Simon Hooper is aware of the sensation of scoring a objective, not less than at youth stage.
Lengthy earlier than he discovered himself on the centre of Premier League scrutiny, the Wiltshire-born referee was simply one other aspiring footballer, turning out for Swindon City’s academy. Within the hyper-scrutinised world of top-flight refereeing, accusations of bias include the territory — particularly after a string of high-profile selections.
That features a significantly notorious name that left Erling Haaland fuming — followers usually are likely to scoop out particulars about the place the true allegiance of each match official would possibly lie. So, does Hooper have a delicate spot for any membership? Mirror Sport takes a have a look at Hooper's background and the controversies he's been concerned in to date in his officiating profession.
His membership allegiance
Whereas referees aren’t allowed to officiate video games involving groups they actively assist, their footballing previous is all the time a subject of intrigue. Hooper, born in 1982, grew up in Wiltshire and performed in Swindon City’s youth system till the age of 16.
His ties to the membership are well-documented, although there’s little to recommend he stays an lively supporter. Not like some officers with well-known membership allegiances, Hooper has managed to maintain his preferences largely underneath wraps. There’s no public document of him declaring a favorite crew as an grownup, however his Swindon roots have led some to imagine a lingering affection for the Robins.
A profession stuffed with controversy
Each Premier League referee makes errors, however Hooper has discovered himself on the coronary heart of a number of high-profile blunders. Most lately, his resolution to halt play within the dying moments of Manchester Metropolis ’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham —regardless of Erling Haaland organising Jack Grealish for a possible match-winner—sparked outrage.
The Norwegian striker’s response, which included confronting the official on the pitch in addition to posting an incredulous “Wtf” on social media, summed up the temper within the Citizen's camp. Hooper has additionally been concerned in different contentious moments, from denying Wolves a transparent penalty towards Manchester United to overseeing the VAR chaos that wrongly dominated out Luis Díaz’s objective for Liverpool towards Tottenham.
Whereas PGMOL has often admitted errors and even dropped him from sure matches, he stays a daily within the Premier League’s refereeing lineup.
Web price and wage
Referees don’t get the identical profitable contracts because the gamers they oversee, however the prime officers nonetheless earn a tidy sum. Hooper, as a longtime Premier League referee, in accordance with The Athletic, takes residence a fundamental wage within the vary of £73,191-£147,258 per yr.
On prime of that, he pockets roughly £1,116 per match officiated, which means a busy season can see his earnings rise considerably. For many who work as Video Assistant Referees (VAR), there’s an extra £837 per recreation.
The best-paid referees within the league can earn upwards of £147,000, although Hooper’s actual rating inside the PGMOL stays unclear. Given his function in high-profile fixtures, his complete annual earnings—together with bonuses—are seemingly properly into six figures.
Private life and spouse
Regardless of the extreme scrutiny he faces on the pitch, Hooper has largely saved his personal life out of the limelight. Little is publicly identified about his household, together with whether or not he’s married. Not like a few of his refereeing colleagues who interact in media appearances or social media, Hooper maintains a comparatively low profile exterior of his matchday duties.
What is obvious, nevertheless, is that he stays a agency fixture within the Premier League refereeing circuit, regardless of the criticism and occasional controversy. Whether or not his selections delight or infuriate followers, Simon Hooper isn’t disappearing from the sport anytime quickly.
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