Source: REUTERS/Toby Melville
[Saba Sports News] Recently, British media wrote an article exposing some of the behind-the-scenes details of PGMOL (Premier League Referee Company), revealing that the company is currently facing severe funding shortages. It is reported that Howard Webb, the chief referee officer of PGMOL, will announce next week a new loss of £900,000, with last year’s loss of £379,000 having been revised up to £1.8 million, totaling losses of £3.4 million over three years. PGMOL’s current budget is approximately £33 million. The revenue of the bottom Premier League club is £110 million, and it will further increase with the new broadcasting agreement taking effect next season. Inflation, VAR costs, training time, equipment, and rental fees for the Stockley Park VAR center have caused a sharp rise in costs. In the financial year ending July 2023, previous losses were readjusted to include severance payments for retiring referees. Reports indicate that Howard Webb hopes to reach long-term agreements with the three funding parties of PGMOL, similar to those signed between the Premier League and EFL with broadcasters. Currently, they operate on an annual basis, relying on reserves to cover losses and with funding parties guaranteeing organizational support.