The Premier League referee ratings for 2026/27 will be followed more closely than ever after English football introduced the biggest structural change to its professional refereeing system in years.

The old Select Group One and Select Group Two system has been removed. In its place is a single Professional Referee Group that will largely cover both the Premier League and the EFL Championship. The change means Championship officials can now receive top-flight appointments more easily, while established Premier League referees face increased competition for major matches.

It also means that the familiar language of permanent promotion and relegation is becoming less accurate. Referees will increasingly move between the Premier League and Championship according to performance, development and appointment requirements rather than belonging permanently to one competition.

The VAR Verdict has reviewed the changes, the emerging officials, last season’s performances and the new refereeing instructions to produce a detailed guide to the 2026/27 campaign.

The ratings in this article are independent editorial assessments. They are not official scores published by the Premier League or Professional Game Referees.

What Has Changed for Premier League Referees?

Professional Game Match Officials has been renamed Professional Game Referees, commonly shortened to Pro Ref. The change is supported by a new three-year funding agreement involving the Premier League, EFL, Football Association and WSL Football.

More importantly, the previous Select Group One, Select Group Two and supplementary lists have been merged into one Professional Referee Group.

Under the old structure, Select Group One officials were primarily considered Premier League referees, while Select Group Two operated mainly in the Championship. The new model gives Pro Ref greater flexibility to reward officials who are performing well.

A strong Championship referee could therefore receive a Premier League appointment without waiting for a traditional end-of-season promotion. An established top-flight referee who is struggling could also receive more Championship matches while rebuilding form.

That should create genuine competition. Reputation and seniority will still matter, but current performance should have a greater influence over appointments.

Which Referee Will Not Be in the Premier League?

Darren Bond has retired

Darren Bond is the only confirmed Premier League centre referee who will not continue into the 2026/27 season.

Bond retired after the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign. Assistant referees Natalie Aspinall and Marc Perry also ended their officiating careers.

Bond made his Premier League debut in January 2023 after a long career in the EFL. He became a regular member of the top-flight group but never established himself among the officials consistently selected for the league’s biggest matches.

His departure creates space for younger officials, although the new unified structure means Pro Ref does not necessarily need to name one direct replacement.

As of publication, there has been no confirmed announcement that Michael Oliver, Anthony Taylor, Paul Tierney, Craig Pawson or another established centre referee is leaving the domestic group.

Which Championship Referees Could Work in the Premier League?

Six emerging officials were placed on the supplementary Select Group list before the 2025/26 season:

• Lewis Smith
• Farai Hallam
• Adam Herczeg
• Tom Kirk
• Ruebyn Ricardo
• Ben Toner

The supplementary list was designed to serve both the Premier League and EFL. With the creation of the Professional Referee Group, these officials are now even closer to regular top-flight appointments.

They should not all be described as completely new Premier League referees. Several have already worked in the competition as centre referees or fourth officials.

Farai Hallam

Hallam appears to be the strongest immediate candidate for more Premier League matches.

He received several centre-referee appointments during 2025/26, including games in January, April and on the final day of the season. His repeated appointments suggest that Pro Ref was not using him only for experience. He was being actively assessed as a top-flight referee.

Hallam’s style is relatively calm and he does not rush towards disciplinary sanctions. That can help the flow of a Premier League match, but he must ensure that a high foul threshold does not become excessive tolerance.

2026/27 expectation: Between eight and 15 Premier League centre appointments if his early performances are strong.

Tom Kirk

Kirk made his Premier League refereeing debut during the 2025/26 season and subsequently received further centre appointments.

He was appointed to Burnley against Crystal Palace for his first top-flight match and later handled additional Premier League fixtures, including games in January, March and May.

Kirk appears comfortable with the speed of the competition and communicates clearly. His next challenge is handling matches involving clubs competing for the title, European qualification or survival.

2026/27 expectation: A regular development referee who could move beyond ten top-flight matches.

Lewis Smith

Smith already had Premier League experience before joining the supplementary group and continued to receive appointments during 2025/26.

He was trusted with a Premier League centre appointment in February, while also regularly working as a fourth official.

Smith is physically strong and generally maintains good proximity to play. His disciplinary recognition will determine whether he becomes a regular top-flight official or continues to move between divisions.

2026/27 expectation: More centre appointments, particularly during congested fixture periods.

Adam Herczeg

Herczeg spent much of last season working as a Premier League fourth official while continuing his development in the EFL.

He appeared on numerous top-flight appointment lists, including the opening weekend and final matchweek.

Working as a fourth official provides experience of Premier League benches, technical-area behaviour and communication with senior referees. The next step is proving that he can manage the intensity from the middle.

2026/27 expectation: Selective Premier League debuts rather than an immediate full schedule.

Ruebyn Ricardo

Ricardo became a regular fourth official throughout 2025/26, appearing across numerous Premier League matchweeks.

His appointments show that Pro Ref is preparing him for the top-flight environment, but he has less centre-referee experience in the Premier League than Hallam or Kirk.

2026/27 expectation: Fourth-official work combined with one or more carefully selected centre appointments.

Ben Toner

Toner has also gained Premier League experience as a fourth official, including appointments during the latter stages of last season.

He may not receive as many early centre appointments as Hallam or Kirk, but the unified group gives him a clearer route into the competition.

2026/27 expectation: Continued development with possible Premier League opportunities during the second half of the season.

Other Championship Officials Who Could Receive Matches

The new system could also create opportunities for established Championship officials such as Matt Donohue, Andrew Kitchen, Josh Smith, Gavin Ward and David Webb.

Several of these referees already received Premier League centre or fourth-official appointments during 2025/26. That confirms the barrier between the two competitions had started to weaken even before the formal restructuring.

There is therefore no single fixed list of “promoted Championship referees.” The central story is that the old boundary has disappeared.

How We Calculated the Ratings

The VAR Verdict’s preseason ratings use five categories:

Category	Weight
Key decision accuracy	35%
Match control and authority	25%
Disciplinary consistency	20%
VAR cooperation	10%
Difficulty of appointments	10%

These ratings consider performances during 2025/26, recent international appointments and each referee’s expected role during 2026/27.

They are not predictions of perfection. A referee starting the season at 8.5 can decline, while a development official beginning at 7.5 may quickly move higher.

Top 10 Premier League Referees for 2026/27

Rank	Referee	Preseason Rating	2026/27 Status
1	Michael Oliver	9.1/10	Leading referee
2	Anthony Taylor	8.9/10	Leading referee
3	Chris Kavanagh	8.6/10	Elite-level regular
4	Sam Barrott	8.4/10	Rising top referee
5	Darren England	8.3/10	Trusted referee and VAR
6	Jarred Gillett	8.2/10	Senior referee and VAR
7	Stuart Attwell	8.1/10	Experienced referee and VAR
8	Craig Pawson	8.0/10	Experienced senior official
9	Tom Bramall	7.9/10	Established younger referee
10	Farai Hallam	7.8/10	Breakthrough candidate

1. Michael Oliver

Rating: 9.1/10

Michael Oliver remains England’s most complete referee.

His strengths are movement, recognition of tactical fouls and the ability to control high-profile players without making himself the centre of the match. He generally understands when the Premier League’s high physical threshold should apply and when player safety requires immediate intervention.

Oliver was one of the two English centre referees selected for the 2026 World Cup and handled four matches, including a quarter-final, before England’s progress made him unavailable for the final stages.

His main domestic weakness has occasionally been an overly high threshold for disciplinary action. Allowing football to flow is valuable, but delaying a necessary caution can encourage repeated tactical fouling.

What to expect: Oliver should continue to receive title clashes, major derbies and the most difficult tactical appointments.

2. Anthony Taylor

Rating: 8.9/10

Taylor remains one of the strongest referees in England when a match requires authority and decisive disciplinary management.

He led the Premier League in appointments during 2025/26 and was also selected for the World Cup alongside Oliver. Referee statistics list him among the competition’s most frequently used and most active officials.

Taylor is willing to make major decisions without waiting for VAR. That confidence is important, although his strong personality can occasionally make communication appear confrontational.

What to expect: Another season near the top of the appointment hierarchy, particularly for physically demanding matches.

3. Chris Kavanagh

Rating: 8.6/10

Kavanagh has developed into one of Pro Ref’s most trusted officials.

His positioning is usually strong and he remains composed during complex penalty-area incidents. He also has significant VAR experience, allowing him to understand how on-field decisions will be evaluated by the video team.

His 2025/26 season was not flawless. He was temporarily stood down following a difficult FA Cup performance that included several disputed decisions without VAR support.

That match exposed a wider concern about top-flight officials becoming accustomed to the VAR safety net. Kavanagh’s Premier League work was generally stronger, but he must maintain decisive on-field recognition.

What to expect: Major matches and European appointments, provided his early-season accuracy remains high.

4. Sam Barrott

Rating: 8.4/10

Barrott represents the strongest evidence that the Premier League’s referee development programme is producing new senior officials.

He received 24 league appointments during 2025/26 according to published competition statistics, a workload that placed him close to the most established referees.

Barrott is mobile, communicates well and appears increasingly comfortable when matches become emotional. His disciplinary line is usually understandable, which helps players adapt.

The next challenge is consistency in the most important matches. Performing well in a mid-table game is different from controlling a title-deciding fixture involving tactical pressure from both benches.

What to expect: A realistic push towards the league’s top three or four referees.

5. Darren England

Rating: 8.3/10

Darren England combines regular centre-referee appointments with extensive VAR responsibility.

His understanding of the protocol is one of his strongest qualities. He is usually disciplined about the clear-and-obvious threshold and does not automatically turn every debatable incident into an on-field review.

On the field, he tends to maintain a balanced foul threshold and communicates calmly. His main area for improvement is responding earlier when persistent fouling begins to influence the match.

What to expect: Continued major appointments both in the middle and at Stockley Park.

6. Jarred Gillett

Rating: 8.2/10

Gillett remains one of the most technically experienced officials in the group.

His background in Australia and familiarity with VAR give him a different refereeing profile from many of his English colleagues. He is comfortable explaining decisions and rarely appears overwhelmed by the technology.

He refereed the 2026 Championship play-off final, another indication of Pro Ref’s confidence in his ability to handle high-pressure matches.

At times, however, his foul threshold can shift during matches. Greater consistency between the opening period and the final 20 minutes would improve player trust.

What to expect: Premier League, VAR and major EFL appointments under the new flexible system.

7. Stuart Attwell

Rating: 8.1/10

Attwell remains an important part of the refereeing group because of his experience both on the field and as a video official.

Statistical analysis identified Attwell as one of the more punitive referees during 2025/26, reflecting a relatively strict disciplinary approach.

That can help him control matches early, although a high card rate is not automatically evidence of good refereeing. The quality and timing of sanctions matter more than the total number.

What to expect: Continued regular appointments, with significant VAR responsibilities.

8. Craig Pawson

Rating: 8.0/10

Pawson is one of the league’s most experienced referees and generally offers a stable, low-profile style.

His foul-to-card rate was among the highest in the league, meaning he allowed more offences before producing disciplinary sanctions than most regular referees.

That approach can support match flow, but it also carries risk. Players may interpret delayed sanctions as permission to continue tactical or reckless behaviour.

What to expect: Fewer headline fixtures than Oliver or Taylor, but continued trust in demanding matches requiring experience.

9. Tom Bramall

Rating: 7.9/10

Bramall has moved beyond the category of an occasional development referee.

He received a substantial number of Premier League appointments last season and frequently appeared during important late-season matchweeks.

Bramall’s movement and general foul recognition are promising. His next step is improving the timing of disciplinary action, especially when a match contains repeated tactical fouls rather than one obvious reckless challenge.

What to expect: More appointments and an opportunity to enter the top tier of the rankings.

10. Farai Hallam

Rating: 7.8/10

Hallam is our leading breakthrough candidate.

He made his Premier League refereeing debut in January 2026 and had received multiple centre appointments by the end of the season. Published statistics showed seven yellow cards across his first two matches and no red cards or penalties.

Most importantly, Hallam demonstrated confidence by maintaining his decision after being advised to conduct an on-field review during his debut. A referee is not required to agree with VAR, and independently assessing the evidence is a positive quality.

That confidence must be supported by accuracy. Rejecting VAR is impressive only when the final decision is correct.

What to expect: A genuine opportunity to become a regular Premier League referee.

Lowest-Rated Returning Referee

Robert Jones: 6.2/10

Robert Jones begins the new season with the lowest rating among our established returning Premier League referees.

This does not mean every performance was poor. Jones remains physically capable, experienced and sufficiently trusted to receive regular appointments. The concern is disciplinary consistency, particularly his recognition of second cautionable offences.

A report citing Key Match Incidents panel figures stated that Jones had been responsible for five of the league’s 12 errors involving second yellow cards not being shown during the season.

That is a serious area of concern because VAR could not previously intervene when a referee failed to issue a possible second yellow card.

Why missing a second yellow is so damaging

A referee may avoid a second caution because the player is already booked and the consequence would be dismissal. That is understandable psychologically but incorrect technically.

The standard for the second yellow should be the same as the first. The referee must judge the offence, not the consequence of the card.

When a player who should have been dismissed remains on the field, the mistake can affect every later phase of the match. It can also damage control because opponents see that a previously cautioned player has been given additional protection.

What Jones must improve

Jones needs a clearer line on:

• Reckless challenges by already-cautioned players
• Persistent offending
• Stopping promising attacks
• Dissent after a previous warning
• Tactical fouls late in matches

The new law allowing VAR to review a second yellow that has actually been shown may protect referees from an incorrect dismissal. However, VAR still cannot intervene simply because the referee failed to show a possible second yellow.

That leaves the responsibility for missed cautions entirely with the on-field referee.

The VAR Verdict: Jones has enough experience to recover, but he enters 2026/27 under more performance pressure than the other established officials.

What to Expect From Refereeing in 2026/27

The high threshold for contact will remain

The Premier League has confirmed that not every contact will be treated as a foul. Referees have been instructed to preserve the league’s physical and competitive character while continuing to protect player safety.

The same principle applies to VAR. The referee’s original call should remain unless the available evidence establishes a clear and obvious error.

This is positive in theory. The challenge is consistency. A high threshold must not become an excuse for ignoring reckless challenges or obvious holding.

Greater focus on holding inside the penalty area

Referees have been told to improve recognition of holding that has a clear impact on an opponent’s ability to play the ball.

Defenders who focus only on blocking or restraining an attacker, particularly during corners and free kicks, are more likely to be penalised.

The key phrase is material impact. Minor shirt contact should not automatically result in a penalty, but prolonged or non-footballing restraint should.

Goalkeeper obstruction will be examined more closely

Attackers will be penalised when they make a clear action with no intention of challenging for the ball and prevent a goalkeeper from moving towards it.

This could become one of the season’s most controversial areas. Referees must distinguish between an attacker legally occupying space and an attacker deliberately blocking the goalkeeper.

New punishment for hair pulling

Hair pulling will no longer automatically be treated as a red-card offence.

A deliberate pull without excessive force or brutality should result in a yellow card. A red card will still be shown when the action involves excessive force or brutality.

This change should create more proportionate punishments, but the distinction between a forceful yellow and a red will remain subjective.

VAR can correct an incorrect second yellow dismissal

VAR may now review an incident when a referee shows a second yellow card that leads to a red.

This review can determine whether the caution was clearly incorrect. However, VAR cannot recommend a second yellow when the referee has not shown one.

This is an important but limited expansion. It protects players from wrongful dismissal without turning every possible caution into a video review.

Five-second countdown for delayed restarts

Referees will use a five-second countdown when a team clearly delays a throw-in or goal kick.

If the delay continues, a throw-in can be awarded to the opposition. For an excessively delayed goal kick, the opponents can receive a corner.

Consistency will be essential. The countdown must not be applied strictly in one match and ignored in another.

One-minute absence after treatment

A player treated or assessed on the field must remain off the pitch for at least one minute, rather than the previous 30-second period.

The change is intended to discourage tactical stoppages and unnecessary treatment, although referees must remain careful when dealing with genuine injuries.

Faster VAR and better stadium communication

The Premier League wants more efficient semi-automated offside decisions, shorter delays and better in-stadium explanations.

Referee announcements following reviews will continue, while the league and Pro Ref remain supportive of greater future access to VAR audio.

Speed will remain one of the main measures of success. Supporters may accept a difficult decision, but extended delays without a clear explanation damage confidence.

The VAR Verdict

The 2026/27 season represents more than a change of name from PGMO to Pro Ref.

The creation of one Professional Referee Group removes the rigid boundary between the Premier League and Championship. Referees such as Farai Hallam, Tom Kirk and Lewis Smith now have a clearer opportunity to earn regular top-flight appointments through performance.

Darren Bond is the only confirmed centre-referee departure, while Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor remain the two leading figures. Chris Kavanagh, Sam Barrott and Darren England form the next group, with Hallam rated as the most likely new official to make a major breakthrough.

The official under the greatest pressure is Robert Jones. His disciplinary recognition, especially around second yellow cards, must improve if he is to protect his place in an increasingly competitive appointment system.

The biggest test for Pro Ref will not be whether the league introduces more technology or publishes more guidance. It will be whether the same foul, holding offence, second yellow and VAR threshold are judged consistently from August to May.

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