Following a complaint from Nottingham Forest regarding the appointment of a VAR last season, Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has announced that the declared allegiances of all Premier League referees will now be made public for transparency.
The issue arose when Forest criticized PGMOL for appointing Stuart Attwell, a Luton Town supporter, as the video referee for their match against Everton. Forest felt that Attwell's allegiance created a conflict of interest, especially after three potential penalty claims were waved away by the on-field referee, Anthony Taylor, with Attwell supporting those decisions.
Forest expressed their frustrations on social media, highlighting Attwell's fan status and implying bias in the match. The Football Association subsequently charged Forest with improper conduct for questioning the integrity of a match official.
Webb explained that referees are required to declare any specific interests or allegiances at the beginning of the season, and these declarations will now be made public. PGMOL will review each declaration and assess if there are any conflicts of interest that could impact referee appointments.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, who was consulting for Forest at the time, also raised concerns about Attwell's appointment but faced repercussions from the FA for his comments in a newspaper column.
Webb emphasized the importance of open communication and understanding between all parties involved in officiating matches. He mentioned that ex-referees like Clattenburg could contribute to educating players on the laws of the game and improving overall understanding.
Overall, the move towards transparency in referee allegiances aims to enhance trust and fairness in Premier League officiating, ensuring that potential conflicts of interest are identified and addressed appropriately.
