A senior referee who was removed from the Premier League and Championship officiating lists is pursuing legal action against the governing body, alleging he was subjected to bullying during a training event. The official, who earned approximately £100,000 annually, was among five referees demoted for the upcoming season, resulting in the loss of their top-tier appointments and guaranteed salaries.
According to sources, the referee claimed during an internal appeal that a trainer placed him in a choke-hold in front of witnesses at a September 2024 training camp. He is reported to have later described the incident as less severe than initially stated, but nonetheless continues with legal proceedings against Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (Pro Ref), the organization responsible for refereeing appointments and management.
Pro Ref administers promotions and demotions based primarily on performance assessments. An insider described the lawsuit as unfortunate, noting that such actions are rare given the merit-based evaluation process. Following the demotions, the affected referees will no longer receive their salaried contracts but remain eligible to officiate matches in lower divisions such as League One, League Two, and the National League, earning match fees accordingly.
In a related development, around 35 officials were asked to return funds after an administrative error involving performance-based payments. Pro Ref attributed the issue to a human processing mistake affecting a small number of officials, either resulting in underpayments or overpayments. The organization emphasized that the discrepancies were swiftly corrected and assured that all officials would ultimately receive compensation aligned with their 2025/26 performance.
Beyond the demotions, up to 15 assistant referees have been informed their services will no longer be required for the next season, a decision attributed to an evaluation of their potential. This move has drawn criticism, with some accusing Pro Ref of sidelining experienced officials to make way for younger and more diverse candidates, reflecting an ongoing effort within the organization to evolve its officiating pool.
Pro Ref has not publicly commented on the lawsuit but maintains its commitment to fair performance assessments and inclusivity objectives. The situation highlights tensions within the refereeing community as changes in personnel and policy continue to shape professional football officiating.