Keith Hackett: PGMOL to get more 'sponsorship' from Pro Ref switch as 'commercial situation' explained
The PGMOL may be set for increased sponsorship opportunities after their change to re-name themselves as Pro Ref.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that Premier League clubs should want to support the organisation as much as possible.
The name change is intended to provide more clarity over the organisation's standing within English football over the coming years.
Wyness believes that little will change with the organisation on the face of things, but it may enhance their "commercial situation" behind the scenes.
Last week's confirmation of the change came along with a fresh appeal to Premier League clubs to provide greater financial backing to refereeing in English football.
Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb also made it clear that the change is intended to help raise the standard of officiating across the Premier League and EFL.
Keith Wyness hopeful Pro Ref switch won't change much
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – is hoping that Pro Ref would have already been exploring ways to up their standards before the name change was confirmed.
The Scottish businessman made it clear that Premier League clubs should "expect" the highest possible level of refereeing, given the standing of the league today.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness made it clear that commercial benefits may be the main reason for the change.
"Look, you'd think as a Premier League club you'd want to expect the referees to be as professional as possible," he said.
"I don't know why changing a name from the PGMOL to Pro Ref makes that any better. I would hope that there is no new higher level of standards that weren't already being explored anyway. You'd expect that from the PGMOL.
"So changing a name, unless it's a commercial situation where they can get more sponsorship, that's the only thing I can see for it."
Keith Hackett urges Pro Ref to adopt new World Cup rule
Former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett has urged Pro Ref to "stretch" the rule regarding how long players spend off the field after receiving treatment for next season.
Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo was left frustrated when he was forced off for an entire minute after going down in his country's 1-0 World Cup defeat to Ivory Coast on 15 June.
Caicedo fell to the ground after a challenge, but was shown to the sidelines by the referee despite not receiving treatment, in a bid to cut down on both simulation and time-wasting.
Hackett believes that such a rule in the Premier League would hand greater power to referees, and also make players think twice about staying down after tackles.