The referee Bobby Madley has quit his job as a Premier League official. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) on Thursday announced that the 32-year-old referee had left his job.
Madley, who was one of the 18 full-time professional referees, has officiated 91 matches in the Premier League since 2013 but was not involved during the first weekend of this season.
A PGMOL statement said: “Bobby Madley is no longer employed by PGMOL. We understand that he has decided to relocate due to a change in his personal circumstances.”
Madley refereed the 2017 Community Shield at Wembley before overseeing 18 Premier League matches last season. His older brother Andrew Madley continues to officiate in the Football League.
He was not present at the mandatory pre-season meeting of all select group officials at St George’s Park where they are briefed and prepared. His sudden departure leaves the select group of 18 referees down to 17. The other referee not yet appointed to a game so far is Roger East, although no reason has been give so far for that decision.
Mike Riley, the managing director of PGMOL, who is a key figure in preparing for the Premier League’s adoption of video assistant referees next season, is expected to address his referees on the details of Madley’s departure this week. The select group will gather at St George’s Park for the first of this season’s regular meetings in which they review performances and discuss decisions.
Madley was trusted with some high-profile fixtures in recent seasons including Manchester United’s home games against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea and Liverpool v Arsenal. He had refereed the Community Shield game between Arsenal and Chelsea in August last year.
PGMOL are under pressure to develop a new generation of referees and especially from next year, with the introduction of VAR, given the increased number of officials that will require for every game. Riley and his PGMOL deputy Adam Gale-Watts, a former assistant referee, are in charge of assigning referees and assistants to games. They are also the most influential figures in developing their careers and competence of their top referees and the loss of Madley will come as a blow to the organisation.