The son of a referee, Howard Webb began officiating football matches at the age of 18 and progressed rapidly through the ranks before making his Premier League debut in 2003, taking charge of the match between Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In 2005 he presided over the FA Community Shield game between Arsenal and Chelsea, while in November that year he officiated his first national team encounter, a friendly between Northern Ireland and Portugal in Belfast.

The following year he was selected to referee at the UEFA Under-21 Championship, where he took charge of the semi-final meeting pitting Ukraine against the former Serbia and Montenegro.

In 2007 he was placed in charge of the Carling Cup final, refereed his first UEFA Champions League tie and took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, presiding over five matches including the semi-final between Austria and the Czech Republic.

During the 2007-2008 season the Englishman was assigned to the Manchester derby, which was preceded by a poignant tribute to the victims of the Munich air disaster. Webb recalls the intensely emotive atmosphere of that occasion, including the immense respect shown by Manchester City fans during the impeccably observed minute's silence.

Webb, who used to play tennis at regional level, was selected to officiate at UEFA EURO 2008, where he covered two first-round matches.

The son of a referee, Howard Webb began officiating football matches at the age of 18 and progressed rapidly through the ranks before making his Premier League debut in 2003, taking charge of the match between Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In 2005 he presided over the FA Community Shield game between Arsenal and Chelsea, while in November that year he officiated his first national team encounter, a friendly between Northern Ireland and Portugal in Belfast.

The following year he was selected to referee at the UEFA Under-21 Championship, where he took charge of the semi-final meeting pitting Ukraine against the former Serbia and Montenegro.

In 2007 he was placed in charge of the Carling Cup final, refereed his first UEFA Champions League tie and took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, presiding over five matches including the semi-final between Austria and the Czech Republic.

During the 2007-2008 season the Englishman was assigned to the Manchester derby, which was preceded by a poignant tribute to the victims of the Munich air disaster. Webb recalls the intensely emotive atmosphere of that occasion, including the immense respect shown by Manchester City fans during the impeccably observed minute's silence.

Webb, who used to play tennis at regional level, was selected to officiate at UEFA EURO 2008, where he covered two first-round matches.