Officiating in the English Premier League is an unappreciated profession. This situation is a typical example of being doomed if you do or not. The situation is unfortunate when the man occupying the middle wants to blend in with the audience and become virtually invisible. When 90 minutes pass without anyone noticing the refereeing, it usually indicates that the football center-circle operator did an excellent job.
Like many professions, there is typically a degree of personal investment in what one does, and most of the time there is a shared passion and love for the work. Thus, it follows that a referee usually has a favorite football team. The attention surrounding the allegiances of the English Premier League officials has reached a new level following the strange remarks made by Nottingham Forest on social media following their weekend loss to Everton.
After Forest's 2-0 loss at Goodison Park, they went on a ferocious tirade, claiming to have voiced worries about Stuart Atwell, the designated VAR, and his sympathy for Luton, a team that is relegation rivals. Even as the debate rages on and the FA and league are anticipated to accuse the club of misbehavior, the issues surrounding refereeing appointments won't go away.
To guarantee that impartiality is maintained, the men in the middle must reveal who they favor during the application process. Let's examine more closely who the Premier League referees currently back.
Which clubs do 24/25 Premier League season referees support?
Premier League referee |
Club Supporter |
Anthony Taylor |
Altrincham |
Michael Oliver |
Newcastle United |
Andrew Medley |
Huddersfield Town |
Peter Bankes |
Not Known |
Rob Jones |
Notts County |
David Coote |
Not Known |
John Brooks |
Not Known |
Stuart Atwell |
Luton Town |
Craig Pawson |
Sheffield United |
Darren Bond |
Not Known |
Simon Hooper |
Swindon Town |
Thomas Bramall |
Not Known |
Paul Tierney |
Wigan Athletic |
Darren England |
Barnsley |
Tim Robinson |
Not Known |
Jarred Gillett |
Liverpool |
Chris Cavanagh |
Not Known |
Michael Salisbury |
Not Known |
Samuel Barrott |
Not Known |