WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Referee Tony Harrington gestures during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norwich City at Molineux on May 15, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)placeholder image
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Referee Tony Harrington gestures during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norwich City at Molineux on May 15, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
The Premier League have announced the officials for Man Utd vs Everton and the man in the middle has ruffled feathers in the past.
Premier League announce Man Utd v Everton officials
The run up to the festive period and African Cup of Nations could shape the second half of the season and the officials have been named by the Premier League for matchday 12. They have announced that Tony Harrington will take charge of proceedings, with Paul Howard the VAR in the two key roles. Harrington will be assisted by Nick Hopton and Craig Taylor with Anthony Taylor the Fourth Official. The assistant VAR is Sian Massey-Ellis.
Harrington has been the man in the middle for 10 Everton games, and for seven in in the Premier League. Everton have won four, lost three and drawn two. Out of the nine fixtures so far. The last time Everton had Harrington as the referee was in a 2-0 defeat to Man City earlier this season.
Harrington has refereed Man United just four times, interestingly, they have lost their last three games with him as the referee. The shock Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town saw Harrington take charge of proceedings in what was an eventful night and one that saw calls for Amorim to be sacked. United fans might not be happy with the appointment given their recent record.
What have other managers said about Harrington controversies?
Recently, Harrington has largely managed to avoid controversy, however, it is safe to say that he isn’t on the Christmas card list of either Chris Wilder or former Everton boss Marco Silva. After a frustrating defeat to Crystal Palace, Wilder fumed via BBC Sport: "It's yet again another ridiculous performance from the referee, I was told by a Premier League referee, who I've known for a long time and who's as honest as the day is long. He said every 50-50 decision will go against you.
"We had two bookings in the first half of the game but they weren't bookings. They were just a coming together. But I'm not just going to go under the radar and not say anything. I've been to see the referee and I've told him that."
Silva also isn’t a fan of Harrington after seeing a game-changing Man City goal allowed to stand he said, via The Guardian: “Everyone that has played football, who has some knowledge of football, knows 100% sure to disallow that goal. For the [assistant referee] it can be difficult to see an offside position, but for VAR it is impossible not to disallow that goal. That moment had a huge impact on the game.”
Erling Haaland added: “I think it was offside as well – I feel bad for them. I’d be fuming if I was them.”
Hopefully, there will be no ‘ridiculous’ decisions for Moyes to get angry about.
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