Ref chief Howard Webb keen to make officiating more transparent

New Premier League referees' chief Howard Webb wants to shed more light on how decisions are reached between officials and VARs this season. Webb, who refereed the 2010 World Cup final, understands the frustration of fans over the apparent lack of transparency with decision-making, and is working on ways to make officiating more open and accountable. Webb joined Professional Game Match Officials Limited earlier this year, having been general manager at the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) in the United States.

PRO posted weekly reviews of contentious decisions from the most recent Major League Soccer action on its YouTube channel, including the audio of discussions between the on-field officials and the VARs. MLS also trialled the live broadcast of the audio between officials and VARs during a small number of matches in 2020 but required FIFA approval to continue with the project. Webb accepts the football culture in England is different to the US, and is wary of any unintended consequences of over-exposure of referees in the media, but is determined to make the process more visible.

"We want to try to change perception a little bit, be a bit more transparent and open," he said. "Not everything we did in Major League Soccer will work over here, it is a different environment, but some things will." Asked whether fans in England might get to hear audio of the conversations between officials and VARs in some form during the current season, Webb said: "I hope we get to that point where we are able to share some of that. I think people will find it interesting.