Ex-FIFA referee boss Hackett brands current refereeing standards in PL 'appalling'

English former football referees' boss Keith Hackett has branded he presiding standards of refereeing in the Premier League over Christmas as 'appalling', and named five current top-flight referees who should be removed at the season end.

Hackett, who claimed that the refereeing standards were bordering on appalling, believes that successor Mike Riley should step down from the job.

Hackett's claims have been rejected by Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), who stated that the standards have risen since Riley replaced Hackett in 2010, the BBC reported.

Former FIFA referee Hackett claimed that he counted over 20 major errors during the Christmas period, citing Wayne Routledge's red card during Swansea's game at Queens Park Rangers on 1 January, which was later overturned, as being of particular concern.

Hackett said that he sees standards falling, adding that over the Christmas period it reached standards that were bordering on appalling. He added that Routledge received a reckless challenge, claiming that his expectation was that his opponent might receive a red card.

Hackett further said that there was a pretty poor performance from Andre Marriner in the Manchester City-Everton game, adding that firstly, the failure to spot a challenge that resulted in Sergio Aguero having to go off and then a non-penalty decision.

He claimed that he was with a group of FIFA referees from Nigeria who watched with amazement.

Hackett, who refereed at the European Championship and the Olympic Games in 1988 and who led PGMOL for almost six years after replacing Philip Don in March 2004, feels Riley should take responsibility.

Hackett said that he is criticising very strongly, adding that if the guy is at the bottom of the league then his job is at risk, claiming that at this moment in time Riley is more than bottom, insisting that he must carry the responsibility.