According to a Premier League announcement, English professional referee, Howard Melton Webb has retired as a match referee, following his appointment as the technical director of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
Webb will now be responsible for overseeing the technical direction and standards that govern the on-field performance of match officials.
Speaking in an interview released on the Premier League’s website, the former police officer expressed his excitement and said he is looking forward to the challenge.
"I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career after a wonderfully rewarding 25 years on the pitch," Webb told the Premier League website.
"I have spent over a decade with the best seat in the house for Barclays Premier League matches, been lucky enough to be involved in nine UEFA and FIFA tournaments, and taken charge of the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup finals.
"Refereeing has given me so much and it’s important that match officials who have had the rewards remain in the game to pass on their knowledge. I also have much more to learn about the business of refereeing and the best place for me to do that is with PGMOL. It’s an incredibly positive working environment and we all have a common goal of improving refereeing.
"Over the last five years in particular, we have made huge strides in terms of our accuracy, fitness and professionalism. The current Select Group are the best referees this country has ever produced and I am thrilled that I not only get the chance to continue working with them but also the opportunity to help develop the next generation of Select Group officials,” he added.
Webb, who began refereeing in 1989, was born to Sylvia and Billy Webb and grew up in Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire. His father was a referee for 35 years.