• Controversial official quits after 22-year career
• 'The last couple of seasons he's had a tough time'
Stuart James
guardian.co.uk, Friday 12 June 2009 22.05 BST
Rob Styles, one of the Premier League's more controversial referees, has retired, the Professional Game Match Officials board confirmed last night. It is understood that the 45-year-old informed the PGMO some time ago that he no longer wished to continue, with other top-flight officials claiming that his plans to stand down had been known for several months.
Styles was one of the most senior Premier League referees a couple of years ago but a number of high-profile blunders, including the penalty that he awarded Chelsea at Anfield at the start of the 2007-08 season, saw him slip down the pecking order. Last season Gary Megson, the Bolton Wanderers manager, described Styles's decision to award a penalty against Jlloyd Samuel for a clean tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo as a "cataclysmic cock-up".
Those mistakes, together with the criticism he has faced and a perceived lack of support from the PGMO, appear to have prompted Styles to call time on a career that peaked in 2005 when he took charge of the FA Cup final.
"There have been rumours on the circuit for a while that he would retire," said one Premier League official last night. "He's not hit the heights of a few years ago and the last couple of seasons he's had a tough time. He's taken a lot of stick."
Keith Hackett, the head of the PGMO, is now likely to promote another official from the Football League list, probably Michael Oliver, to replace Styles amid fears that the dwindling number of select-group referees could place top-flight officials under increased pressure next season.
A PGMO spokesman said: "Rob has had a distinguished career spanning 22 years in refereeing. We thank him for his services to football and wish him all the best for the future."
• 'The last couple of seasons he's had a tough time'
Stuart James
guardian.co.uk, Friday 12 June 2009 22.05 BST
Rob Styles, one of the Premier League's more controversial referees, has retired, the Professional Game Match Officials board confirmed last night. It is understood that the 45-year-old informed the PGMO some time ago that he no longer wished to continue, with other top-flight officials claiming that his plans to stand down had been known for several months.
Styles was one of the most senior Premier League referees a couple of years ago but a number of high-profile blunders, including the penalty that he awarded Chelsea at Anfield at the start of the 2007-08 season, saw him slip down the pecking order. Last season Gary Megson, the Bolton Wanderers manager, described Styles's decision to award a penalty against Jlloyd Samuel for a clean tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo as a "cataclysmic cock-up".
Those mistakes, together with the criticism he has faced and a perceived lack of support from the PGMO, appear to have prompted Styles to call time on a career that peaked in 2005 when he took charge of the FA Cup final.
"There have been rumours on the circuit for a while that he would retire," said one Premier League official last night. "He's not hit the heights of a few years ago and the last couple of seasons he's had a tough time. He's taken a lot of stick."
Keith Hackett, the head of the PGMO, is now likely to promote another official from the Football League list, probably Michael Oliver, to replace Styles amid fears that the dwindling number of select-group referees could place top-flight officials under increased pressure next season.
A PGMO spokesman said: "Rob has had a distinguished career spanning 22 years in refereeing. We thank him for his services to football and wish him all the best for the future."
no more decisions for them then,who ever is took on next you will see fergie giving his family a season ticket
Exactly. They will no doubt retire the Number 12 shirt as well now. 
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