Premier League match official appointments are usually announced each Monday, or on Tuesday when a Premier League match is played on Monday. They are made by Pro Ref and take account of experience, current form, prior appointments involving the clubs, the team a referee supports, and any upcoming international duty.
Who makes the appointments
The body responsible for appointments is now called Professional Game Referees, or Pro Ref. That name has been in use since June 2026.
For 2026/27, a newly created Professional Referee Group services the Premier League and the EFL Championship. It was formed by merging the previous select groups and the supplementary list.
What the appointment process takes into account
These are the factors used in the appointment process.
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Experience | The referee’s overall experience |
| Form | Their current form |
| Familiarity | How often they have already refereed the clubs involved |
| Allegiance | Which team the referee supports |
| International duty | Any forthcoming international appointments |
When appointments are announced
These are the announcement timings for Premier League appointments.
| Situation | Announcement time |
|---|---|
| No Premier League match on Monday | Monday |
| A Premier League match is played on Monday | Tuesday |
The wider system behind appointments
Appointments sit inside a broader professional setup. The Professional Referee Group meets regularly, both in person and online, to share learning and reflect on decisions.
Each referee and assistant referee is supported by a multi-disciplinary team working across sports science, psychology, performance analysis and coaching support.
An independent key match incidents panel also meets every week. It includes former players and coaches, along with a Premier League representative and a Pro Ref representative, and reviews major incidents while assessing the outcomes of on-field and video decisions.
FAQ
When are Premier League referee appointments announced?
The usual publication day is Monday. If a Premier League match is played on Monday, the appointments are announced on Tuesday instead.
Who appoints Premier League referees?
Appointments are made by Professional Game Referees, or Pro Ref. That is the current name used for the body responsible.
For 2026/27, the Professional Referee Group services the Premier League and the EFL Championship.
Do Premier League referees officiate their own team?
The team a referee supports is one of the factors considered during appointments. It is built into the process rather than left outside it.
Club allegiance is considered alongside experience, form, previous appointments involving the clubs and upcoming international duty.
Do Premier League referees officiate international matches?
37 Pro Ref match officials are on the FIFA international list of match officials, which qualifies them to officiate in FIFA competitions.
