Ex-Premier League referee issues ‘unbelievable’ Jon Moss claim after what he’s seen at Nottingham Forest
Keith Hackett has insisted Jon Moss should not have refereed Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Championship play-off final on Sunday (29 May).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Moss has been off the pace for years and it is “unbelievable” he will now take up a key role at the PGMOL.
The 51-year-old was taking charge of his final game at Wembley and denied Huddersfield’s appeals for penalties after challenges on Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien by Nottingham Forest players.
The Telegraph reported last month (28 April) that Moss would become the new manager of the select group one referees who look after Premier League games when he hangs up his whistle.
“In my time the funding partners of the PGMOL are the Football League, the FA and the Premier League,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It’s a no-brainer for such an important match you want the best referee. If you look at the form and that we’ve got two referees going to the World Cup then it was a no-brainer to appoint either Taylor or Oliver to such an occasion.
“We must get back to a situation where we appoint the referee who is in form and that is not Jon Moss.
“I’ve listened to people say ‘Why not a Football League referee?’ It is their request to the PGMOL that they want a Premier League referee. The PGMOL respond to that request.
“Moss, for me, has not changed in recent years. He lacks speed, he lacks movement and is detached from play.
“In the opening stages of the game he could have come in with yellow cards but wanted the game to breathe so adjusted his tolerance levels.
“What really gets me is that this guy who is not mobile, is a wishy-washy referee lucky to be on the Premier League has retired and is given the role of the manager. It is unbelievable that people can make that decision.
“He did his last Premier League earlier this month that should have been it. It’s beyond belief that they gave him this big game and he did what everyone expected in the game and fouled up.”
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