| Robert Madley | ||
| ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Madley | |
| Date of birth | 6 October 1985 | |
| Place of birth | Wakefield,  England
| |
| Domestic | ||
| Years | League | Role |
| 2010–2018 2013–2018 2020– |
The Football League Premier League English Football League |
Referee Referee Referee |
| International | ||
| Years | League | Role |
| 2016–2018 | FIFA listed | Referee |
Robert Madley (born 6 October 1985) is an English professional football referee who currently officiates English Football League matches.
He officiated in the Football League as a referee from 2010 and was one of the youngest officials to progress to the top-flight of English football. Madley was previously one of the referee development officers for the West Riding County Football Association before taking up a full-time PGMOL role. His older brother, Andrew Madley, is a Football League referee.
Career[]
In his early career, from 2001, Madley refereed in the Wakefield and District League and then the West Yorkshire Association Football League. In 2010, he joined the National List of referees who officiate in the Football League.
In 2012 Madley was added to the FIFA fifth officials' list.
In April 2013 he took charge of his first Premier League fixture, between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary's Stadium. Madley sent off three players during the game, one from each team for violent conduct, and later a second Southampton player for serious foul play. "All three red cards were correct," the West Brom manager Steve Clarke said after the game, which his team won 3-0.
In June 2013, Madley was promoted to the panel of Select Group Referees who officiate all fixtures in the Premier League.
In April 2015, Madley was selected to officiate both legs of the FA Youth Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea.
Madley was promoted to the FIFA referee list in January 2016.
On Sunday 6th August 2017 Madley was the referee of the FA Community Shield 2017 match between Arsenal F.C. And Chelsea F.C..
Madley endured a difficult 2017–18 season and was adjudged to be making too many dubious decisions by a number of former Premier League referees including Keith Hackett, Graham Poll and Mark Halsey. Halsey criticised Madley's positioning but also the PGMOL and Premier League for the lack of support and coaching for referees.
Madley quit suddenly in August 2018, when he "decided to relocate due to a change in his personal circumstances", according to a statement by PGMOL. He later revealed in December 2019 that he recorded a video 'mocking' a disabled person and sent it to a friend who subsequently forwarded it to his employers, for which he was dismissed and left the ranks of PGMOL referees.
In 2019, Madley signed on to referee in the 6 a side World Cup, explaining how much he enjoyed the 6 a side football game.
He also refereed the 6-a-side World Cup final in Crete in 2019, as Russia beat Poland. He also mentored other referees during the tournament.