The Premier League have confirmed the referee, assistants and VAR officials for Ipswich Town v Sunderland.
The Premier League have confirmed the team of officials that will oversee Sunderland’s Premier League opener at newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday.
The Black Cats will kick off one of the most exciting seasons in their history when they travel to Portman Road this weekend as Regis Le Bris’ men look to build on a remarkable season last time out. Thoughts of their historic Europa League campaign will be put to one side for the time being as they look to pick up an opening day when against a much-changed Tractor Boys side.
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Referee: Farai Hallam.placeholder image
Referee: Farai Hallam. | AFP via Getty Images.
Although Sunderland have made just one new addition to their squad, their hosts have undergone a speculation transformation since they secured a return to the top flight as runners-up in the Championship and several players are set to make their competitive debuts for Gary O’Neil’s side.
That will only add to their intensity and pressure both sides will feel when they walk out at Portman Road at 3pm on Saturday - and it is Farai Hallam that has been appointed as referee for the game. The former Stevenage youth player made his first Premier League appearance earlier this year when he was named as the man in the middle for Manchester City’s 2-0 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers and he has since taken charge of a further four top flight fixtures.
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Hallam has been appointed as referee for two previous Sunderland fixtures - and the Black Cats came out on the wrong end of the result in both games as they suffered a pair of 1-0 home defeats against Swansea City and Hull City during the second half of the 2024/25 Championship season. Ipswich also lost their first two fixtures when Hallam was appointed as referee - but the Tractor Boys did land a 5-0 home win against Sheffield United in his last outing at Portman Road in September last year.
Adrian Holmes and Simon Long have been appointed as Hallam’s assistants for Saturday’s game with Andy Madley and Nick Hopton on fourth official and VAR duties respectively. Wade Smith has been confirmed as assistant VAR.
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