Referee Anthony Taylor was confronted by Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi of Nottingham Forest during their defeat at Everton. (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
The loyalties of Premier League referees have come under scrutiny following Nottingham Forest’s controversial social media comments after their weekend defeat to Everton. After the 2-0 loss at Goodison Park, Forest launched a scathing attack, suggesting they had raised concerns about Stuart Atwell, the appointed VAR, and his support for relegation rivals Luton.
As the debate continues, with the league and FA expected to charge the club with misconduct, questions surrounding refereeing appointments persist. This season, 27 referees, including six outside of the PGMOL Select group, have officiated a Premier League match. Mirror Football has gathered information about their fandom and hometowns, revealing that several are prohibited from overseeing certain clubs’ matches.
Sam Allison hails from Chippenham, Wiltshire. The newcomer to the top flight has played for Bournemouth, Bristol City, Exeter and Swindon, and has refereed the first two games this season. Stuart Attwell, from Warwickshire, was at the centre of last weekend’s controversy involving Forest due to his support for Luton Town.
Peter Bankes is from Liverpool, but it’s unclear who he supports, as he doesn’t referee Liverpool or Everton matches. Samuel Barrott is from West Riding, Yorkshire, but it’s not clear where his allegiances lie. Darren Bond, a Wigan fan from Wigan, has also not been involved in Everton and Liverpool games.
Tony Harrington is a Hartlepool fan. (Image: Getty Images)
Thomas Bramall, from Sheffield, does not officiate matches involving either team in the Steel City. John Brooks, from Melton Mowbray, does not take charge of Leicester City matches.
David Coote, a Notts County fan from Nottingham, also does not officiate Forest fixtures. Darren England, a Barnsley fan from Barnsley, previously worked for the club. Sunny Singh Gill, from West London, is the first British Asian to referee a Premier League game and has no known issues with clubs.
Jarred Gillett, a Liverpool fan from Queensland, Australia, also does not referee Everton matches. Simon Hooper, a Swindon Town fan, was released from the club’s academy at 16. Jurgen Klopp argues with Michael Oliver at the end of Liverpool’s draw against Manchester City.
(Image: Getty Images)
Rob Jones, from Wirral, Merseyside, is never involved in Liverpool or Everton games. Chris Kavanagh, a fan of non-League Droylsden from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Andrew Madley, a Huddersfield Terriers fan, played for the club’s youth team.
Robert Madley, also a fan of the Championship side from Huddersfield. Michael Oliver, a Newcastle United fan from Ashington, Northumberland, is not allowed to referee Sunderland games. Craig Pawson, a Sheffield United fan from Sheffield, does not referee either team in the city.
Tim Robinson, from Middleton-on-Sea, West Sussex, has officiated every team in the Premier League. Michael Salisbury, from Higher Penwortham, Lancashire, is never involved in Liverpool or Everton games but it’s not certain who he supports. Graham Scott, a Swindon Town supporter from Oxford, has no known Premier League teams he cannot referee.
Josh Smith from Peterborough has not officiated a game involving his hometown club in League One. There are no known issues with top-flight clubs. Lewis Smith from Wigan is the sixth referee outside PGMOL’s Select group to take charge of a Premier League game this season.
Anthony Taylor, one of the game’s most recognisable referees, is an Altrincham fan from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester. Paul Tierney, a Latics fan, hails from Wigan. Rebecca Welch from Washington, Tyne and Wear, is the first woman to referee a top-flight game and is yet to take charge of Newcastle or Sunderland.