FA Cup
The Football Association has officially announced the appointment of a Premier League referee for the upcoming FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea, set to take place at Wembley Stadium on May 16. The referee has a long-standing history of officiating matches involving both clubs, whether as the main official, an assistant referee, or in the VAR booth. Manchester City reached the final after a 2-1 victory over Southampton in the semi-finals, while Chelsea secured their spot with a narrow 1-0 win against Leeds United, setting up an all-blue clash in London.
The referee’s involvement in Chelsea matches has not been without controversy. In a notable incident during a Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea in the 2025/26 season, a contentious decision was made when Declan Rice appeared to handle the ball from a Reece James corner. Despite the apparent handball, the referee ruled no penalty, a decision upheld by VAR. Former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher later commented on the incident.
Dermot Gallagher said: “I thought it was a penalty. I think he moves his arm to the ball and his arm shouldn’t be up that high. I get told it’s because he’s engaging with an opponent but in my opinion, you shouldn’t be engaged with an opponent that high up, he shouldn’t have his arms around his shoulder.”
Another controversial moment occurred in the same season during Chelsea’s match against Crystal Palace. After Chelsea took a 2-0 lead, a goal-bound effort by Joao Pedro was blocked by the arm of Palace defender Jaydee Canvot. The referee, after consulting VAR, awarded a penalty but opted for a yellow card instead of a red, citing the handball as accidental.
The referee announced: “After review, the ball hits Crystal Palace 23. Therefore it is a penalty kick, however, because it is accidental, this is only a yellow card.”
In the 2024/25 season, during Chelsea’s 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, questions arose regarding the validity of a goal scored by Sanchez, with some believing the ball was struck while still moving. However, the referee and VAR found no evidence to overturn the goal.
These incidents highlight the complexities and challenges faced by referees in high-stakes matches. As the FA Cup final approaches, all eyes will be on the appointed referee to see how they handle the pressures of officiating such a significant encounter.
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