Riley only got that role when he had to be moved from refereeing duties. Keith Hackett was his predecessor and he was shoved aside against his will to accommodate Riley. Also around the same time, Styles & Bennett left and there was the Clattenburg saga.
I'm told that was the result of certain 'disclosures' but anyone who saw Clattenburg's performance in that infamous Merseyside derby, as well as Riley's in the united v Arsenal game, surely can't be in any doubt that corruption was involved.
I have firmly believed for years that professional football is controlled by the Eton Old Boys, and that "controversy" of any kind is important
Ultimately, it occupies the back pages and suppresses all other sports whenever it can. So:
Referees making big mistakes
Controversial rule interpretations
The various incarnations of offside/handball
VAR
It's all "marketing" at the end of the day.
Originally you had the "homer" Referee who simply was bias towards the home team. The logic, if the home team win, the fans will be back next week in bigger numbers, so give them the advantage. This increases attendances and therefore revenue for all. It's fairc ecru home team gets the advantage.
Once you've established this "commercial" system, it's very easy to "help" ensure matches and competitions go to the wire forc title relegation and promotion.
They control the fixture lists, how often to poignant fixtures get thrown up or potential title deciders land on am FA Cup weekend almost certainly to be postponed.. and played at the end of the season?
Everytime we see rules and decisions that make no sense whatsoever they never "destroy" competition and interest in the game, they always galvanise and open up options to increase interest.
It's not just English football, it's worldwide. Remember Barcelona getting thumped in the first leg and winning the return leg by a cricket score. A few years later the Referee admitted being bribed. It's just how it is.
Liverpool were 11 pts clear at the start of 2019, City put in a unbelievable run to win the league. Yet it is a mystery how City lost at Newcastle. City were 1-0 up KDB took a quick free kick for Aguero to make it 2-0. The Referee then booked KDB disallowed the goal and rammed home various bias decisions to build the confidence of Newcastle to go on and win the game.
A few years later City are losing at Newcastle and have to win to keep on Arsenal's coat-tails, just enough time is added for 0scar Bobb to get the winner.
This is what they do, they manage the spectacle for entertainment. If you ran the Prenier League and wanted to make as much money as possible wouldn't you do the same?
Remember the FA, the Premier League and Football League are all limited companies, set up to make a profit.
The FA has 1045 shareholders. It owns the IP of the game ie the rules. The same shareholders own the Scottish, Welsh and NI FAs.
IFAB make.the rules and haa 8 members, four permanent England, NI, Scotland, Wales plus four transient members, with the FA having the deciding vote.
FIFA, UEFA, CONMEBOL, ONCACAF, AFC, FCA and Oceana must all licence the IP/Rules off IFAB/FA one way or another.
These Eton Old Boys created the game we all love and still control it with an iron fist to this day.
Every single "odd" decision is carefully calculated to mamage and control the asset.