Howard Webb, England’s chief refereeing officer, has reaffirmed his commitment to increasing representation from under-represented communities within English football’s officiating ranks, dismissing recent criticism of diversity initiatives as misplaced. Speaking at a conference hosted by Bamref, an advocacy group supporting Black, Asian, and mixed-heritage officials, Webb emphasized that the focus on broadening the talent pool is intended to enhance the overall quality of refereeing at the highest levels.

In June, the Professional Referees’ Body (Pro Ref), formerly known as Professional Game Match Officials, announced a major restructuring of its officiating tiers. The organisation merged Select Group 1, Select Group 2, and the supplementary list into a single Professional Referee Group dedicated predominantly to Premier League and Championship matches starting next season. According to Pro Ref, this consolidation will allow greater flexibility in appointments and enable the recognition of a wider range of talented officials.

Webb rejected suggestions that diversity efforts amount to tokenism. “If you are not good enough to officiate in the Premier League you will be found out quickly,” he said, adding that a more diverse talent pool increases competition and choice, ultimately raising standards for all participants. He pointed to recent milestones, including referee Farai Hallam becoming the third Black official to oversee a Premier League match, following in the footsteps of Uriah Rennie and Sam Allison. Hallam notably made headlines earlier this year for overruling a penalty appeal involving Manchester City and Wolves, diverging from the video assistant referee’s recommendation.

The initiative has not been without controversy. Earlier in the year, Suella Braverman, a Member of Parliament representing Reform UK, urged the Football Association (FA) to abandon its 2028 target for recruiting 25% of England men’s coaching staff from minority ethnic backgrounds, describing the policy as “woke nonsense.” The FA, however, defended the goal, citing its dedication to reflecting the diversity of the sport.

Danielle Every, Pro Ref’s chief operating officer, noted a shift in attitudes since the structural changes were introduced. She highlighted data indicating a complete absence of Black officials in the Premier League during 2022, underscoring the urgency of these reforms. Webb also outlined changes in the talent identification process, moving away from the traditional observer scoring system toward a coaching-led model featuring a “matchday performance developer” role. This approach will be implemented across lower divisions and the women’s professional game, while retaining key accountability layers such as the critical incidents panel in the Premier League and Championship.

The previous system, Webb said, sometimes allowed quality referees to be overlooked, particularly those from under-represented backgrounds. The revamped model aims to identify promising officials earlier in their careers to improve retention and development.

Aji Ajibola, Bamref’s co-founder, acknowledged progress in increasing representation but emphasized that recruitment alone is insufficient. He called for sustained support structures to ensure the wellbeing and professional development of minority officials once they enter the system. Ajibola highlighted the importance of mental health resources, mentoring, and a strong community network to foster long-term retention and open pathways into other areas of the game.