http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...howard-webb-charge-appointing-premier-8867054
Howard Webb to be in charge of appointing Premier League referees
12:47, 18 March 2015
By Kristian Walsh
The former official, who has a long history with Liverpool, takes over from Keren Barratt
Former official Howard Webb will be the man who selects officials for Premier League games following his appointment as performance director for the Select Group of referees.
Webb, 43, who retired as a referee last year after a career which included taking charge of the 2010 World Cup final, will take charge of the 17 full-time professional officials.
Liverpool fans have often been critical of Webb after a number of high-profile controversies.
Last season, he didn’t award the Reds a penalty at Stamford Bridge following Samuel Eto’o’s foul on Luis Suarez, while an FA Cup tie against Arsenal last season left Liverpool frustrated.
The Rotherham-born official, who had been working as technical director for Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) since retiring as a referee, will now take responsibility for managing the Select Group and allocating those officials to specific games.
He will also have responsibility for the Select Group’s training and development and day-to-day management.
The role will see him closer to the spotlight in terms of criticism of refereeing, too.
He takes over from 69-year-old Keren Barratt, who had been due to retire but is moving into a different role.
Webb and Liverpool - the final years
One thing must be made abundantly clear: Webb was not biased against Liverpool, and his integrity cannot be questioned.
But it feels fitting how his decision to not award Liverpool a second penalty against Arsenal - and attracting the ire of Reds fans - ultimately proved to be his last act referring a Liverpool game. He would not referee them again up until his retirement at the end of the season.
Granted, the decision at the Emirates is probably the worst since Liverpool were refused a penalty for Samuel Eto'o's kick on Suarez in December.
The referee that afternoon was, inevitably, Webb.
But every football fan believes every referee is biased against their team – it is human nature, after all, to remember the wrongs instead of rights.
Webb was the referee to give Liverpool their first penalty of last season, against Stoke on Boxing Day, while he also awarded the Reds three penalties last season – two in one game against Swansea.
Even former Reds winger Ryan Babel was fined £10,000 for posting a doctored picture of Webb in a Manchester United shirt on Twitter in January 2011.
In the final five years of his officiating - 2008-09 to 2013-14 - the Reds lost 14 of the 22 games he has officiated, winning just six.
Howard Webb to be in charge of appointing Premier League referees
12:47, 18 March 2015
By Kristian Walsh
The former official, who has a long history with Liverpool, takes over from Keren Barratt
Former official Howard Webb will be the man who selects officials for Premier League games following his appointment as performance director for the Select Group of referees.
Webb, 43, who retired as a referee last year after a career which included taking charge of the 2010 World Cup final, will take charge of the 17 full-time professional officials.
Liverpool fans have often been critical of Webb after a number of high-profile controversies.
Last season, he didn’t award the Reds a penalty at Stamford Bridge following Samuel Eto’o’s foul on Luis Suarez, while an FA Cup tie against Arsenal last season left Liverpool frustrated.
The Rotherham-born official, who had been working as technical director for Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) since retiring as a referee, will now take responsibility for managing the Select Group and allocating those officials to specific games.
He will also have responsibility for the Select Group’s training and development and day-to-day management.
The role will see him closer to the spotlight in terms of criticism of refereeing, too.
He takes over from 69-year-old Keren Barratt, who had been due to retire but is moving into a different role.
Webb and Liverpool - the final years
One thing must be made abundantly clear: Webb was not biased against Liverpool, and his integrity cannot be questioned.
But it feels fitting how his decision to not award Liverpool a second penalty against Arsenal - and attracting the ire of Reds fans - ultimately proved to be his last act referring a Liverpool game. He would not referee them again up until his retirement at the end of the season.
Granted, the decision at the Emirates is probably the worst since Liverpool were refused a penalty for Samuel Eto'o's kick on Suarez in December.
The referee that afternoon was, inevitably, Webb.
But every football fan believes every referee is biased against their team – it is human nature, after all, to remember the wrongs instead of rights.
Webb was the referee to give Liverpool their first penalty of last season, against Stoke on Boxing Day, while he also awarded the Reds three penalties last season – two in one game against Swansea.
Even former Reds winger Ryan Babel was fined £10,000 for posting a doctored picture of Webb in a Manchester United shirt on Twitter in January 2011.
In the final five years of his officiating - 2008-09 to 2013-14 - the Reds lost 14 of the 22 games he has officiated, winning just six.
