PGMOL Watch
@pgmol-watch.bsky.social
📊 Data-driven Premier League analyses of PGMOL's referees.
⚽️ Former Serie A player living in the UK.
💯 All views are my own and my schedule is totally random.
⚽️ Former Serie A player living in the UK.
💯 All views are my own and my schedule is totally random.
Pinned
PGMOL Watch
@pgmol-watch.bsky.social
· Nov 14
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I'm sharing the other two infographics I created about England match officials here, for reference, and will keep working on this last one.
There's the break anyway so I have time :)
Cheers
I'm sharing the other two infographics I created about England match officials here, for reference, and will keep working on this last one.
There's the break anyway so I have time :)
Cheers
To reiterate my position on the Premier League being competitive rather than "boring" (bsky.app/profile/pgmo...), 5 English clubs are currently in the Top8 of the UCL (with City on the same points as PSG).
On this account, I try to analyse whether PGMOL can keep up with this competitiveness 😓
On this account, I try to analyse whether PGMOL can keep up with this competitiveness 😓
January 22, 2026 at 8:47 AM
To reiterate my position on the Premier League being competitive rather than "boring" (bsky.app/profile/pgmo...), 5 English clubs are currently in the Top8 of the UCL (with City on the same points as PSG).
On this account, I try to analyse whether PGMOL can keep up with this competitiveness 😓
On this account, I try to analyse whether PGMOL can keep up with this competitiveness 😓
Unfortunately, my data analysis has taken a substantial hit with what is effectively the "death" of FBREF: www.sports-reference.com/blog/2026/01...
That's sad.
That's sad.
FBref & Stathead Data Update | Sports-Reference.com
FBref & Stathead Data Update
www.sports-reference.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Unfortunately, my data analysis has taken a substantial hit with what is effectively the "death" of FBREF: www.sports-reference.com/blog/2026/01...
That's sad.
That's sad.
As part of my personal project to draft a proposal for the FA and PGMOL, I asked an AI to help me create a realistic model for the appointments of match officials.
The main question is obviously about territorial conflict, as here I have been banging against such appointments many times
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The main question is obviously about territorial conflict, as here I have been banging against such appointments many times
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January 21, 2026 at 12:23 PM
As part of my personal project to draft a proposal for the FA and PGMOL, I asked an AI to help me create a realistic model for the appointments of match officials.
The main question is obviously about territorial conflict, as here I have been banging against such appointments many times
[1/3]
The main question is obviously about territorial conflict, as here I have been banging against such appointments many times
[1/3]
I need to rewrite and repost this because BlueSky made a mess with my additions to the thread, sorry.
Appointments for Matchweek 23: www.premierleague.com/en/news/4553...
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
Appointments for Matchweek 23: www.premierleague.com/en/news/4553...
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
Match officials for Matchweek 23
See who will be officiating in the next round of Premier League fixtures, including the Video Assistant Referees
www.premierleague.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:31 AM
I need to rewrite and repost this because BlueSky made a mess with my additions to the thread, sorry.
Appointments for Matchweek 23: www.premierleague.com/en/news/4553...
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
Appointments for Matchweek 23: www.premierleague.com/en/news/4553...
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
[Not PGMOL] Looking at data for another analysis, I thought this was still worth sharing...
Now, Arsenal have the best defence, by some margin: 14 goals conceded (City 2nd have 20) and 11 clean sheets (2 more than MCI, CHE and EVE).
So Raya is on course for a 3rd consecutive Golden Glove...
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Now, Arsenal have the best defence, by some margin: 14 goals conceded (City 2nd have 20) and 11 clean sheets (2 more than MCI, CHE and EVE).
So Raya is on course for a 3rd consecutive Golden Glove...
[1/5]
January 20, 2026 at 5:18 PM
[Not PGMOL] Looking at data for another analysis, I thought this was still worth sharing...
Now, Arsenal have the best defence, by some margin: 14 goals conceded (City 2nd have 20) and 11 clean sheets (2 more than MCI, CHE and EVE).
So Raya is on course for a 3rd consecutive Golden Glove...
[1/5]
Now, Arsenal have the best defence, by some margin: 14 goals conceded (City 2nd have 20) and 11 clean sheets (2 more than MCI, CHE and EVE).
So Raya is on course for a 3rd consecutive Golden Glove...
[1/5]
With the full list of appointments to UEFA games, I can look at the refs' workload.
3 referees are on a triple shift with little rest:
- England: UEL, #MCIWOL, #CRYCHE
- Gillett: UCL, UEL, #BRENFO
- Salisbury: 2xUCL, #BOULIV
Error-prone England has the least rest 🫣
bsky.app/profile/pgmo...
3 referees are on a triple shift with little rest:
- England: UEL, #MCIWOL, #CRYCHE
- Gillett: UCL, UEL, #BRENFO
- Salisbury: 2xUCL, #BOULIV
Error-prone England has the least rest 🫣
bsky.app/profile/pgmo...
Appointments for Matchweek 23: www.premierleague.com/en/news/4553...
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
Match officials for Matchweek 23
See who will be officiating in the next round of Premier League fixtures, including the Video Assistant Referees
www.premierleague.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:26 PM
With the full list of appointments to UEFA games, I can look at the refs' workload.
3 referees are on a triple shift with little rest:
- England: UEL, #MCIWOL, #CRYCHE
- Gillett: UCL, UEL, #BRENFO
- Salisbury: 2xUCL, #BOULIV
Error-prone England has the least rest 🫣
bsky.app/profile/pgmo...
3 referees are on a triple shift with little rest:
- England: UEL, #MCIWOL, #CRYCHE
- Gillett: UCL, UEL, #BRENFO
- Salisbury: 2xUCL, #BOULIV
Error-prone England has the least rest 🫣
bsky.app/profile/pgmo...
One benefit of not being a pundit or a creator is that I don't have to abide by the "rules" of engagement and jump on the latest trend... I look at data.
The most recent narrative is about the PL being "boring" this season, because there's been 17 0-0 compared to the whole of last season's 16
The most recent narrative is about the PL being "boring" this season, because there's been 17 0-0 compared to the whole of last season's 16
January 20, 2026 at 12:06 PM
One benefit of not being a pundit or a creator is that I don't have to abide by the "rules" of engagement and jump on the latest trend... I look at data.
The most recent narrative is about the PL being "boring" this season, because there's been 17 0-0 compared to the whole of last season's 16
The most recent narrative is about the PL being "boring" this season, because there's been 17 0-0 compared to the whole of last season's 16
Appointments for Matchweek 23: www.premierleague.com/en/news/4553...
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
Match officials for Matchweek 23
See who will be officiating in the next round of Premier League fixtures, including the Video Assistant Referees
www.premierleague.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Appointments for Matchweek 23: www.premierleague.com/en/news/4553...
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
I will update this thread with my analysis (workload, conflicts, etc)
We are reaching a point where I can't keep up with all the terrible decisions the match officials make every weekend.
The pen in #NFOARS, the red cards to Dalot (United) and Wilson (Fulham), disallowed goals and missed second yellows... I mean, WTF?
www.espn.co.uk/football/sto...
The pen in #NFOARS, the red cards to Dalot (United) and Wilson (Fulham), disallowed goals and missed second yellows... I mean, WTF?
www.espn.co.uk/football/sto...
VAR review: Did Arsenal deserve penalty for Forest handball?
The VAR cleared Forest's Ola Aina on a possible handball that would have given Arsenal a game-changing penalty. Was it the right call?
www.espn.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 11:14 AM
We are reaching a point where I can't keep up with all the terrible decisions the match officials make every weekend.
The pen in #NFOARS, the red cards to Dalot (United) and Wilson (Fulham), disallowed goals and missed second yellows... I mean, WTF?
www.espn.co.uk/football/sto...
The pen in #NFOARS, the red cards to Dalot (United) and Wilson (Fulham), disallowed goals and missed second yellows... I mean, WTF?
www.espn.co.uk/football/sto...
Replying to @goodysonx74.bsky.social
Lots to talk about the disallowed goal in #AVLEVE, and I have issues with the decision, not all in your favour.
But you have every right to be angry.
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Lots to talk about the disallowed goal in #AVLEVE, and I have issues with the decision, not all in your favour.
But you have every right to be angry.
[1/6]
January 19, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Replying to @goodysonx74.bsky.social
Lots to talk about the disallowed goal in #AVLEVE, and I have issues with the decision, not all in your favour.
But you have every right to be angry.
[1/6]
Lots to talk about the disallowed goal in #AVLEVE, and I have issues with the decision, not all in your favour.
But you have every right to be angry.
[1/6]
My deepest and heartfelt condolences to Fiorentina for the loss of their President, Rocco Commisso.
January 17, 2026 at 9:21 AM
My deepest and heartfelt condolences to Fiorentina for the loss of their President, Rocco Commisso.
Since I talk about rules here, I want to address the cup tied rule change that caused some stir in #NEWMCI (allowing Semenyo to play).
It caught many by surprise, and even Eddie Howe said, "Yeah, it was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they'd signed him"...
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It caught many by surprise, and even Eddie Howe said, "Yeah, it was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they'd signed him"...
[1/2]
January 16, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Since I talk about rules here, I want to address the cup tied rule change that caused some stir in #NEWMCI (allowing Semenyo to play).
It caught many by surprise, and even Eddie Howe said, "Yeah, it was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they'd signed him"...
[1/2]
It caught many by surprise, and even Eddie Howe said, "Yeah, it was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they'd signed him"...
[1/2]
Ahead of #MUNMCI, with Manchester ref Taylor (who owns the record for the most yellows in a game, 14), here's their disciplinary record after MW21, since PGMOL's foundation in 2001.
In 2015-16, they had the exact same record and finished 5th and 6th with the exact same points. How odd!
In 2015-16, they had the exact same record and finished 5th and 6th with the exact same points. How odd!
January 16, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Ahead of #MUNMCI, with Manchester ref Taylor (who owns the record for the most yellows in a game, 14), here's their disciplinary record after MW21, since PGMOL's foundation in 2001.
In 2015-16, they had the exact same record and finished 5th and 6th with the exact same points. How odd!
In 2015-16, they had the exact same record and finished 5th and 6th with the exact same points. How odd!
All those pundits and creators commenting that Arsenal's first goal in #CHEARS should have been disallowed because it was "the same foul" are just wrong:
- Halland was actively impeding Thiaw who could have acted to stop the ball
- Gyokeres was pushed by Guiu, who wasn't even looking at the ball
🤷🏻♂️
- Halland was actively impeding Thiaw who could have acted to stop the ball
- Gyokeres was pushed by Guiu, who wasn't even looking at the ball
🤷🏻♂️
January 15, 2026 at 9:46 PM
All those pundits and creators commenting that Arsenal's first goal in #CHEARS should have been disallowed because it was "the same foul" are just wrong:
- Halland was actively impeding Thiaw who could have acted to stop the ball
- Gyokeres was pushed by Guiu, who wasn't even looking at the ball
🤷🏻♂️
- Halland was actively impeding Thiaw who could have acted to stop the ball
- Gyokeres was pushed by Guiu, who wasn't even looking at the ball
🤷🏻♂️
Lots of noise around the disallowed goal in #NEWMCI last night, but that was a call that, in any UEFA competition, we would highly praise foreign referees for.
We're just not used to having Attwell and Kavanagh doing so, I guess.
It took 6 minutes to get it right, and that should improve.
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We're just not used to having Attwell and Kavanagh doing so, I guess.
It took 6 minutes to get it right, and that should improve.
[1/4]
January 14, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Lots of noise around the disallowed goal in #NEWMCI last night, but that was a call that, in any UEFA competition, we would highly praise foreign referees for.
We're just not used to having Attwell and Kavanagh doing so, I guess.
It took 6 minutes to get it right, and that should improve.
[1/4]
We're just not used to having Attwell and Kavanagh doing so, I guess.
It took 6 minutes to get it right, and that should improve.
[1/4]
Distribution of Yellow Cards in the Premier League since PGMOL Formation (2001), after Matchweek 21.
Bit of an abstract infographic, but I really wanted to use this design in some way ☺️
Bit of an abstract infographic, but I really wanted to use this design in some way ☺️
January 13, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Distribution of Yellow Cards in the Premier League since PGMOL Formation (2001), after Matchweek 21.
Bit of an abstract infographic, but I really wanted to use this design in some way ☺️
Bit of an abstract infographic, but I really wanted to use this design in some way ☺️
Tonight is the first Carabao Cup semifinal, #NEWMCI.
The officials:
- Kavanagh (Manchester, on the Manchester FA board and training on City's grounds)
- Cook (Hampshire)
- Hussin (Liverpool)
- Donohue (Southend-born, lives and is registered in Manchester)
- C.Taylor (Staffordshire, close enough)
🤷🏻♂️
The officials:
- Kavanagh (Manchester, on the Manchester FA board and training on City's grounds)
- Cook (Hampshire)
- Hussin (Liverpool)
- Donohue (Southend-born, lives and is registered in Manchester)
- C.Taylor (Staffordshire, close enough)
🤷🏻♂️
January 13, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Tonight is the first Carabao Cup semifinal, #NEWMCI.
The officials:
- Kavanagh (Manchester, on the Manchester FA board and training on City's grounds)
- Cook (Hampshire)
- Hussin (Liverpool)
- Donohue (Southend-born, lives and is registered in Manchester)
- C.Taylor (Staffordshire, close enough)
🤷🏻♂️
The officials:
- Kavanagh (Manchester, on the Manchester FA board and training on City's grounds)
- Cook (Hampshire)
- Hussin (Liverpool)
- Donohue (Southend-born, lives and is registered in Manchester)
- C.Taylor (Staffordshire, close enough)
🤷🏻♂️
Match officials' appointment for Matchweek 22... You would never guess who officiates the Manchester derby AGAIN.
Though it would actually be the first time at Old Trafford, just a few minutes walk from his home.
www.premierleague.com/en/news/4530...
Though it would actually be the first time at Old Trafford, just a few minutes walk from his home.
www.premierleague.com/en/news/4530...
Match officials for Matchweek 22
See who will be officiating in the next round of Premier League fixtures, including the Video Assistant Referees
www.premierleague.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Match officials' appointment for Matchweek 22... You would never guess who officiates the Manchester derby AGAIN.
Though it would actually be the first time at Old Trafford, just a few minutes walk from his home.
www.premierleague.com/en/news/4530...
Though it would actually be the first time at Old Trafford, just a few minutes walk from his home.
www.premierleague.com/en/news/4530...
I was researching a completely different topic, but found this post from last month that analyses the salaries of PL referees (and compares that to other leagues): www.superprof.co.uk/blog/referee...
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How Much Do Football Referees Make? Salaries by League and Competition
Discover how much football referees make, including Premier League referee salary figures, match fees, bonuses, and international pay levels.
www.superprof.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 3:47 PM
I was researching a completely different topic, but found this post from last month that analyses the salaries of PL referees (and compares that to other leagues): www.superprof.co.uk/blog/referee...
[1/2]
[1/2]
A couple of notes on the FA Cup going on this weekend...
- One conflict is in #EVESUN as Harrington is registered in the Durham FA (not flagged as he's from Yorkshire)
- Attwell should not have been involved in #WRENFO, as flagged 2 years ago
- Hallam's first pairing with a PL club in #LIVBAR
- One conflict is in #EVESUN as Harrington is registered in the Durham FA (not flagged as he's from Yorkshire)
- Attwell should not have been involved in #WRENFO, as flagged 2 years ago
- Hallam's first pairing with a PL club in #LIVBAR
January 10, 2026 at 12:16 PM
PGMOL's appointment policy only considers conflict within the same city (except for Taylor and Kavanagh, who both live in Manchester 🤷🏻♂️), but when you apply a slightly larger view, it makes you think, doesn't it?
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January 9, 2026 at 12:02 PM
PGMOL's appointment policy only considers conflict within the same city (except for Taylor and Kavanagh, who both live in Manchester 🤷🏻♂️), but when you apply a slightly larger view, it makes you think, doesn't it?
[1/2]
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I praise Slot for his composed response to the Martinelli/Bradley incident in #ARSLIV.
Most of the reactions and the hypocrisy of some pundits stem from a tiny clip taken out of context. This might be unpopular, but I'm telling you: when I was playing, I would have done the same, very likely.
[1/5]
Most of the reactions and the hypocrisy of some pundits stem from a tiny clip taken out of context. This might be unpopular, but I'm telling you: when I was playing, I would have done the same, very likely.
[1/5]
January 9, 2026 at 10:01 AM
I praise Slot for his composed response to the Martinelli/Bradley incident in #ARSLIV.
Most of the reactions and the hypocrisy of some pundits stem from a tiny clip taken out of context. This might be unpopular, but I'm telling you: when I was playing, I would have done the same, very likely.
[1/5]
Most of the reactions and the hypocrisy of some pundits stem from a tiny clip taken out of context. This might be unpopular, but I'm telling you: when I was playing, I would have done the same, very likely.
[1/5]
PGMOL just can't help it, no matter the tournament...
For the #NEWMCI Carabao Cup semifinal, the referee will be Chris Kavanagh from Manchester (also on the board of the Manchester FA who trains on City's grounds), with Matt Donohue as 4th (you guessed it, from Manchester).
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
For the #NEWMCI Carabao Cup semifinal, the referee will be Chris Kavanagh from Manchester (also on the board of the Manchester FA who trains on City's grounds), with Matt Donohue as 4th (you guessed it, from Manchester).
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
January 8, 2026 at 7:13 PM
PGMOL just can't help it, no matter the tournament...
For the #NEWMCI Carabao Cup semifinal, the referee will be Chris Kavanagh from Manchester (also on the board of the Manchester FA who trains on City's grounds), with Matt Donohue as 4th (you guessed it, from Manchester).
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
For the #NEWMCI Carabao Cup semifinal, the referee will be Chris Kavanagh from Manchester (also on the board of the Manchester FA who trains on City's grounds), with Matt Donohue as 4th (you guessed it, from Manchester).
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Another player who is often "lucky" is Bernardo Silva.
In #MCICHE he should have received 2 yellows in the same passage of play, one for the pull and one for kicking the ball away (City were still winning, so it was time wasting).
The same ref, Oliver, did exactly that in #WOLARS, 3 years ago.
In #MCICHE he should have received 2 yellows in the same passage of play, one for the pull and one for kicking the ball away (City were still winning, so it was time wasting).
The same ref, Oliver, did exactly that in #WOLARS, 3 years ago.
January 8, 2026 at 10:32 AM