NEW Premier League referee Simon Hooper should not have been promoted to Select Group 1 who take charge of top-tier matches, according to former international referee Mark Halsey.
Hooper and David Coote impressed in the Championship this season and were selected to replace Mike Jones and Neil Swarbrick by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
Supporters won’t see the pair in the middle at Old Trafford and the Etihad every week next season, but instead the PGMOL will integrate them slowly to ensure they are given the best opportunity to succeed.
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He said: “Coote fully deserves his promotion, he’s a good referee and given he was suspended last year, he’s done very well to bounce back from it and have an excellent season.
But a source close to the PGMOL believed both Coote and Hooper deserved their promotions.
They said: “If you look at what they’ve done on a consistent basis over the course of the season, how they manage players and expectations, they have consistently performed to a really high level and pushed themselves into the frame.”
Coote, who played cricket for Nottinghamshire in his youth, joined the EFL’s list of referees in 2010 after switching from being an assistant.
In 2014, he officiated the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley and in April this year refereed in the Premier League match between Newcastle and West Brom.
Hooper had the League One Play-Off Final honour in 2017 and, after 10 seasons in the EFL, the PGMOL believe he is ready to make the step into the Premier League.
He demonstrated that when he refereed Newcastle against Burnley in January.
“It’s a case that everyone has looked and thought they’ve shown they’ve got something about them. They’re being given the opportunity now to rise in the Premier League.”
Jones, 50, joined the list of Premier League match officials in 2008 and Swarbrick, 52, followed three years later.
The source said: “If you look at Mike Jones, he’s been on the list for many years, an experienced referee and one that has been consistent over the course of the seasons as a Football League referee and as a Premier League referee.
“You can work with both of them at anytime. They’re two really good lads, solid referees and again they’ve consistently performed at the high level.
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“When you look at the stresses and strains that are put on referees at the top level, they’ve not shown it. They’ve not shown any sort of negativity in regards to that. They’ve always shown strength and character.”
Jones took charge of his 202nd and final top flight game at The Hawthorns when West Brom beat Tottenham 1-0 and was fourth official on the final day as Liverpool thumped Brighton.
He was involved in 1,319 professional matches and said: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of my refereeing career – when I passed my referee exams 35 years ago, I would never have dreamed that I would still be going today.
“I will miss the excitement of running out at the best stadiums in the country, with the best seat in the house.”
Like Jones, Swarbrick was fourth official on the final day but his final match ‘in the middle’ was at Wembley as he refereed Spurs’ 1-0 win over Newcastle, his 131st Premier League game.
Swarbrick said: “I feel that the referees in England are some of the best in the world, and I have every confidence in their continued success.
Riley added: “Mike and Neil have been fantastic match officials and have made a significant contribution to the Premier League.
“While their on-field refereeing careers may have come to an end, we are excited about what the future holds for them, as they continue their careers with us.”
Although Premier League clubs voted against the introduction of VAR next season, Jones and Swarbrick will continue to work for PGMOL and will be heavily involved with its development and usage in next season’s cup competitions following its use at the World Cup.
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