Premier League confirm referee appointments for Matchweek 12
- Anthony Taylor to referee Chelsea vs Manchester City one week after demotion to Championship duties
- Refereeing standards and VAR implementation continues to come under the microscope after scathing criticism from managers
- Michael Oliver to take charge of Arsenal's clash with Burnley at Emirates Stadium
Anthony Taylor will take charge of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday just a week after being demoted to the Championship.
Taylor was dropped down a division for the first time since 2019 after awarding Newcastle a controversial penalty in their 2-2 draw with Wolves at Molineux - he deemed Hwang Hee-chan to have brought down Fabian Schar in the penalty area when the South Korean attempted to clear the ball.
The decision was upheld by VAR as Taylor was determined to have not made a clear and obvious error, with Callum Wilson subsequently going on to give Newcastle the lead.
This past weekend, Taylor took charge of Preston's Championship clash with Coventry at Deepdale, when he again awarded a penalty kick after penalising Kyle McFadzean for impeding Milutin Osmajic. The decision was derided on social media after replays suggested the contact was minimal.
Refereeing standards have been in the spotlight all season, but things ramped up over the weekend after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta claimed he was "embarrassed and ashamed" by the "disgraceful" decisions of VAR in the 1-0 loss at Newcastle.
There was also a raft of VAR interventions in Spurs' 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday night, though the time taken to reach a decision was the main point of contention rather than the decisions themselves.
Ange Postecoglou was particularly critical of the "forensic" refereeing of the game and unrealistic desire for "utopia", while opposite number Mauricio Pochettino said it was unhelpful of managers who had called for VAR's implementation to then turn around and call decisions a disgrace.
Michael Oliver, the on-field referee in that game, will take of Arsenal's clash with Burnley in round 12 of the season.
Premier League match officials for Matchweek 12
Wolves vs Tottenham
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Tim Robinson |
Assistant referees | Timothy Wood, Wade Smith |
Fourth official | Thomas Bramall |
VAR | Paul Tierney |
Assistant VAR | Sian Massey-Ellis |
Arsenal vs Burnley
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Michael Oliver |
Assistant referees | Stuart Burt, Dan Cook |
Fourth official | Craig Pawson |
VAR | Michael Salisbury |
Assistant VAR | Ian Hussin |
Crystal Palace vs Everton
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Sam Barrott |
Assistant referees | Marc Perry, Dan Robathan |
Fourth official | Anthony Taylor |
VAR | Andy Madley |
Assistant VAR | Constantine Hatzidakis |
Man Utd vs Luton
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Graham Scott |
Assistant referees | Neil Davies, Eddie Smart |
Fourth official | Darren England |
VAR | Robert Jones |
Assistant VAR | Simon Long |
Bournemouth vs Newcastle
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Chris Kavanagh |
Assistant referees | Darren Cann, Nick Hopton |
Fourth official | James Linington |
VAR | John Brooks |
Assistant VAR | Gary Beswick |
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Simon Hooper |
Assistant referees | Adrian Holmes, Simon Long |
Fourth official | Darren England |
VAR | Michael Oliver |
Assistant VAR | Dan Robathan |
Brighton vs Sheffield United
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | John Brooks |
Assistant referees | Simon Bennett, Lee Betts |
Fourth official | Andy Madley |
VAR | Chris Kavanagh |
Assistant VAR | Marc Perry |
Liverpool vs Brentford
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Paul Tierney |
Assistant referees | Scott Ledger, Mark Scholes |
Fourth official | Tim Robinson |
VAR | Stuart Attwell |
Assistant VAR | Harry Lennard |
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Michael Salisbury |
Assistant referees | Richard West, Derek Eaton |
Fourth official | Robert Jones |
VAR | Peter Bankes |
Assistant VAR | Nick Greenhalgh |
Chelsea vs Manchester City
Position | Name |
|---|---|
Referee | Anthony Taylor |
Assistant referees | Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn |
Fourth official | Craig Pawson |
VAR | Jarred Gillett |
Assistant VAR | Darren Cann |
READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP
feed