TV giants line-up for fly-on-the-wall documentary on Premier League referees – with producers keen to humanise match officials and shed light on controversial VAR and refereeing decisions

• Talks held over screening a new documentary about the life of top-flight referees
• Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, who manage refs, yet to agree to project
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Premier League broadcasters Sky Sports, TNT Sport and Amazon Prime have held talks over screening a new documentary about the life of top-flight referees. 

An independent production company are understood to have pitched the programme to all three of the Premier League’s domestic rights holders, but it has yet to be signed off by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited [PGMOL], who manage referees.

PGMOL have become more open since the appointment of Howard Webb as its first chief refereeing officer last year however, and may be receptive to the idea. 

The proposal follows the success of Match Officials Mic’d Up, another new programme in which Webb and Michael Owen use audio from in-game conversations between officials to explain controversial VAR and refereeing decisions.

The premise of the documentary pitch is understood to be an attempt to humanise referees, as well as giving fans a greater understanding of how they carry out their duties and the pressure they are under.

The premise of the documentary pitch is understood to be an attempt to humanise referees

Jermaine Jenas had to apologise after writing on X that referees were ‘all ruining our game’ 

Jenas posted this on social media in the aftermath, saying referees are ‘ruining our game’

Cristian Romero was penalised for this handball offence, with Bukayo Saka scoring the penalty

Producers envisaged that referees’ training sessions and pre and post-match meetings will be filmed, as well as unseen footage from games, although the Premier League would also have to give their blessing to the project.

‘It’s a great idea,’ said one source close to the referees. ‘It would show a different side to them. How hard it is. The pressure they’re under. To officiate a Premier League is not easy. One error and you’re vilified. So something such as this might help people see a different side to officials.’

Refereeing decisions often provide the main talking points after Premier League matches, particularly since the introduction of VAR four years ago, which has led to increased interest from broadcasters. 

Former England and Tottenham midfield player Jermaine Jenas issued an apology earlier this week after writing on X that referees were ‘all ruining our game’ after Rob Jones awarded Arsenal penalty in Sunday’s north London derby. 

‘My emotions got the better of me and I apologise to The FA and to all match officials,’ Jenas posted on X,’ although he did not remove his initial comments.

Webb has attempted to increase the transparency and accountability of referees since joining PGMOL from a similar role in America last year, a move which has been welcomed by broadcasters. The Mic’d Up show aired for the first time on Sky and TNT three weeks ago and is scheduled to become a regular monthly programme.

Amazon are since understood to have declined the opportunity after hearing the pitch. 

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