PGMOL told to reinstate ref punishment system after Chelsea vs Fulham controversy
PGMOL must bring back meaningful punishments for referees after Rob Jones’ mistake in Chelsea versus Fulham, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there should be a risk of referees losing bonuses or status if they are to make costly errors in the Premier League.
Many believe that Rob Jones should be suspended by Howard Webb after disallowing Joshua King‘s goal at Stamford Bridge before the international break, having taken Michael Salisbury off VAR for Liverpool versus Arsenal.
Antonee Robinson was fuming after PGMOL apologised to the Cottagers, with his side eventually losing 2-0 after seeing their lead scrapped thanks to a VAR review.
PGMOL apology not enough after Fulham’s disallowed goal vs Chelsea
This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.
Jones has yet to face punishment ahead of the next round of Premier League fixtures, but the likelihood is that the referee will be taken off all duties following his mistake at Stamford Bridge.
With several mistakes being made during the 2025/26 campaign so far, though, fans are asking for more to be done to combat this, much like when players are given match bans and fines for controversial incidents.
Keith Hackett calls for a league system to be implemented for referees
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about potential punishments, the former referee said: “I’m very clear that, with key match incidents (KMI), and for an elite referee, they need to get all KMIs correct in a game – free-kicks, dismissals, etc.
“Where there is a KMI, and it’s wrong, in my era, they could not have a mark greater than 59 out of 100. They couldn’t win those points back, so it was a real penalty.
“That might have impacted their position on the league table of 20 referees, and where they finished on that table would affect any bonuses they might earn. These are paid employees, so therefore, it’s not just the sanction that matters, but also the operational advice. Give them the appropriate advice.
“If you’re at the bottom of that league table, you’re at risk of being demoted. That’s how it used to operate, but that hasn’t been carried on.
“If you’re a centre-forward in a football match and you’re not scoring, you’re not getting selected for the team next week. There needs to be an agreed level of accountability. Referees are like players – they go off form.”