Select Group Explained
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]
Select Group officials
In August 2024, the PGMOL shared updates to the Select Group officiating panels.
There are 21 Select Group 1 referees, 31 Select Group 1 assistant referees, 21 Select Group 2 referees, and 33 Select Group 2 assistant referees.[2] [3] [4]
Select Group 1 referees
Select Group 1 assistant referees
- Natalie Aspinall
- Simon Bennett
- Gary Beswick
- Lee Betts
- Stuart Burt
- Darren Cann
- Dan Cook
- Neil Davies
- Derek Eaton
- Nick Greenhalgh
- Constantine Hatzidakis
- Adrian Holmes
- Nick Hopton
- Akil Howson
- Ian Hussin
- Scott Ledger
- Harry Lennard
- Simon Long
- James Mainwaring
- Sian Massey-Ellis
- Steve Meredith
- Adam Nunn
- Marc Perry
- Dan Robathan
- Mark Scholes
- Eddie Smart
- Wade Smith
- Craig Taylor
- Richard West
- Mat Wilkes
- Tim Wood
Select Group 2 referees
Select Group 2 assistant referees
- Blake Antrobus
- George Byrne
- Ian Cooper
- Adam Crysell
- Andrew Dallison
- Mark Dwyer
- Carl Fitch-Jackson
- Andrew Fox
- Hugh Gilroy
- Paul Hodskinson
- Shaun Hudson
- Jonathan Hunt
- Robert Hyde
- Alex James
- Matthew Jones
- Graham Kane
- Hristo Karaivanov
- Dan Leach
- Sam Lewis
- Geoff Liddle
- Nigel Lugg
- Matthew McGrath
- Greg Read
- Mark Russell
- Bhupinder Singh Gill
- Matthew Smith
- Rob Smith
- Mark Stevens
- Lee Venamore
- Richard Wild
- Darren Williams
- James Wilson
- Richard Woodward
Women's Select Group officials
In summer 2023 and summer 2024, the PGMOL provided updates on the promotions of match officials.
There are 18 Women's Super League referees, 35 Women's Super League assistant referees, 24 Women's Championship referees, and 32 Women's Championship assistant referees, although some officials hold dual roles.[5] [4]
Women's Super League referees
Women's Super League assistant referees
- Jon Ashworth-Sears
- Natalie Aspinall
- Georgia Ball
- Nicoleta Bria
- Ella Broad
- Melissa Cairns
- Emily Carney
- Lorraine Catchpole
- Isabel Chaplin
- Abby Dearden
- Sophie Dennington
- Ffion Eade
- Aaron Ford
- Hannah Gardner
- Magda Golba
- Levi Gray
- Leoni Harland
- Harley Hetherington
- Dora Jakab
- Matt Joyce
- Aimee Keir
- Grace Lowe
- Sian Massey-Ellis
- Lucy-Anne McCann
- David Middleton
- Callum Parke
- Ali Rahjoo
- Lisa Rashid
- Chloe-Ann Small
- Ruby Sykes
- Laura van Lier
- Anastasiya Voloshchuk
- Jade Wardle
- Lauren Whiteman
- Ceri Williams
Women's Championship referees
- Jon Ashworth-Sears
- Nicoleta Bria
- Ella Broad
- Melissa Cairns
- Isabel Chaplin
- Abby Dearden
- Sophie Dennington
- Ffion Eade
- Aaron Ford
- Hannah Gardner
- Magda Golba
- Levi Gray
- Joanne Horwood
- Dora Jakab
- Aimee Keir
- Grace Lowe
- David Middleton
- Callum Parke
- Ali Rahjoo
- Chloe-Ann Small
- Ruby Sykes
- Laura van Lier
- Jade Wardle
- Lauren Whiteman
Women's Championship assistant referees
- Folu Aladelusi
- Zeyad Ahmed
- Katie Allen
- Emmanuel Arakpogun
- Alex Beeley
- Luke Bowles
- Josh Brayshaw
- Adriana Bucur
- Michael Butcher
- Josh Dear
- Gareth Dunn
- Ralph Frostick
- Richard Fullicks
- Dasa Griffin
- Elora Hardstaff
- Rosie Johns
- Elle-Louise Kaplicz
- Joseph Karram
- Julia Kings
- Maya Korpal
- Lee Markwick
- Darren McCall
- David Mitchell
- Amy Purser
- Charlotte Sparling Haythornthwaite
- Rhiannon Stevens
- Daniel Sykes
- Emma Taylor
- Soada Tushaj
- Steven Walsh
- Peter Wilson
- Yashar Yekta
FIFA international match officials
There are 16 referees, 19 assistant referees, and 11 video match officials on the 2024 FIFA International List, although some hold dual roles.[6]
Referees
Assistant referees
- Natalie Aspinall
- Georgia Ball
- Simon Bennett
- Gary Beswick
- Lee Betts
- Nicoleta Bria
- Stuart Burt
- Emily Carney
- Dan Cook
- Neil Davies
- Sophie Dennington
- Ian Hussin
- Harry Lennard
- James Mainwaring
- Sian Massey-Ellis
- Lucy-Anne McCann
- Adam Nunn
- Lisa Rashid
- Ceri Williams
Video match officials
Notable international appointments
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.[7]
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.[8] [9]
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.[10] [11] [12]
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.[13] [14] [15]
Michael Oliver refereed the 2022 UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt. He was assisted by Stuart Burt and Simon Bennett.[16]
Rebecca Welch oversaw the 2024 UEFA Women's Champions League final between Barcelona and Lyon. She was assisted by Natalie Aspinall and Emily Carney.[17]
Former Select Group officials
Referees
Assistant referees
- Stephen Artis
- Nigel Bannister
- Simon Beck
- Charles Breakspear
- Dave Bryan
- Andrew Butler
- Mike Cairns
- Steve Child
- Jake Collin
- John Flynn
- Ron Ganfield
- Andy Garratt
- Andy Halliday
- Patrick Keane
- Peter Kirkup
- Rob Lewis
- Trevor Massey
- Mo Matadar
- Mick McDonough
- Dean Mohareb
- Mike Mullarkey
- Michael Murphy
- Andy Newbold
- Bob Pollock
- Shaun Procter-Green
- Ceri Richards
- David Richardson
- Phil Sharp
- Billy Smallwood
- John Stokes
- Gary Stott
- Paul Thompson
- Mike Tingey
- Glenn Turner
- Adam Watts
- Andy Williams
- Martin Yerby
Select Group 2
These officials made it to Select Group 2, but not Select Group 1.
Referees
Assistant referees
- Chris Akers
- David Avent
- Andrew Aylott
- Nik Barnard
- Darren Blunden
- John Flynn
- Matt Foley
- Mike George
- Adam Matthews
- Rob Merchant
- Mark Jones
- Tony Peart
- Mark Pottage
- Geoff Russell
- Billy Smallwood
- Dean Treleaven
- Adrian Waters
See also
Promotion and retirement links
Notes and References
- Web site: Ralston . William . The impossible job: inside the world of Premier League referees . The Guardian . 22 March 2023 . 21 March 2023.
- Web site: The full list of referees and assistant referees for the 2024/25 #PL season..
- Web site: Here’s the full list of our Select Group 2 match officials for the 2024/25 #EFL season.
- Web site: We are delighted to confirm the list of match officials who will be operating at higher levels across the men's and women's professional game for the 2024/25 season..
- Web site: The Select Group Women's Professional Game for the 2023/24 #BarclaysWSL & #BarclaysWC season..
- Web site: FIFA International list of Match Officials.
- Web site: FIFA World Cup.
- Web site: Webb gets Madrid assignment. 20 May 2010 .
- News: Howard Webb given honour of refereeing World Cup final. The Guardian . 8 July 2010 .
- Web site: Mark Clattenburg to referee men's Olympic final.
- Web site: Clattenburg to referee Champions League final. 10 May 2016 .
- Web site: Clattenburg named referee for UEFA EURO 2016 final. 8 July 2016 .
- Web site: English Ref Anthony Taylor and His Team to Take Charge of Spain V France in Milan.
- Web site: English officials get Club World Cup Final call-up.
- Web site: Referee teams appointed for 2023 UEFA club competition finals. 22 May 2023 .
- Web site: Michael Oliver to referee 2022 UEFA Super Cup with Semi-Automated Offside Technology to be introduced. 3 August 2022 .
- Web site: Referee teams for 2024 UEFA club competition finals announced. 13 May 2024 .