The Select Group is a panel of English professional football referees and assistant referees, appointed by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The group was first formed in 2001, when England became the first country to use fully professional referees in its top flight. [1]
In August 2024, the PGMOL shared updates to the Select Group officiating panels.
Furthermore, in August 2024, the retirement of Rebecca Welch was announced. She will become the manager of the Select Group Women's Professional Game at the PGMOL. In December 2024, David Coote was sacked from the PGMOL, removing him from the Select Group 1 referees list.
There are 20 Select Group 1 referees, 30 Select Group 1 assistant referees, 20 Select Group 2 referees, and 33 Select Group 2 assistant referees. [2] [3] [4] [5]
In summer 2023 and summer 2024, the PGMOL provided updates on the promotions of match officials.
There are 17 Women's Super League referees, 30 Women's Super League assistant referees, 24 Women's Championship referees, and 34 Women's Championship assistant referees, although some officials hold dual roles. [6] [4]
There are 16 referees, 18 assistant referees, and 11 video match officials on the 2024 FIFA International List, although some hold dual roles. [7]
Some former and current Select Group 1 officials have overseen major international final matches.
Former Select Group 1 assistant referee Phil Sharp was a part of the team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup final. [8]
Howard Webb adjudicated the 2010 UEFA Champions League final and subsequently the 2010 FIFA World Cup final. Webb was supported on both occasions by assistant referees Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey. [9] [10]
Mark Clattenburg has supervised the 2012 Olympic final, the 2016 UEFA Champions League final, and subsequently the UEFA Euro 2016 final. The assistant referees that supported Clattenburg during these finals, were: Simon Beck, Steve Child, and Jake Collin. [11] [12] [13]
Anthony Taylor has officiated the 2021 UEFA Nations League final, the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup final, and the 2023 UEFA Europa League final. For each final, Taylor was supported by assistant referees Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn. [14] [15] [16]
Michael Oliver refereed the 2022 UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt. He was assisted by Stuart Burt and Simon Bennett. [17]
Rebecca Welch oversaw the 2024 UEFA Women's Champions League final between Barcelona and Lyon. She was assisted by Natalie Aspinall and Emily Carney. [18]
These officials made it to Select Group 2, but not Select Group 1.
Mark Clattenburg is an English former professional football referee.
Howard Melton Webb MBE is an English former professional football referee who officiated primarily in the Premier League from 2003 to 2014, as well as for FIFA as a FIFA international referee from 2005 to 2014.
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Sian Louise Massey-Ellis is an English football match official who officiates generally in the role of assistant referee in the Premier League and the Football League. She has also been appointed to matches in the Football League Trophy, UEFA Women's Champions League, FIFA Women's World Cup qualification rounds, the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Europa League. Massey-Ellis was appointed to the FIFA list of women assistant referees in 2009 and turned professional in 2010.
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