The Times has revealed the figures provided by the refereeing manager Howard Webb, during a meeting of the 72 clubs of the English Football League (EFL). The best Premier League referees receive around 300,000 euros per year. The average salary, including bonuses and match fees, is between 200,000 and 215,000 euros, with an average average cost of remuneration estimated at 290,000 euros per arbitrator, that is to say much than in Ligue 1 where the salary of an arbitrator is around € 160,000 on average. The most experienced, such as Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, also benefit from missions for UEFA and FIFA, allowing them to increase their income.
However, the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) prohibited the premier league referees in certain foreign leagues, after a controversy in 2023. Michael Oliver, Darren England and Dan Cook had refereed a match in the United Arab Emirates only 48 hours before a major error in Var during the 2-1 victory. A goal by Luis Díaz had been wrongly refused for offside due to a misunderstanding between officials, causing a wave of criticism. Oliver had also directed a match in Saudi Arabia, for which he had been paid for 3,500 euros. This practice had raised questions about the image of the Premier League, while Manchester City is held by the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Saudi public investment fund has Newcastle United.
