The substantial salaries of Premier League referees have been disclosed, revealing that they are among the highest earners in the country.
Their income reflects their increasingly important role in football and the immense pressure they face weekly as billions of viewers worldwide watch the matches.
Figures presented by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb at a meeting with the 72 EFL clubs unveiled the earnings of Premier League officials, as reported by The Times.
The data indicated that the average salary for a Premier League referee ranges from £170,000 to £180,000.
Top-tier referees can earn approximately £250,000 annually.
Officials receive a base salary, supplemented by performance-related bonuses and match fees.
The base salary varies between £72,000 and £148,000, depending on experience and seniority.
Experienced officials like Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver are likely to earn around £250,000 per year from their Premier League duties.
Less experienced referees in `Select Group 1` will earn closer to £125,000.
Including pension and national insurance contributions, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) incurs an average total cost of £240,000 per referee.
In comparison, the average salary for pilots and air traffic controllers is considerably lower at £91,208.
Salaries for chief executives (£81,328), IT directors (£81,588), and specialist medical practitioners (£73,320) are also lower than those of Premier League referees.
However, professionals in finance, insurance, and law in major cities can earn significantly more than Premier League referees.
Referees can increase their income outside the Premier League by officiating in UEFA competitions like the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
They can also officiate at FIFA events, including the Club World Cup and the World Cup.
Reports from last year indicated that Champions League referees are paid between £5,300 and £9,000 per match.
Major tournaments like the World Cup reportedly pay officials between £38,700 and £54,000, excluding match bonuses.
Premier League officials face restrictions on supplementing their income outside of these organizations.
The PGMOL has effectively prohibited officials from taking charge of matches in Gulf states.
This decision was made last year after Michael Oliver, Darren England, and Dan Cook officiated a match in the United Arab Emirates shortly before a significant VAR error in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last season.
Concerns arose about the perception of the Premier League, considering Manchester City`s ownership from the United Arab Emirates and Newcastle United`s connections to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
