By Keith Hackett

3rd May, 2022 | 3:00pm

Ex-Fifa official calls for 'root and branch review' as Liverpool referee news confirmed

Keith Hackett has admitted he has major concerns over Jon Moss as he is set to referee Aston Villa’s game with Liverpool next week (10 May).

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Moss’ “fitness, movement and decision making” has not been up to standard this term.

The Telegraph reported last week (28 April) that the 51-year-old is set to retire at the end of the season.

It is claimed he will become the new manager of the select group one referees (SG1) who take charge of top-flight matches.

The Premier League confirmed today (3 May) that one of Moss’ final acts as an official will be to referee Liverpool’s trip to Villa Park.

“I’m surprised that Jon Moss will now become the manager of the select group of referees,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.

“The reason I say that is I’ve been critical of his fitness, movement and decision making. This is a referee who has not been a Fifa referee so he’s not refereed at the very highest level.

“The guy who should be in charge of the referees should be someone who is actually officiated at the very highest level and reached the top.

“The PGMOL needs an absolute root and branch review. Ultimately, at the end of the day, when we look at the decisions this season, they haven’t covered themselves in glory so why stick to the same script?

“It needed someone with a dynamic overview. This is a business that spends £23million and doesn’t give value for money.

“The SG1 manager was a guy called Adam Watts who was a former assistant referee. Just by getting a referee is improving on what was the current situation.”

In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed the Liverpool owners have caused ‘huge damage’ as the Government is set to intervene.