Which English teams do referees support?
LONDON. — With Manchester-based Anthony Taylor the controversial choice for the Liverpool, Man Utd supergame on Monday night, which teams do the Premier League referees support?
Taylor’s appointment for the marquee game of this round of Premier League fixtures has raised some angry eyebrows.
The official hails from Wythenshawe, in Greater Manchester, which some see as a good reason to keep him away from Liverpool vs Manchester United.
But Taylor is an Altincham fan, so doesn’t fall foul of the Premier League rule of not selecting referees for matches involving their teams, or their closest rivals.
But who do the rest of the elite list support?
Martin Atkinson
From: Bradford Supports: Leeds United One of England’s top referees for the last few years, Atkinson was in charge when a Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania had to be abandoned when violence broke out when a drone flew over the pitch bearing a flag of Greater Albania.
Stuart Attwell
From: Nuneaton Supports: Luton Attwell is unfortunately remembered all too well for awarding a goal to Reading in a match with Watford in September 2008, when the ball had in fact gone wide of the goal.
Mark Clattenburg
From: Consett, County Durham Supports: Newcastle United Tongue-wagging, winking, no-nonsense Clattenburg is top dog of the Eng- lish refereeing pyramid, have taken charge of the 2016 Champions League and European Championship finals.
Mike Dean
From: Wirral Supports: Tranmere Arsenal fans think Dean supports Tottenham, given the little jig he did after Louis Saha scored at the Emirates in 2012, but he is in fact from nowhere near London.
Roger East
From: Wiltshire Supports: No affiliation, but “occasionally watches Salisbury FC”
A fairly recent addition to the top tier of referees in England.
Kevin Friend
From: Bristol Supports: Bristol City and Leicester
Friend was prevented from officiating Tottenham’s trip to Stoke at the end of last season because of his soft spot for eventual title-winners Leicester.
Simon Hooper
From: Wiltshire Supports: Swindon Once played in Swindon’s academy. Mike Jones From: Chester Supports: Chester Was in charge when Darren Bent scored a winning goal against Liverpool that deflected off a rogue beach ball. Jones was criticised for allowing the goal to stand.
Robert Madley
From: Wakefield Supports: Huddersfield Robert “Bobby” Madley sent three players off in his first ever Premier League game back in April 2013.
Andre Marriner
From: Birmingham Supports: Aston Villa Awarded the latest ever penalty in the history of the Premier League when he gave Liverpool spot-kicks in the 97th and 102nd minutes against Arsenal. Lee Mason From: Bolton Supports: Bolton Wanderers His younger brother Andy played for Bolton
Jon Moss
From: Sunderland Supports: Sunderland Reffed the 2015 FA Cup final between Arsenal and Aston Villa. Michael Oliver From: Ashington Supports: Newcastle United Was once on the books as a youth player at Sunderland.
Craig Pawson
From: South Yorkshire Supports: Sheffield United Refereed his first Premier League game in 2013.
Neil Swarbrick
From: Preston Supports: Preston North End Wrongly sent off West Brom’s Craig Dawson instead of Gareth McAuley in a game against Manchester City in March 2015.
Anthony Taylor
From: Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester Supports: Altrincham From the Manchester area, but that won’t stop him from refereeing United’s game with Liverpool on Monday. — Telegraph.