Howard Webb has retired as a match referee and has been appointed technical director of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the Premier League announced on Wednesday.
In his new role, Webb will be responsible for overseeing the technical direction and standards that govern the on-field performance of match officials. In a statement on the Premier League’s website, Webb expressed his excitement and said he is looking forward to the challenge.
“I have spent over a decade with the best seat in the house for Barclays Premier League matches, been lucky enough to be involved in nine Uefa and Fifa tournaments, and taken charge of the Uefa Champions League and Fifa World Cup finals.
Webb began refereeing in 1989 and progressed through the Northern Counties and Football League to become a Select Group referee in 2003. He has refereed more than 500 Barclays Premier League and Football League matches and officiated in every major domestic final.
A Fifa Elite referee, Howard has officiated in eight international tournaments, including two Fifa World Cups and two Uefa European Championships. In 2010 Webb became the first referee to take charge of the Uefa Champions League Final and the Fifa World Cup Final in the same year. In 2011 he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to football.
-Supersport.com