WHO ALL 27 PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREES SUPPORT, WHERE THEY'RE FROM AND KNOWN ISSUES WITH CLUBS

Focus on the allegiances of Premier League referees has hit a new high since Nottingham Forest's bizarre social media comments after the weekend defeat away to Everton.

Following the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park, Forest launched a furious rant suggesting they had raised concerns regarding Stuart Atwell, the appointed VAR, and the fact he supports relegation rivals Luton. And while that argument rages on, with the league and FA expected to charge the club with misconduct, the questions around refereeing appointments will not go away.

Twenty seven referees, including half a dozen outside of the PGMOL Select group, have taken charge of a Premier League match so far this season.

Here is what Mirror Football has established about their fandom and home towns – with several of them barred from taking charge of certain clubs.

Sam Allison - Chippenham, Wiltshire New face in the top flight played for Bournemouth, Bristol City, Exeter and Swindon - but has refereed the first two this season.

Stuart Attwell - Warwickshire Centre of last weekend’s controversy involving Forest because he is a Luton Town fan.

Peter Bankes - Liverpool Unclear who he supports but he is not involved in Liverpool or Everton matches.

Samuel Barrott - West Riding, Yorkshire Not clear where his allegiances lie.

Darren Bond - Wigan Wigan fan who has also not been involved in Everton and Liverpool games.

Thomas Bramall - Sheffield He does not officiate matches involving either team in the Steel City.

John Brooks - Melton Mowbray Does not take charge of Leicester City matches.

David Coote - Nottingham Notts County fan who also does not officiate Forest fixtures.

Darren England - Barnsley Barnsley fan and he previously worked for the club.

Sunny Singh Gill - West London First British Asian to referee a Premier League game has no known issues with clubs.

Jarred Gillett - Queensland, Australia Liverpool fan who also does not referee Everton matches.

Tony Harrington - Hartlepool A fan of fifth-tier Pools and his grandad played for the club.

Simon Hooper - Swindon Town fan was released from the club’s academy at 16.

Rob Jones - Wirral, Merseyside Never involved in Liverpool or Everton games.

Chris Kavanagh - Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester A fan of non-League Droylsden.

Andrew Madley - Huddersfield The Terriers fan played for the club’s youth team.

Robert Madley - Huddersfield Also a fan of the Championship side.

Michael Oliver - Ashington, Northumberland Newcastle United fan who is not allowed to referee Sunderland games.

Craig Pawson - Sheffield A Sheffield United fan who does not referee either team in the city.

Tim Robinson - Middleton-on-Sea, West Sussex He has officiated every team in the Premier League.

Michael Salisbury - Higher Penwortham, Lancashire Never involved in Liverpool or Everton games but not certain who he supports.

Graham Scott - Oxford A Swindon Town supporter, no known Premier League teams he cannot referee.

Josh Smith - Peterborough Has not officiated a game involving hometown club in League One. No known issues with top flight clubs.

Lewis Smith - Wigan The sixth ref outside PGMOL’s Select group to take charge of a Premier League game this season.

Anthony Taylor - Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester One of the game’s most recognisable referees is an Altrincham fan.

Paul Tierney - Wigan He is a Latics fan.

Rebecca Welch - Washington, Tyne and Wear First woman to referee a top-flight game is yet to take charge of Newcastle or Sunderland.

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2024-04-24T06:18:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd