Ex-Premier League referee tells Howard Webb to leave job after latest blunders

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Howard Webb has been told to resign in the face of growing criticism for Premier League referees. Webb, a professional referee for 18 years including 11 in the Premier League, is currently acting as the head of the PGMOL .

He has been pivotal in the introduction of a number of changes including VAR into the English game. But that has not eased criticism for match officials, with Chris Kavanagh’s failure to award a penalty in Newcastle ’s win against Aston Villa having been picked out this weekend.

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has claimed that while individual officials must face criticism, they are not the ones to be blamed. Instead, he believes referee chief Webb needs to step back from his current role.

Speaking to The Sun , he said: “We have some excellent refs so you have to look at a clear lack of leadership, direction and management of our top officials — and that’s down to PGMOL chief Howard Webb.

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“Webb has had three years in the role — and it’s not been good enough. Everyone has a shelf-life and the time has come for him to move on.

“This is no different to when Ruben Amorim or Thomas Frank got sacked for poor results. There has been a decline in the standard of officiating — and things are getting worse.

“I speak to Premier League managers and I know they aren’t happy with him. You’d have to ask, ‘What’s Webb done to improve standards?’

“If anything, it has gotten worse. I’ve been a football fan all my life. We want to be talking about wonderful players and goals - not refs making bad calls every week.”

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Webb has regularly spoken out on a number of refereeing decisions. He is often seen on Match Officials Mic'd Up to explain controversial decisions in the Premier League.

Halsey is far from the only man to take aim at Webb this season though. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola also called him out earlier this season after his side were not awarded a penalty by debuting referee Farai Hallam against Wolves .

He said: “The referee (Hallam) made a huge debut, now everybody will know him. I think it's the first time they go to the TV and disallow what is a "normal" position of the arms.

“I'm pretty sure Howard Webb tomorrow is going to appear in the media to explain why it's not a penalty and what he did against United, like it was the first time he had done it because there was a little bit of doubt.”

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