Howard Webb retires from Refereeing after 25Years

Howard Webb’s 25-year refereeing career ended on Wednesday after he was appointed the first technical director of Professional Game Match Officials Limited. The 43-year-old former policeman, widely regarded as the best English official of his generation, confirmed his shock retirement barely a week before the start of the new Premier League season.
The first man to referee the Champions League and World Cup finals in the same year – in 2010 – accepted a newly-created position within the body which governs elite refereeing in England, PGMOL. Webb will be responsible for overseeing the technical direction and standards that govern the on-field performance of PGMOL’s match officials, will manage its training programme and coaching system, and will work extensively on the successful development programme that provides a pathway for referees through to the elite ‘Select Group’. Additionally Webb will take a public-facing role, informing and educating on refereeing matters, as well as joining PGMOL general manager Mike Riley’s management team.
"Refereeing has given me so much and I think it's important that match officials who have had the rewards remain in the game to pass on their knowledge," he said.