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What’s new for 2023/24: Match officials

5 Aug 2023

Tim-Robinson-&-Darren-Bond-ref-composite

PGMOL confirms three new faces for the start of the season

With the Premier League kick-off fast approaching, here's what's new for the 2023/24 season.

Match officials

Three new officials will operate in this season's Premier League after they were promoted by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

Referee: Tim Robinson

Robinson took charge of his first Premier League match in December 2019, Burnley v Newcastle United. The Sussex FA-affiliated official had been an assistant referee in the EFL between 2009 and 2012 before becoming an EFL referee. He took charge of two Premier League matches last season.

Referee: Darren Bond

Bond made his debut as a Premier League referee in January this year, for Leicester City v Fulham, the first of four matches in the competition he has taken charge of.

Assistant referee: Akil Howson

Howson (pictured below) is among 14 officials from PGMOL’s Development Group, which was formed last summer, who will begin the new campaign at least one level above where they started last season.

The Development Group of officials with high potential was formed as part of the implementation of the Elite Referee Development Plan (ERDP) last summer, with 30 per cent of the 28 referees and assistant referees in the group being Black, Asian or Mixed Heritage.

Retiring referee

Andre Marriner will not be involved as a referee this season, after announcing his retirement at the end of 2022/23.

Marriner’s final match was in charge of Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on Sunday 28 May, concluding 23 years as a match official in the higher echelons of English football. That fixture was his 391st match in the Premier League.