Chris Kavanagh is absent this weekend after admitting a mistake to Régis Le Bris during the Liverpool game
Sunderland will welcome Fulham to the Stadium of Light on Sunday, February 22, with a 2pm kick-off confirmed and Craig Pawson appointed as referee for the Premier League fixture.
Pawson will be assisted by Lee Betts and Mat Wilkes, with Ruebyn Ricardo named as fourth official. Tony Harrington will oversee proceedings from Stockley Park as VAR, supported by assistant VAR Wade Smith.
The appointment comes amid heightened focus on officiating involving the Black Cats in recent weeks. Chris Kavanagh and his assistant Nick Greenhalgh have not been selected for a Premier League fixture this weekend following criticism of their performance during the FA Cup fourth-round tie between Aston Villa and Newcastle United, a match played without VAR.
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Kavanagh was also at the centre of controversy during Sunderland’s recent clash with Liverpool at the Stadium of Light. The official later admitted to head coach Régis Le Bris that a penalty decision in that game had been incorrect, a rare acknowledgement that drew significant attention.
Attention will now turn back to on-field matters as Sunderland prepare for Fulham, with the club also awaiting confirmation of their next FA Cup opponents. Port Vale face Bristol City on March 3, with Sunderland set to take on the winners. That tie will be played over the weekend of March 7, adding another important date to the calendar as Régis Le Bris balances Premier League commitments with cup ambitions as the Black Cats eye a spot in the quarter finals.
In other news, Sunderland are reportedly among the Premier League clubs who have shown interest in Galatasaray’s Roland Sallai. Turkish outlet A Spor claim the Black Cats were one of the sides monitoring the 28-year-old during the winter transfer window, alongside Liverpool. Brentford are now also said to be tracking the Hungary international ahead of the summer.
Sallai joined Galatasaray from SC Freiburg in September 2024 and has since become a regular in Istanbul. Although primarily deployed at right-back, he has also featured at left-back and in more advanced wide roles. Across his time with Galatasaray, Sallai has made 64 appearances, contributing seven goals and seven assists. One goal and six assists have come this season, with his versatility understood to have drawn attention from England.
According to the report, Sunderland made what were described as “serious attempts” to sign the defender in January. Liverpool were also credited with interest as they sought cover following injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong. It remains unclear why a deal did not materialise for either club, and there is no indication of what fee Galatasaray would demand.
Brentford are now said to be preparing a move at the end of the campaign, with A Spor suggesting an offer could be submitted once the season concludes. The Turkish champions are reportedly open to trimming their squad this summer as part of financial restructuring, which could make Sallai available. Whether Sunderland revive their interest under sporting director Florent Ghisolfi remains to be seen.
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