Riley lands referees chief role

Riley was a Premier League referee for 13 years

Mike Riley is set to take over from Keith Hackett as the Premier League referees chief.

The 44-year-old from Leeds will become general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) when Hackett retires in January.

"Mike brings a wealth of top-class refereeing experience to the role," said PGMO chairman Peter Heard.

"We are confident he will continue to move the PGMO forward and manage and develop match officials at this level."

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Hackett, 65, will spend his last six months in the role handing over the reins to Riley, who has ended a 20-year career as a referee.

In his final season, the Football Association was forced to defend Riley after Everton manager David Moyes questioned his appointment as the replacement referee for his side's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

Moyes called for an FA investigation into whether the official had any allegiance towards United.