Black refs question fast-tracking of white officials as they remain on sidelines

Football's Black referees have questioned the promotion of another official to the Premier League while they remain under a glass ceiling.

With refereeing standards in the ­spotlight after a series of Premier League controversies, the lack of non-white ­officials continues to leave many so ­incensed they believe they are languishing in a 'Black man's graveyard'.

Hartlepool whistler Tony Harrington took charge of his first Premier League game last Wednesday - ­Brighton's home clash with Wolves.

In September, Aussie Jarred Gillett ­became the first non-British referee to run a Premier League game when he officiated Watford against Newcastle.

Ongoing talks for years have failed to see BAME officials fast-tracked in the same way as their white counterparts.

Out of less than 200 referees across the country's top seven divisions, just a ­handful are Black or Asian and only Sam Allison has made it to the referees' list for Leagues One and Two.

What must the Premier League and EFL do to address the lack of BAME referees? Have your say in the comments.

Their frustrations are not with ­Harrington or Gillett but with a system they believe is not geared towards support for Black referees to be similarly fast-tracked, despite claims from English ­football's stakeholders they want the game to be more diverse.

One Black referee, who wished to ­remain anonymous, said: "This is so ­disheartening and begs the question for many of us: 'What's the point of taking the abuse and unjustified poor marks from clubs and observers every week when you're not going to get anywhere?'"

Another said: "Could the secret be shared as to how these referees achieved their goals so quickly, so that everyone has an equal opportunity?"

A third added: "I've had this for the last 14 years as a level four referee. My white colleagues overtook me at incredible speed." Stuart Attwell is another example of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd fast-tracking referees into the top flight.

As a 25-year-old, the Nuneaton ­official was promoted to the top-flight list in 2008 after just one season in the Football League.

The spotlight is now being turned on the FA's observers. Across the men's and ­women's ­professional game and the semi-­professional tiers, there are just 14.

Referees are ranked on a rising scale from level seven to one with one being the elite referees in the Premier League and two being the Championship.

While the PGMOL runs the top groups, levels 2 to 4 are run by the FA with levels 5 and below administered by county FAs.

Many non-white referees believe the lack of diversity among the FA's observers is a factor in their glass ceiling. Several have also cited inappropriate ­language used by assessors.

One told Mirror Sport: "I remember two observers assessing me. Instead of being constructive they joked about how I looked like the TV character Luther. If I ­complained, people would say I was being petty but it sums up the culture we are up against."

An FA spokesperson said: "By 2024, we want to grow the pipeline of a high-­performing refereeing workforce across both grassroots and elite football, which is representative of females, Black, Asian, mixed or other ethnic groups and disabled people."

But frustrated Black and Asian ­referees have pointed to a system they believe is not supporting them.

One said: "Why is there no pipeline for the next referee of colour now? Why is it that two of our white ­colleagues follow two varying pathways in their careers? They are supported, well trained and sponsored yet no such privilege is afforded to a referee of colour?"

Another added: "No matter what I do in the middle or on the line, I just know that it is pointless. Why do I do it? Easy. One day the situation will change."