Premier League referees 'sounded out' over big-money moves to Saudi Arabia
Premier League referees could make the jump to the Saudi Pro League, with big wages set to be on offer to officials.
It was an unprecedented level of spending by a non-European league last summer, with only Premier League clubs splurging more cash. The likes of Karim Benzema, Neymar and N'Golo Kante all joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi league, while Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah respectively.
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) has taken charge of four Pro League clubs, including both Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, helping to finance their big spending. And the Times is reporting that the league is now 'looking to recruit leading referees' from across Europe on a full-time basis.
The report states several officials from the Premier League and other top European Leagues have been 'sounded out' about whether they would be interested in moving to the Gulf state. Currently, overseas referees are able to take charge of one-off matches, with Michael Oliver being paid £3,000 to officiate a game between Al-Hilal and Ronaldo's Al-Nassr back in April.
Current PGMOL boss Howard Webb and former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg have previously worked for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation as their Head of Refereeing. Ex-referee Keith Hackett previously expressed his concerns that the Premier League could end up "losing a world-class referee" given the amount of money the Pro League could offer an official like Oliver.
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"Oliver has done a World Cup, and he's in line for the next World Cup too – he's our number one," Hackett told Football Insider. "But I'm concerned. Both Webb and Mark Clattenburg went over to the Middle East on a full-time basis. There is a risk there of the Premier League losing a world-class referee."
And it has been claimed that they are willing to offer referees full-time wages that will 'dwarf' the £120,000 to £300,000 that officials can currently earn in England. The Pro League is said to have made contact with a number of referees as part of a recruitment drive which is viewed as the 'next phase of the league's development'.
Premier League referee Michael Oliver earned £3,000 after officiating a one-off Saudi Pro League match (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)In a statement, the PGMOL said: "Any interest in our officials from other leagues demonstrates the strong reputation of English officials across the globe. They are contracted and operate in the Premier League, which is considered the most competitive and compelling football with world-class players week in, week out."
Clattenburg left his role in Saudi Arabia after just 18 months and issued a scathing assessment of the country's refereeing standards. "It's one of those things – I had too many jobs," he told Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya.
"When they arrived there was a big fitness problem and [they] were not well trained. I was disappointed in my meetings as they failed in the basic standards and understanding of the law of the game."
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