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The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has been under the spotlight recently, with referee decisions being scrutinized following a series of contentious calls.
One such incident occurred during the Liverpool and Manchester City match, where Virgil van Dijk's header was controversially disallowed. The decision sparked debate over Andy Robertson's involvement from an offside position.
Liverpool reached out to PGMOL chief Howard Webb to express its "concerns" about the disallowed goal, but the Merseyside club is not alone in doing so. Earlier this month, Sunderland also contacted the PGMOL seeking clarification on a potential handball by Michael Keane in the team's draw against Everton, which was ultimately not given.
Despite the referee body's efforts to increase transparency with clubs and fans regarding decision-making processes, questions still linger. The Premier League Match Centre social media account was created to provide some insight into these decisions, but doubts persist over major calls.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean, however, believes that posting explanations on social media shortly after a decision is made isn't the best approach. Speaking on The Overlap, he stated: "I think the clubs requested clarification sooner rather than later.
"You have these programmes where referees will explain decisions, but you will get tweets out within 15 minutes of a decision, which I don't think is a good decision.
"When the game is going on, the refereeing team is going to find out if the PGMOL thinks it's right or wrong before the start of the second half, or find out from somebody.
"I think they should wait until after to release the statements, not during, that's wrong. With regards to rushing, I'd rather something out within an hour-and-a-half rather than [the match] finishes yesterday and it comes out on Tuesday as it's pointless. You can then put a story together."
This represents a shift that would see Premier League sides receiving correspondence via official channels at an altered timeframe compared to current practice. Nevertheless, it may not prevent them from attempting to seek clarification on incidents with the PGMOL, as witnessed in several recent instances.
This forms part of numerous modifications that Howard Webb must navigate as PGMOL chief, having lately introduced pitch-side announcements from match officials following overturned VAR verdicts.
Such measures form part of an initiative to enhance transparency regarding PGMOL's procedures and decision-making processes.
Officiating chiefs have lately commended progress within the VAR system, which has witnessed VAR-associated mistakes reduced by 42 percent throughout the previous campaign.
The 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' programme also airs consistently to provide insight into how verdicts are reached, featuring audio and footage from referees and officials during key moments.
Whether additional modifications will emerge in the forthcoming months remains uncertain, with question marks and examination continuing to surround each significant ruling.
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