in December 2023, officiating his first Premier League match on Boxing Day between Sheffield United and Luton Town, following 12 years of officiating across leagues. Allison was only the second black referee in the history of the Premier League and the first in 15 years.
In 2023, Allison stated on the EFL website, “I don’t hide that I want to reach the top.” In addition to serving as a referee, I want to represent Black men in football and serve as an example for my community.
Profile of Sam Allison
Born
October 1, 1980
Place of birth
England’s Chippenham
Premier League debut
December 26, 2023
Rebecca Welch
Although Rebecca Welch had played football since she was a little child, she didn’t begin officiating until she was 27 years old. She also worked for the NHS. Speaking to the Independent, she stated, “I played football and never even considered refereeing until one of my really good friends, who is a referee, refereed us.” “I told her how to do her job the entire game! “If you think it’s that easy, give it a go,” was her reply. That’s how it happened, and now I’m here ten years later.
Four years after starting a full-time job in 2019, Welch was chosen to officiate the Fulham vs. Burnley game on December 23, 2023, making her the first female Premier League referee. After overseeing the proceedings of Harrogate Town’s match against Port Vale in April 2021, the 40-year-old already held the distinction of becoming the first female referee of an EFL match.
Profile of Rebecca Welch
Born
December 1, 1983
Place of birth
England’s Washington
Premier League debut
April 5, 2021
Bobby Madley
Bobby Madley began his career playing for the academies of Leeds United and Barnsley, but he soon lost interest in the sport and decided to retire at the age of sixteen due to a recurrent injury. Before moving on to the professional game in 2010 to oversee EFL matches, Madley started off as a referee in the Wakefield and District League in 2001. He made his Premier League debut in 2013 by presiding over the match between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion. A few years later, he led Morecambe to victory over Newport County in the 2021 League Two play-off final. The 38-year-old is the younger brother of another Premier League official, Andy Madley.
Profile of Bobby Madley
Born
October 6, 1985
Place of birth
England’s Wakefield
Premier League debut
April 27, 2013
Tony Harrington
Tony Harrington was a PE teacher before he became a full-time referee. However, at the age of 14, he began officiating for Teesside Junior Football Alliance after completing a refereeing course at school as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award. The referee, who was born in Cleveland, began his career as an EFL assistant before taking over National League games. After being added to the EFL Referees List in 2012–13, Harrington rose to the top of the English hierarchy in 2021, officiating a Premier League match between Brighton and Wolves. He is Tommy McGuigan’s grandson, the legendary Hartlepool player.
Profile of Tony Harrington
Born
Not sure
Place of birth
England’s Cleveland
Premier League debut
December 15, 2021
Darren Bond
Having officiated 217 games in the second division over his career, Darren Bond has established himself as a Championship veteran. He started officiating in the Wigan Youth League at the age of 15. After a year as a Premier League assistant, Bond made his first appearance as a referee in the top level in January 2023, officiating Leicester City’s 1-0 home loss to Fulham. The Lancashire-born official mostly served as a fourth official, though he did make a few appearances as a referee in the top level during the 23–24 season.
Profile of Darren Bond
Born
1978
Place of birth
England’s Lancashire
Premier League debut
January 3, 2023
Darren England
It’s interesting to note that Darren England worked with England defender John Stones and Manchester City after beginning his coaching career at Barnsley. He started officiating in the EFL in 2015 and moved on to the Championship a few years later, where he oversaw QPR’s 2-1 triumph against Cardiff City. PGMOL gave the Doncaster native his first Premier League appearance during the 2019–20 season as England’s reputation increased, and he has since taken charge of 47 top-flight games. The fact that England was selected as a referee for the 2022 FIFA List of International Match Officials shows how highly regarded he is both on and off the continent.
Profile of Darren England
Born
December 23, 1985
Place of birth
England’s Doncaster
Premier League debut
January 18, 2020
Graham Scott
Graham Scott played goalkeeping for non-league team Abingdon Town when he was younger, but at the age of 27, he was forced to retire from competitive football due to a chronic back issue. In 1997, Scott decided to become a referee, although he had no specific plans to become an exceptional official. But when he began to hear good things from the players, the referee, who was born in Oxfordshire, began to take his job more seriously.
“When I first started out, I just expected to referee youth and boys league matches,” Scott stated in 2015. “I decided to give men’s football a go when it was suggested to me. The Coleshill captain approached me in the pub after my first game and enquired about my match history. “I would never have known, I gave you ten out of ten,” he remarked, expressing amazement. I immediately felt much more confident after that. I have never allowed myself to think about anything but the next level; I have always simply looked one step ahead of where I was.
Profile of Graham Scott
Born
October 10, 1968
Place of birth
England’s Oxfordshire
Premier League debut
November 29, 2014
Josh Smith
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who had officiated rugby league and football, Josh Smith began his officiating career in the Peterborough and District Junior Alliance League in 2006 at the age of 14. Before choosing to become a central figure and work as a referee in the National League and eventually the EFL, Smith spent three years on the EFL Assistant Referee list. The young referee has made three appearances during the 2023–2024 Premier League season. He made his Premier League debut in May 2023, officiating a 2-2 draw between Londoners Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Profile of Josh Smith
Born
Not sure
Place of birth
England’s Peterborough
Premier League debut
May 20, 2023
Thomas Bramall
After three years of recuperating from a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury, Thomas Bramall, a former PE teacher in Rotherham, made his top-flight debut at the age of thirty-two. Thomas Frank, the manager of Brentford, gave the Sheffield native high marks in October 2022 for choosing not to give Bournemouth a penalty even though he was advised to watch from the sidelines. The head coach of the Bees remarked, “He is a young referee — I don’t know how many games he’s refereed in the Premier League.” “He showed character and a calm head in a very stressful moment.” Bramall has served as an official in Japan’s top division twice and their cup competition once.
Profile of Thomas Bramall
Born
1990
Place of birth
England’s Sheffield
Premier League debut
August 30, 2022
David Coote
At the age of sixteen, David Coote started off as a referee and progressed through the levels before landing a position as an assistant referee in the EFL. The Nottinghamshire-born official was added to the Football League’s list of referees in 2010, and four years later, he officiated a League One play-off final between Rotherham United and Leyton Orient at Wembley. A few years later, he managed the League Cup final against Manchester United and Newcastle United in February 2023, which further demonstrated his stellar reputation among PGMOL executives. This was his second trip to Wembley. Coote will soon have made 100 appearances in the Premier League.
Profile of David Coote
Born
July 11, 1982
Place of birth
England’s Nottinghamshire
Premier League debut
April 28, 2018
Samuel Barrott
After suffering a chronic injury at the age of 15, Samuel Barrott transitioned from playing for Halifax Town’s minor levels to officiating. Refereeing in the EFL since 2020, the West Riding official made his Premier League debut in October 2023, officiating the match between Sheffield United and Fulham. Surprisingly, Barrott was younger than the captains of the Blades and Fulham, Chris Basham and Tim Ream, respectively. After officiating 15 games in the previous Premier League season, the young referee was promoted to Select Group 1 prior to the 2024–2025 season.
Profile of Samuel Barrott
Born
Not sure
Place of birth
Not sure
Premier League debut
October 7, 2023
Michael Salisbury
In order to emulate his father, Graham, who officiated 588 Football League games, Michael Salisbury quit his job as a physical education teacher. In 2021, he was promoted to the Premier League after making an immediate impression in the lower tiers. “I was hopeful rather than expecting to get the phone call, but it was great to hear those words when the call came at lunchtime,” Salisbury told the Lancashire Post. I’m just happy to have the chance, even though it will be difficult to understand VAR. Dad was really proud of me, especially since he started me on my journey so many years ago.
After family friend Neil Swarbrick, the former teacher made his debut later that year in November, becoming just the second referee from Preston to officiate in the top division. Salisbury has established himself as a Premier League official after two years.
Profile of Michael Salisbury
Born
1985
Place of birth
England’s Preston
Premier League debut
November 27, 2021
Jarred Gillett
When Australian referee Jarred Gillett took over the proceedings between Watford and Newcastle United at Vicarage Road in September 2021, he became the first foreign official to conduct a Premier League game. Gillett had previously worked in Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, and India. The 37-year-old went viral on YouTube in 2019 after Fox Sports Australia shared a footage of him getting mic’d up during his final A-League game. The announcer on the program gave Gillett high marks for his performance and said he will eventually become a Premier League referee.
The profile of Jarred Gillett
Born
November 1, 1986
Birthplace
Australia
Premier League debut
September 25, 2021
Chris Kavanagh
Chris Kavanagh became a National League referee in 2012 after beginning his career as a referee in 1998 at the age of 13. Five years later, the bright young referee made his Premier League debut officiating Southampton’s 1-0 victory at the Hawthorns. Kavanagh, who was born in Manchester, further demonstrated his quick ascent to the top level in 2019 when he was appointed to FIFA’s list of international referees. The 2021 Championship play-off final between Brentford and Swansea was arguably the most well-known match of his career. The former won that afternoon and was promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their existence.
Profile of Chris Kavanagh
Born
September 4, 1985
Place of birth
England’s Manchester
Premier League debut
April 8, 2017
Craig Pawson
Craig Pawson’s profile
Born
March 2, 1979
Place of birth
England’s Sheffield
Premier League debut
March 2, 2013
Stuart Attwell
In August 2008, Stuart Attwell, a graduate of Staffordshire University, officiated Blackburn Rovers’ 1-1 home draw against Hull City at the age of 25, making him the youngest referee in Premier League history. His father claims that Attwell’s long-time dream of becoming a referee drove his quick ascent to the top, as he progressed from local games to non-league and, in 2007, to the Football League. PGMOL leaders consider the Premier League regular to be a top official because he oversaw the 2022 League Cup and the 2023 Community Shield final at Wembley.
Profile of Stuart Attwell
Born
October 6, 1982
Place of birth
England’s Warwickshire
Premier League debut
August 23, 2008
Paul Tierney
As seen by the variety of well-known games in his portfolio, Paul Tierney has officiated in the top division for more than nine years and is regarded as one of the best in the nation. At Wembley’s 90,000-seat arena, the 42-year-old has won two domestic cup finals, a Championship play-off final, and a Community Shield final. Born and raised in Belfast, Tierney is thought to be a League One fan who relocated to Wigan when he was eleven years old. He has previously officiated in Europe and became the first referee to officiate 20 Premier League games in the 2022–2023 season.
Profile of Paul Tierney
Born
December 25, 1980
Place of birth
Northern Ireland’s Belfast
Premier League debut
August 30, 2014
John Brooks
After officiating a League Two match between Blackpool and Exeter City in August 2016, John Brooks has refereed slightly under 100 Championship games. In December 2021, he took charge of the Wolves vs. Burnley Premier League match for the first time, which resulted in a goalless draw. The official, who was born in Leicestershire, was appointed a FIFA referee in 2023 and has since taken charge of an international friendly, a Europa League match, and Europa Conference qualifiers in the 2023–2024 season. Remarkably, Brooks’ resume includes a May 2015 USL Championship (USA second tier) match.
Profile of John Brooks
Born
1990
Place of birth
England’s Leicestershire
Premier League debut
December 1, 2021
Tim Robinson
Prior to becoming a referee, Tim Robinson was a PE instructor. Managing the match between Burnley and Newcastle United, the West Sussex official rose through the ranks to the top of English football in December 2019. Throughout his career, Robinson has made 13 appearances in the Premier League, 10 of which occurred in the 2023–2024 campaign. He has officiated 234 games, the majority of which have been in the Championship. The 2023 League One play-off final between Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday was arguably his most well-known match. The Owls advanced to the Championship after winning 1-0 in extra time, owing to a goal from Josh Windass in stoppage time.
Profile of Tim Robinson
Born
January 1, 1984
Place of birth
England’s West Sussex
Premier League debut
December 14, 2019
Peter Bankes
At the age of 14, Peter Bankes began officiating in 1996. In 2014, he was added to the EFL’s Referee List. After officiating 138 games in the Championship, Bankes has gained some experience. In August 2019, he had his first appearance in the top flight, presiding over Leicester City’s 3-1 victory against Bournemouth at the King Power stadium. The Merseysider has since officiated 70 Premier League games and four Europa Conference League qualifying matches. Having presided over 83 games in the National League, Bankes, the chairman of the Bootle Referees’ Association, has also accumulated significant experience.
The profile of Peter Bankes
Born
1982
Place of birth
England’s Lancashire
Premier League debut
August 31, 2019
Andrew Madley
The aforementioned Bobby’s older brother, Andrew Madley, also began his playing career with Huddersfield Town’s School of Excellence. Like his brother, Madley lost interest in football and chose to enrol in Bobby’s refereeing course. “Both Bobby and I performed at a respectable level. In 2020, he told the Yorkshire Post, “I was in Huddersfield’s school of excellence, and he played at Leeds and Barnsley in their academies.”
We had just reached the point where we were both losing interest in football. At sixteen, Bobby was prepared to pack it in because of a recurrent injury. However, he called me one evening to ask if I would be interested in taking a refereeing course, and I hung up on him. After giving it some thought, I asked him what it entailed, and he told me that it only cost £15, and it was only for a few hours one night a week. I began to gather all of these items. Looking back, I knew nothing about football. I detested my first two years of refereeing. When I got home, I would toss my luggage in the corner and vow never to do that again.
Madley joined the FIFA international list in 2020 and is now regarded as one of the top flight’s greatest officials. In addition to officiating an international friendly against South Korea and Saudi Arabia, he refereed Champions League and Europa League qualifying for the 2023–2024 season. Over his career, the Huddersfield-born referee has officiated two League One play-off finals.
Profile of Andrew Madley
Born
September 5, 1983
Place of birth
England’s Huddersfield
Premier League debut
March 31, 2018
Simon Hooper
After being let go by Swindon Town when he was sixteen, Simon Hooper worked as an IT service manager before switching careers to become a referee. Before playing in the Premier League for the first time in August 2015, the Wiltshire-born official managed Norwich City’s 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace at Carrow Road. Only five referees have officiated more Premier League games than Hooper, who is thought to be a Swindon supporter and has officiated 10 during the 2023–24 season. Over his career, he has officiated two League One play-off finals and one international match while serving as a referee at Wembley thrice.
Profile of Simon Hooper
Born
August 8, 2015
Place of birth
England’s Swindon
Premier League debut
August 8, 2015
Robert Jones
Robert Jones only joined the Football League in 2016, yet he has risen to the top division rather quickly. The Merseyside native had previously served as a referee in the National League and the Women’s Super League. In December 2019, Jones made his Premier League debut, directing the action in Brighton vs. Sheffield United, a match that the visiting Blades won 1-0. Only two referees have officiated more games than Jones, who is a seasoned top-flight official and one of the most active in the division during the 2023–2024 season. In addition, he has taken charge of international friendly matches and European events.
Profile of Robert Jones
Born
April 4, 1987
Place of birth
England’s Merseyside
Premier League debut
December 21, 2019
Michael Oliver
Many people consider Michael Oliver to be among the top referees in the nation, and he has been a stalwart of the Premier League for many years. Oliver’s father Clive, a former official himself, introduced him to refereeing when he was born in Ashington, a town close to Newcastle. After earning his credentials at the age of 14, he started to advance through the levels before making his Premier League debut in August 2010 as the match between Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers. At the age of 25, Oliver made history by becoming the youngest referee to officiate a game in the Premier League.
A UEFA Super Cup final, an FA Cup final, and a League Cup final are just a few of the high-profile matches that the FIFA-listed referee has on his resume. The 38-year-old had three appearances at the 2022 World Cup and has refereed 30 Champions League games in his career. Oliver has officiated more Premier League games than any other referee during the 2023–2024 season.
Profile of Michael Oliver
Born
February 20, 1985
Place of birth
England’s Ashington
Premier League debut
August 21, 2010
Anthony Taylor
Prior to changing careers to become a referee, Anthony Taylor worked as a prison officer at a Category A facility. Taylor noted, “There are skills which are interchangeable between working in the prison service and refereeing,” prior to the FA Cup final in 2017. “The goal is to prevent incidents as much as possible, not to issue red and yellow cards. Making an effort to take the initiative. I needed a lot of communication and management skills to handle everyday circumstances while working in a prison.
In 2006, while still working 40-hour hours at Strangeways, a jail in Manchester, Taylor started officiating in the Football League. He debuted in the Premier League in February 2010 and has since made an incredible 356 appearances. The FIFA-listed referee has refereed at the World Cup and European Championships and has handled multiple finals. Throughout the 2023–2024 season, Taylor has been the most active Premier League referee..
Taylor’s profile
Born
October 20, 1978
Place of birth
England’s Manchester
Premier League debut
February 3, 2010
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