Howard Webb - Chief Refereeing Officer at the PGMOL

 
 

What can we learn from Howard Webb’s career?

Howard Webb is one of the most revered referees of all time, and probably the best English referee. His career spanned many years and he was involved in the biggest games in world football at a national and international level. Since being appointed as Chief Refereeing Officer for the PGMOL, Webb and his philosophy have come under a new level of scrutiny. Let’s find out more about the man in the middle.

Early life

Howard Webb was born on July 14, 1971, in Rotherham, Yorkshire, England. He began refereeing at the age of 18 and quickly rose through the ranks. After years of hard graft in the grassroots and semi-pro game, he was appointed to the Premier League in 2003 and became a FIFA international referee in 2005.

Webb was known for his calm and authoritative style of refereeing. He was also a strong disciplinarian and was not afraid to show red cards when necessary.

Webb retired from refereeing in 2014. He became a regular pundit on BT Sport for a number of years, adding his voice to refereeing decisions and weekly debates. In his autobiography, "The Man in the Middle: The Autobiography of the World Cup Final Referee", Webb gives his tips for other referees.

Here are some of Howard Webb's tips for other referees:

  • Be calm and in control of the game.

  • Be consistent with your decisions

  • Be fair to both teams

  • Be prepared for anything.

  • Don't be afraid to make decisions

  • Don't take it personally when players or managers get angry.

  • Always try to learn from your mistakes.

Webb's career as a referee was marked by a number of high-profile incidents.

In 2007, he was criticized for his handling of the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United. In particular, he was accused of allowing Chelsea to get away with a number of fouls.

In 2010, Webb was the referee for the World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands. The match was a close and tense affair, and Webb was forced to make a number of difficult decisions. He was praised for his handling of the match, and he was named FIFA Referee of the Year for 2010.

Webb's career as a referee came to an end in 2014. He retired after refereeing the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Germany. Here are some of the other highlights of Howard Webb's career as a referee:

  • Refereed the 2008 FA Cup final

  • Refereed the 2010 World Cup final

  • Named FIFA Referee of the Year for 2010

  • Retired from refereeing in 2014

  • Worked as a commentator and pundit for BT Sport

  • Works as a consultant for the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)

Howard is now working hard to revolutionise the way refereeing works in the professional game in England. At REFSIX we’re helping drive the revolution from the grassroots up. If you’d like to make your life easier and get PRO-level stats, register today and download our app. It works on any device.

Jonathon Wilks