×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Truth Without Fear
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

The men with the whistle: Who are the Premier League referees now, who has disappeared?

Vocalize Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Vocalize

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) speaks to the officials including referee Michael Oliver (2L) after the final whistle in the English Premier League match vs Aston Villa at Villa Park in Birmingham on October 26, 2025. (JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) 

For years, Premier League refereeing had its own cast of familiar faces. Mike Dean, Martin Atkinson, Jonathan Moss, Kevin Friend, Andre Marriner, Lee Mason and most recently, Anthony Taylor.

They were not footballers, but supporters knew their names, faces and mannerisms almost as well as those of the players they were assigned to control. While some became household names, others became the centre of furious post-match debates. Some became admired, others distrusted, and others simply became part of the soundtrack of English football week in, week out.

Premium Article

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Fact-first reporting that puts you at the heart of the newsroom. Subscribe for full access.
Continue Reading  →
What you get
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimised reading
  • Weekly newsletters & digests
Pay via
M - PESA
VISA
Airtel Money
Secure Payments Kenya's most trusted newsroom since 1902
Premier League
New season, same madness: Kenyan fans deliver unfiltered verdicts for the Premier League
Premier League
The men with the whistle: Who are the Premier League referees now, who has left?
Premier League
African players to watch in the 202627 English Premier League
Sports
Mombasa centre of golf attraction this weekend