PGMOL Appointment Policy - Deep Dive
Deep dive below analysing the PGMOL appointments policy and how active practice by PGMOL is contradicting its' own appointment policy
With Manchester City and the Premier League duking it out over the international break, in the background Nottingham Forest were fined £750,000 [1] last week for the comments made about Stuart Atwell last season and were summarily laughed out of the room at the time.
However reading the two page PGMOL’s appointment policy reissued in August 2024 [2] [3], the apparent lack of clarity and the inconsistencies applied in managing match officials eligibility over conflict of interest rules, does raise further concerns on the impartiality of Premier League officiating.
There are 26 Premier League match officials, yet by October 19th 2024 Arsenal will have been officiated by Jarred Gillett for 3 out of the 8 matches in the 2024/25 Premier League season. Last season 2023/24 Gillett officiated 9 Arsenal matches, 2 as lead official and 7 as VAR official.
Unless there is a conflict of interest (see further below) Jarred Gillett should be refereeing no more than 2 matches for Arsenal as lead official and the same applies as VAR official 2 - so 4 matches in total in a single season, or if there is a conflict of interest none at all.
There are 1) enough officials to ensure an equitable rotation of matches, and 2) the PGMOL Appointments Policy points to Jarred Gillett to not officiate any Arsenal, Manchester City or Everton games, and Liverpool due to Gillett’s declared interest in Liverpool being a supporter of the Club[4].
The PGMOL Appointments Policy (quoted below) outlines specific rules and criteria for appointing match officials, aiming to ensure fairness and prevent conflicts of interest. Officials are deemed ineligible if they have personal ties to the clubs involved, such as being supporters, having played for the club, having personal connections with the club's members, or if there is a “strong association” between a club and a match officials declared interest i.e. An Arsenal supporting official, officiating a Tottenham Hotspur match. Note the below is not an exhaustive list of reasons for a match officials ineligibility.
All PGMOL match officials must submit a declaration of interests form to PGMOL on an annual basis, prior to the commencement of the season. Individuals will be responsible for keeping their declared interests up-to-date during the season. Each declaration submitted prior to the season (and any amendment to a declaration during a season) will be reviewed by PGMOL.
On-field Match Officials, VARs and AVARs (when VAR is in operation within a competition) will only be eligible to officiate in a match where:
i) The match does not directly involve a club for which they have a conflict of interest.
Circumstances in which there will be a conflict of interest, meaning that the individual will be ineligible to officiate, include, but are not limited to:
a) Where the match directly involves a club for which the individual has indicated an active interest in seeing that club achieve success. This includes the individual currently or previously being in possession of a season ticket of that club, or declaring themselves as a supporter of that club.
b) Where the match directly involves a club for which the individual played one or more competitive matches at a first team level.
c) Where the match directly involves a club with which the individual has a material personal connection. The question of whether a match official has such a connection shall be a matter for PGMOL to determine in its discretion having regard to, amongst other factors, family links, romantic or other close personal relationships, or business dealings with any member of the club’s board of directors, management, players, or staff (whether permanent or temporary).
d) Where the match directly involves a club from the same town or city (excluding London) in which the match official resides.
ii) The match does not directly involve a club which has a strong association with a club for which an interest has been declared. The question of whether a club has a strong association with another club shall be a matter for PGMOL to determine in its discretion.
Replay Operators will only be eligible to be involved in a match where:
i) The match does not directly involve a club for which they have a conflict of interest (applying the criteria referred to above).
If this policy is applied incorrectly, a club could argue that the competitive balance is compromised, similar to the means on how revenues are generated can lead to an unfair advantage. A club could propose that the policy be strictly followed to eliminate any potential bias and ensure that matches are officiated without conflicts, which would foster fairness in the sport. If PGMOL’s appointment process fails to account for these conflicts, it can lead to suspicions of bias, affecting the integrity of the competition and creating grounds for appeals or disputes by the clubs involved.
Thus, a club might recommend revisiting or tightening the implementation of the PGMOL policy to ensure transparency, fairness, and competitive integrity, paralleling concerns about financial fair play.
As the policy has remained materially unchanged for several seasons this implies that PGMOL has not followed its own guidance accordingly.
1. Michael Oliver: Tyneside-Wearside Dilemma
Michael Oliver, from Ashington, Northumberland, is a self-confessed Newcastle United supporter. In line with the PGMOL's policy, he is ineligible to officiate matches involving Newcastle or their local rivals, Sunderland. However, the PGMOL appointment of Oliver to games involving teams that could impact Newcastle's season poses a potential conflict of interest. For example, Oliver may be assigned to games featuring Newcastle's direct competitors for European spots, creating an apparent, if not actual, bias.
The inconsistency lies in PGMOL's application of "conflict of interest" rules. If Oliver is ineligible to officiate Newcastle and Sunderland matches, how can he be deemed impartial in games involving teams vying for similar achievements? This contradiction highlights the inadequacy of the current policy in addressing more indirect yet significant conflicts.
2. Jarred Gillett: Liverpool Fan Refereeing Title Contenders
A further contradiction arises with Australian referee Jarred Gillett, a known Liverpool supporter [4]. PGMOL excludes Gillett from officiating Liverpool matches to avoid any conflict of interest. However, he has been appointed to officiate matches involving Liverpool's main title rivals, such as Manchester City and Arsenal. Given that the outcome of these matches directly affects Liverpool’s chances in the league, Gillett's involvement raises questions about whether his officiating can be truly impartial.
Notably decisions awarded by Jarred Gillett as lead match official (and Michael Salisbury on VAR) in the game Arsenal against Aston Villa on December 9 2023 had a direct impact on the state of the table on Matchweek 16. Namely a disallowed goal which would have resulted in the game ending honours even, and a penalty claim dismissed (even with a VAR review) in the 47th minute. Notably the same lead official (Jarred Gillett) as VAR official awarded a penalty for a similar incident on Matchweek 35 in the 85th minute for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal.
The PGMOL’s selective application of its policies in such cases creates a lack of consistency. A declared fan of any club should arguably be excluded from all matches that could affect that club's fortunes, especially in high-stakes title races.
3. Chris Kavanagh and Manchester Clubs
Chris Kavanagh hails from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, and is a fan of non-league side Droylsden. Although he does not directly support Manchester United or Manchester City, the fact that he is from the area creates the perception of a potential conflict when he officiates matches involving Manchester clubs. Similar to the case of Michael Oliver, Kavanagh's assignments in Manchester United and Manchester City games can be seen as inconsistent with PGMOL’s policy, which is meant to prevent conflicts of interest by avoiding referees from officiating matches involving teams from their hometowns.
Below is an updated analysis of the Premier League referees [5], incorporating potential conflicts of interest for each official based on their allegiances, and extending beyond direct club ties to also include regional, local, and competitive rivalries. By applying the PGMOL rules consistently and more rigorously, a significant number of officials would become ineligible to referee matches that involve their local, regional, or title rivals. This ensures that referees do not officiate matches where bias (or perceived bias) could occur, either in favour or against a team.
Updated Table of Referees, Locations, and Conflicts of Interest [5]
Key Conflicts of Interest Analysis
Jarred Gillett:
As a known Liverpool fan, Gillett is already excluded from officiating Liverpool matches, but consistent application of the rules would see him also ineligible for games involving Everton (local rival), Manchester United (historic and local rival), Manchester City (title rival), and Arsenal (title rival). These exclusions would significantly reduce his ability to referee many high-profile games that impact Liverpool's position.
Michael Oliver:
Oliver is currently excluded from officiating Newcastle United and Sunderland matches. However, by applying the rules more rigorously, he could also be ineligible for matches involving teams that affect Newcastle's European qualification, such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool, or Arsenal.
Chris Kavanagh:
Kavanagh, a Greater Manchester-based referee, should not only be excluded from Manchester United and Manchester City matches but also any games that directly influence the Manchester clubs’ standings—for instance, title or top-four battles with clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, or Chelsea. This would broaden his ineligibility.
Anthony Taylor:
Taylor hails from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester. Though a fan of non-league Altrincham, his connections to Manchester make him ineligible for Manchester United and Manchester City matches. Applying the rules stringently, he should also avoid officiating games where Manchester United and Manchester City's title rivals are involved, such as Liverpool or Arsenal.
David Coote:
While Coote is a Notts County fan and avoids Nottingham Forest matches, his regional proximity to Midlands clubs suggests he should also be excluded from games involving other Midlands teams like Leicester City, Aston Villa, and Wolves, particularly in crucial games where rivalries are involved.
Rob Jones:
Jones, from Wirral, is already excluded from Liverpool and Everton matches, but considering the significant title rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City, Jones should also be ineligible to officiate games involving Manchester United and Manchester City.
Impact of Consistent Application of Conflict Rules
By applying the PGMOL's conflict of interest policy more thoroughly, especially accounting for local, regional, and title rivalries, several referees would become ineligible for a broader range of matches. This would significantly reduce the risk of perceived or actual bias, particularly in high-stakes fixtures such as:
Title/European Qualification/Relegation deciding matches: Referees with affiliations to clubs in the title race (like Jarred Gillett’s connection to Liverpool) should not be assigned to officiate games that affect those clubs’ direct rivals.
Regional rivalries: Referees from the same region as competing clubs (like Michael Oliver from Northumberland or Chris Kavanagh from Greater Manchester) should be excluded from matches involving clubs from those regions.
Derby matches: Referees with ties to clubs in derby rivalries (like Paul Tierney’s connection to Wigan) should not officiate derbies or matches involving teams from the same city.
Recommendations for Reform: Involvement of Elite European Referees
To address these contradictions, PGMOL should consider the following reforms to improve the integrity and impartiality of refereeing in the Premier League:
Wider Use of European Elite Referees: PGMOL should invite elite referees from across Europe to officiate high-profile and sensitive matches. Countries like Spain, Italy, and Germany boast highly respected referees who can offer a neutral, external perspective on key matches in the Premier League. This would not only mitigate any local conflicts of interest but also enhance the international credibility of English football.
Clarification of Conflict of Interest Criteria: The current policies should be broadened to exclude referees from officiating matches that could impact their affiliated clubs indirectly, removing the need for PGMOL discretion. For example, Michael Oliver should not only be barred from officiating Newcastle and Sunderland matches but also games involving teams that could affect Newcastle’s standings, such as those in contention for European spots.
Transparency in Overseas Engagements: PGMOL should create stricter guidelines and transparency around referees officiating overseas, particularly in regions with connections to Premier League clubs. Referees who have officiated in other leagues overseas, should have their appointments to Premier League matches scrutinised or limited.
Regular Rotation of Referees: To avoid any prolonged associations between referees and specific clubs, a more frequent rotation of officials could be implemented. By ensuring referees do not officiate the same teams multiple times in a season, perceptions of bias can be reduced.
Conclusion
The current PGMOL policies regarding conflict of interest need to be applied more rigorously and transparently by clarifying the definition of "conflict" to cover not just direct affiliations, but also competitive (Title, European qualification, Relegation) and regional rivalries.
This would involve stricter exclusion of referees from officiating matches where their allegiances, locations, or connections create any potential for bias—real or perceived. Recommendations for incorporating elite European referees into the Premier League officiating pool could further mitigate these conflicts and begin to restore public confidence in match officials.
Fundamentally the lack of scrutiny and apparent investment in not ensuring such scenarios develop is alarming. Given the amount of resources and efforts placed by other stakeholders of the game (Coaches, Players, Owners) and the apparent “letter of the law” being applied across the board by PGMOL, there is no reason why the PGMOL Appointment Policy cannot be applied with the same rigour.
Sources
[1] Nottingham Forest Fined £750,000 for VAR social media post
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c33v274e7vdo
[2] PGMOL Appointments Policy 2024-2025
[3] PGMOL
https://www.premierleague.com/referees/pgmol
[4] Why Gillett’s Anfield adventure will be his last
https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/why-gilletts-anfield-adventure-will-be-his-last
[5] List of Premier League Referees
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/premier-league-referees-support-clubs-164946141.html