Bobby Madley
Robert Madley (born 6 October 1985) is an English professional football referee who between 2013 and 2018 was on the list of Select Group Referees who officiate primarily in the Premier League.
| |||
Full name | Robert Madley | ||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England | 6 October 1985||
Domestic | |||
Years | League | Role | |
2010–2018 | The Football League | Referee | |
2013–2018 | Premier League | Referee | |
International | |||
Years | League | Role | |
2016–2018 | FIFA listed | Referee |
He officiated in the Football League as a referee from 2010 and was one of the youngest officials to progress to the top-flight of English football. Madley was previously one of the referee development officers for the West Riding County Football Association[1] before taking up a full-time PGMOL role. His older brother, Andrew Madley, is a Football League referee.[2]
Career
In his early career, from 2001, Madley refereed in the Wakefield and District League and then the West Yorkshire Association Football League. In 2010, he joined the National List of referees who officiate in the Football League.
In 2012 Madley was added to the FIFA fifth officials' list.
In April 2013 he took charge of his first Premier League fixture, between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary's Stadium.[3] Madley sent off three players during the game, one from each team for violent conduct, and later a second Southampton player for serious foul play.[4] "All three red cards were correct," the West Brom manager Steve Clarke said after the game, which his team won 3–0.[5]
In June 2013, Madley was promoted to the panel of Select Group Referees who officiate all fixtures in the Premier League.
In April 2015, Madley was selected to officiate both legs of the FA Youth Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea.
Madley was promoted to the FIFA referee list in January 2016.
On Sunday 6 August 2017 Madley was the referee of the FA Community Shield 2017 match between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Madley endured a difficult 2017–18 season and was adjudged to be making too many dubious decisions by a number of former Premier League referees including Keith Hackett, Graham Poll and Mark Halsey.[6][7]
Madley quit suddenly in August 2018, when he "decided to relocate due to a change in his personal circumstances", according to a statement by PGMOL.[8][9] He later revealed, in December 2019, that he recorded a video 'mocking' a disabled person and sent it to a friend who subsequently forwarded it to his employers, for which he was dismissed and left the ranks of PGMOL referees.[10][11] He subsequently moved to Norway where he officiated in lower league matches.[12]
In 2019, Madley signed on to referee in the 6-a-side World Cup,[13] explaining how much he enjoyed the 6-a-side football game.
He also refereed the 6-a-side World Cup final in Crete in 2019,[14] as Russia beat Poland. He also mentored other referees during the tournament.
On 13 February 2020, following discussions with the PGMOL, it was announced that Madley would return to refereeing in English football, initially at grassroots level, before joining the National List of referees, enabling him to officiate League One and League Two matches, for the 2020–21 season.[12]
References
- West Riding CFA: Retrieved 16 May 2015
- "List of EFL match officials". Football-league.co.uk. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- Premierleague.com: Match officials appointments 27–29 April Archived 25 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 23 April 2013
- "Southampton 0–3 West Brom: Three up front paid off – Steve Clarke". BBC Sport. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- Nick Szczepanik (27 April 2013). "Southampton 0 West Bromwich Albion 3 match report: Three off as Fortuné completes the set of goal, assist and red card". The Independent. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- "Ref Watch: Should West Brom have been awarded a penalty against Arsenal?". Sky Sports. 26 September 2017.
- Hackett, Keith (26 December 2017). "Referee Bobby Madley was absolutely wrong on the two big decisions in Bournemouth's draw with West Ham". The Telegraph.
- Wallace, Sam (16 August 2018). "Exclusive: Premier League referee Bobby Madley quits 'due to change in personal circumstances'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- "Bobby Madley: Premier League referee quits". BBC Sport. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- PA Media (31 December 2019). "Referee Bobby Madley reveals 'dark joke' that led to Premier League sack". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- "Bobby Madley: Former Premier League referee reveals he was sacked after filming video appearing to mock disabled person". BBC Sport. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- "Bobby Madley: Former Premier League official to return to refereeing". BBC Sport. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- "Bobby Signs On! | News". 19 August 2019.
- "Crete 2019 World Cup Knockout Stages".