Former PGMOL boss Keith Hackett believes the Premier League could, and should use their £22million budget to bring in more overseas officials this season.
It comes after Jarred Gillet made history as the first referee outside of the British Isles to take charge of a Premier League fixture.
The 34-year-old Australian took charge of Newcastle's trip to Watford at the weekend, handing out seven yellow cards and disallowing a late Watford goal which would have been the winner after a VAR review.
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Hackett believes the Premier League should make use of their massive budget to bring in more high profile officials and has given an insight into Gillet's journey to the Premier League.
“I’m in favour of this," Hackett told Football Insider. “Around 2007-8, we agreed to pay travel and accommodation costs to bring overseas referees to spend a week with the PGMOL.
“Jarred came across and refereed a Birmingham City versus Derby County academy game. He showed great potential.
“Then he went back to Australia enthused and became the country’s top referee. He later came back to England and refereed in the Championship.
“He earned his promotion. It’s good because there is still succession plan problems with the PGMOL. It’s an ageing population.
“We have four or five referees who are over 50. Bringing foreign referees goes some way to addressing this.
“I was always open to bringing top-class officials in from abroad. You could have an exchange programme, for starters.
“With a £22m budget every year, the Premier League has every right to have the best quality officiating.”
