Howard Webb to become Premier League's chief refereeing officer as Mike Riley steps down

Howard Webb is set to become the Premier League's chief refereeing officer after English football's long-serving head of match officials, Mike Riley, confirmed he is stepping down.

A succession plan will be phased in over the course of the coming season as Webb, the 2010 World Cup referee, remains under contract in a similar role with Major League Soccer.

Three weeks after Telegraph Sport revealed how clubs had been pushing for a change in leadership, Riley, 57, said in a statement that "now is the right time" to move on. Webb has been in London this week at meetings with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and he is likely to step into the role fully when his deal with United States football expires in December.

Riley has led the PGMOL for 13 years, most notably overseeing the introduction of the often contentious video assistant refereeing system in 2019.

However, with a host of clubs complaining of too many mistakes under his watch last season, his departure sets up a potential return to English football for Webb, who was at a PGMOL meeting in London this week.

Webb, who previously worked for the body as a performance director when he retired from on-field duties in 2014, had left frustrated after just 12 months and is now currently in a similar role at Major League Soccer in the United States.

The 50-year-old's contract does not expire until December, but his profile and reputation in the game is already being welcomed by clubs as an ideal fit for the high-pressure role.

Riley had overseen the difficult transition to Var with mixed results. The clubs are always divided by self-interest when it comes to the standard of refereeing but the mood had darkened in recent months, leaving Riley under