10 former football players will become referees: Pro-Ref innovations in England

From the new season, PGMOL England will hand over the business to a new brand, Pro-Ref, which will bring significant changes to the world of refereeing. In a statement, Pro-Ref said increased funding from the Premier League, EFL, The FA and WSL under the new three-year agreement will build on the successes already achieved through the Premier League's Elite Referee Development Plan (ERDP). This program provided more advanced training and greater performance support for arbitrators working in a high standards-oriented context.

One of the most interesting innovations will be the involvement of 10 former football players in the world of refereeing. However, it is not just their appointment to VAR, as previously reported; it is a "collaboration with the Professional Footballers' Association that will see ten former players undergo training to become referees", as announced by Pro-Ref.

Among the planned innovations:

1. Professional Referee Group: new composition for the 2026/27 season; a selected pool of referees who will work predominantly in the Premier League and Championship, encouraging greater competition and offering more flexibility in appointments.
2. National Group: A wider pool of referees and assistants is now available for League 1, League 2 and National League matches.
3. Women's Pro Game Group: Led by director Rebecca Welch, this group of judges and assistants will work in the WSL and WSL2; some of them will also be involved in men's professional football.
4. Future Talents Group: In addition to the traditional development paths for judges, this summer the Development Group will transform into a revamped Future Talents Program. The program focuses on a select group of promising young referees identified through strengthened collaboration with the FA and provides a higher level of support.
5. CORE X: A targeted development program developed in collaboration with the FA and supported by BAMREF, designed to support referees from historically underrepresented communities in the transition from amateur and semi-professional level to professional football.

Director of Operations Danielle Avery said: "The profound changes taking place within the organization are supported by the competition and are made possible by a fully funded three-year plan. Our new name reflects these changes and the progress made, giving us a more modern, professional and relevant identity, more consistent with the organization we are today and want to be in the future. In partnership with the FA, we aim to make the refereeing pathway clearer, stronger and more accessible, linking amateur, semi-professional and professional football and removing historical barriers to professional growth. For the 41,000 referees already working in England, and for new generations, these changes are proof that there is a real path, a clear ambition and a real opportunity to reach the highest levels of the sport."