Keith Hackett Interview — Refereeing, VAR, PGMOL/ProRef & the State of the Game Tabs and Ian (aka: @arsecannonpics) return during the international break with a very special guest: Keith Hackett, former Football League, Premier League and FIFA referee, FA Cup final official, and ex‑General Manager of PGMOL. One of the most experienced refereeing figures of his generation joins The Grove Podcast for a deep, honest and wide‑ranging conversation. We begin with the breaking news of the week, Manchester City found guilty of 114 charges, and discuss the scale of the verdict, the implications for the Premier League, the reaction inside football, and how supporters should process a scandal of this magnitude. Then Keith takes us through his extraordinary career: • Starting as a 16‑year‑old referee in Sheffield• Rising through the Football League• Running the line at the 1979 Arsenal–Manchester United FA Cup Final• Refereeing the 1981 FA Cup Final and replay• Officiating major international fixtures including Euro ’88 and the Olympics• The infamous 1990 Old Trafford melee between Arsenal and Manchester United• His years inside PGMOL and the push for professional refereeing and goal‑line technology Keith speaks candidly about refereeing culture, VAR, ProRef, accountability, communication, and how the modern game has drifted from the principles that once defined officiating. There are brilliant stories; from George Graham in the fog at Scarborough, to Emlyn Hughes at Anfield, to the realities of refereeing in an era before yellow cards. It’s insightful, honest, funny, and at times eye‑opening, a rare look into refereeing from someone who has seen every side of the profession. A special guest, a huge news week, and a deep dive into the state of officiating. COYG. ---- Follow, rate, and subscribe on your favourite podcast app. Find us on socials: @thegroveafc This is The Grove, and everyone is welcome. COME ON YOU GUNNERS! ---- Follow, rate, and subscribe to The Grove Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube @thegroveafc Find us on BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube: @thegroveafc Email us here: thegrovepodcast@outlook.com 🔴 #Arsenal #AFC #COYG #ArsenalPodcast #gunners #EPL #Arteta #UCL #odegaard #eze #madueke #gyokeres #saka #trossard #martinelli #zubimendi #raya #hincapie #jesus #rice #gabriel #MLS #saliba #mosquera #havertz #calafiori #guimares #tzolis #konsa #CHAMPIONS Arsenal podcast, Premier League title race, Arsenal instant reaction, Arsenal analysis, The Grove Podcast, Hot Off The Pitch. PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. UCL. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (VIDEO EDIT)
