Keith Hackett blames PGMOL chief Mike Riley for decline in referee standards
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett as our exclusive West Brom columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Keith Hackett has blamed Mike Riley for the “decline in refereeing standards” and is shocked he remains as managing director of the PGMOL.
Over the last week, Premier League fans have had the misfortune of watching an array of refereeing and VAR controversy which culminated in a bizarre refusal to allow Mbaye Diagne’s goal for West Brom in their 3-0 win against Southampton on Monday.
Diagne was flagged offside when he headed the ball into the back of the net at The Hawthorns and even though replays showed the striker was clearly onside, VAR failed to overturn the decision as they couldn’t draw conclusive lines in their review.
Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys called for Riley to be sacked from his position at the PGMOL in light of the recent spate of dodgy decisions and ex-Premier League ref Hackett has since echoed that view.
“Make no mistake, I’ve been saying it for months, there’s a complete lack of leadership and lack of drive in the referees,” Hackett told West Brom News in an exclusive interview.
“Riley is the guy who got rid of a core group of referee coaches who were very skilled. He’s the guy who got rid of assessors at football matches and replaced them with other things which have been inadequate.
“Since he’s taken over, everybody’s saying it now, there’s been a decline in the standard of refereeing. It’s down to him.
“If he was the manager of a football club, he’d be out on his ear and somebody has got to recognise that ought to be the case.
“It’s not just him. There’s a group of managers and coaches around him who also need to go. It needs a clear out.
“I think the individual board members [at the PGMOL] probably don’t have the knowledge. They probably sit back and think, ‘he’s a former international referee he must know’.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that this guy has been at the forefront of the decline in refereeing standards.”
On Sunday, ESPN ranked Premier League clubs on the number of VAR decisions that have been overturned in their favour and West Brom sit bottom of the standings, along with Liverpool, with minus-six. Of course, as the standings were done on Sunday, it doesn’t factor in Diagne’s disallowed goal on Monday against Southampton.
VAR decisions have led to four goals being awarded against the Baggies and one Albion penalty being cancelled, which was when Conor Gallagher was blatantly fouled in the box against Manchester United at Old Trafford in November.
Albion seem to have been at the centre of VAR controversy ever since it was introduced to English football. In 2018, the Baggies’ 3-2 FA Cup win over Liverpool was marred by the system in just its sixth appearance in the game in this country.
In other West Brom news, Don Goodman slammed one “clumsy” Albion player in the win over the Saints.
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