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Top UAE Job For Isle Of Wight Football Referee

A former Premier League referee - who is from the Isle of Wight - has landed a top job in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

As part of the efforts to improve referees’ performance, UAE Football Association has appointed Lee Probert as Director of Refereeing Department.

Lee was appointed for his vast experience in the field of refereeing that extends for over 20 years working within FIFA, FA Premier League and EFL Leagues.

Lee - who attended Sandham Middle School and Sandown High School - joined the elite referees in the English Premier League in 2007 and has taken charge of many significant matches such as the FA Cup final in 2014 (pictured below).

Lee's first ever match was refereeing a game at Niton as a teenager.

Meanwhile, Richard Melinn is now the new technical manager of the Refereeing Department.

The UAE FA Board Member and the head of Referees Committee, Salem Ali Al Shamsi, explained that the appointments are part of the plan aiming the development of referees locally and regionally where the foreign expertise serves the purpose of improving the referees capabilities and skills.

He said:

"The appointment of the Refereeing department director and technical manager comes from their vast and rich expertise. We hope that our referees will benefit from the new appointments and enhance their skills and performances, as the UAE FA has complete faith in all our national match officials."

The UAE FA have made big positive strides to reshape football with the unveiling of the strategic launch of the new UAE FA 2038 vision, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi.

Mohammed Hazzam Al Dhaheri, General Secretary of the UAE FA welcomed the duo ahead of their new mandate and wished them the best of luck.

Lee and Richard follow the recent appointment of Omar Yabroudi as Deputy General Secretary of Technical Affairs.

Omar, who is also known as the first and only Emirati working in the Premier League previously served as Crystal Palace’s recruitment manager and right hand to current sporting director Dougie Freedman.

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