Premier League could be hit by mass ref holidays as officials win court case

REFEREES’ CHIEFS have lost the latest round of their courtroom battle with the taxman and it could mean paid holiday for officials.

The Supreme Court ruled that the PGMOL must treat part-time refs from League One downwards as employees and therefore provide benefits to go with that.

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It means the body which oversees the officials from the Premier League downwards faces a huge bill for annual leave for around 60 referees and assistants.

A whistle-blower told SunSport: “This could mean dozens of referees backdating claims for holidays in lieu. 

“Imagine them all deciding to take the rest of the season off on full pay?

“Sitting on deck chairs with nobody to take charge of games in certain areas of the EFL.”

At present, referees in the lower reaches of the EFL are treated as self-employed and therefore not entitled to the trappings of permanent employment, although they do get expenses.

Referees at this level tend to have other jobs in addition to taking charge of games.

While PGMOL provides them with kit and equipment.

The battle between PGMOL and HMRC is similar to that in 2021 when multinational online taxi service provider Uber was ordered to treat their drivers as paid employees.

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PGMOL won the first round of the legal war.

HMRC equalised by winning the second, sending the case to the highest court in the land.

Despite the ruling by The Supreme Court, PGMOL can still appeal the judgement.

The case has been dragging on since 2017 and may run for years.

Our whistle-blower added: “And you thought VAR decisions took a long time?”

The PGMOL claimed they were only contracted for services and therefore should be classed as self-employed.