Shaping the future of officiating.
We are responsible for the training and development of match officials who serve the English professional game, providing the structures, coaching and performance support they need to operate at the highest levels, thanks to our funding partners: the Premier League, EFL, FA and WSL Football.
We are entering a new chapter for professional refereeing in England. As football continues to evolve, officiating must evolve with it.
The change from Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) to Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) underpins a period of ongoing transformation for the organisation – all aimed at delivering the highest possible standards of refereeing in the elite levels of men’s and women’s football in this country.
As part of a new three-year agreement with our funding partners, increased investment will see an even stronger emphasis on more modern and high-performance structures, greater support for match officials and opportunities via more modern and dynamic pathways.
WHY CHANGE?
Our increased funding will also support the next generation of match officials through greater investment in talent development - including a revamped Development Group and the CORE X programme as well as initiatives designed to improve Academy players’ understanding of officiating.
Together, these programmes will complement The FA’s existing pathway across grassroots and semi-professional football while strengthening the development of referees at every stage.
Alongside this, Select Group 1, Select Group 2 and the Supplementary List will merge into a single Professional Referee Group. From the forthcoming season, this unified group will primarily officiate Premier League and EFL Championship fixtures, creating greater competition, increased flexibility in appointments and more opportunities to recognise high-performing match officials.
The transition to Pro Ref reflects this wider evolution. It provides a clearer, more accessible identity that better represents the organisation’s purpose, the progress already underway and its long-term commitment to developing the best match officials.
The next generation of talent.
Every match official starts somewhere. Along the way they develop the confidence, resilience and decision-making skills that define the very best.
Working with The FA, Premier League, EFL and WSL Football, we deliver a long-term strategy to identify, develop and accelerate officiating talent through more modern, accessible pathways.
Together with The FA, we’re strengthening progression from grassroots and semi-professional football into the professional game, creating a clearer route for ambitious officials to reach the highest level.
Officiating is a career open to everyone. Pro Ref exists to help inspire, develop and support the people who will shape the future of officiating in the game.
More than A matchday.
Most fans only see match officials for the 90 minutes they’re on the pitch, but their role extends far beyond that.
Behind every referee and assistant referee is a multi-disciplinary team of experts, working together to ensure that our officials can perform at their best week-in, week-out.
Across sports science, psychology, performance analysis and coaching support, the focus is holistic preparation - creating a framework that reflects the high-performance environment of the professional game and equipping officials with the clarity, resilience and physical readiness as they move from one fixture to the next.
Pro Ref provides this structure of support, helping officials meet the demands of the modern game.
What stays
the same?
Whilst our name and identity are changing, our purpose remains the same.
To uphold the integrity of our game, support the development of match officials and the delivery of the highest standards of officiating for the benefit of football. Pro Ref will continue to work closely with our funding partners and the game as a whole to play our part in benefiting the competitions we serve.
“Our focus is always on delivering the highest possible level of on-field performance and, through close collaboration and the support of the Premier League, EFL, FA and WSL Football, we’re modernising our structures, better supporting referees and making our pathways more dynamic to recognise high-performing and talented officials – something we believe will stand us and the game in good stead now and in the future."
Howard Webb
Chief Refereeing
Officer, Pro Ref