# Referees’ Chief Howard Webb Promises to Clamp Down on Time-Wasting in Football
Referees’ chief Howard Webb has promised to clamp down on the “darker arts” of time-wasting in football this season. Webb, who is the chief refereeing officer for the Premier League, has announced a number of initiatives to tackle the issue.
Speaking to BBC’s Football Focus, Webb said that referees will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to time-wasting. He said that referees will be “more proactive” in dealing with the issue and that they will be “more determined not to ignore bad behaviour”.
Webb also said that referees will be given more support from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which is the organisation responsible for the appointment of referees in the Premier League. He said that the PGMOL will be providing referees with more training and guidance on how to deal with time-wasting.
Webb said that the PGMOL is also looking into introducing new technology to help referees identify and punish time-wasting. He said that this could include the use of video assistant referees (VAR) or goal-line technology.
The initiatives come after a number of high-profile incidents of time-wasting in recent seasons. In particular, there have been complaints about players taking too long to take throw-ins, free-kicks and corners.
Webb said that he hopes the new initiatives will help to reduce the amount of time-wasting in football and make the game fairer for all involved. He said that referees will be taking a “stronger stance” against time-wasting and that they will be “more determined” to punish it.
Webb also said that he hopes the initiatives will help to improve the image of referees in the eyes of fans. He said that referees are often unfairly criticised for not doing enough to tackle time-wasting and that he hopes the new initiatives will help to change this perception.
The initiatives are set to be implemented in the upcoming season and Webb said that he is confident they will have a positive impact on the game. He said that he is hopeful that they will lead to a fairer and more enjoyable game for players, fans and referees alike.
For more information on the initiatives, fans can watch Football Focus on Saturday 19 August at 12:00 BST on BBC One, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app. Fans can also read more about the initiatives on The Premier League’s website (external site).