Referee Farai Hallam speaks with Hull's Oli McBurnie at Stamford Bridge (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
Referee Farai Hallam speaks with Hull's Oli McBurnie at Stamford Bridge (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
Farai Hallam believes his background as a player helps him make big judgements out in the middle.
Albion might find out for themselves when he takes charge of their Carabao Cup third-round tie at Manchester United.
The Rugby-born official, whose father is English and mother Zimbabwean, has refereed the Seagulls’ under-21s but has never been in charge of either club at senior level.
He has spoken in the past about an ambition of reaching the biggest stages, such as Old Trafford.
Hallam, now 33, played in the academy at Stevenage but was released at 18 and looked for another route to the top level.
He said: "I'd never tell a player to give up playing but it's a case of saying there's another way to perform at Old Trafford or Anfield.
"Coming from a playing background gives you such an advantage.
"You know how to talk to players, you're probably better at looking for things that some referees may not look for and your decision making is automatically instinctive.
"You might for example see a foul and be able to relate to the situation.
“I'm a centre-half so I can often spot things straight away and know what the player was trying to do.
“I think there's a massive opportunity in refereeing for players."
Hallam made headlines on his Premier League debut when he stuck by his initial decision not to award a penalty in a Manchester City v Wolves game, having been invited to the monitor.
VAR, which caused plenty of controversy at Old Trafford on Sunday, will not be in operation for this cup tie.
Hallam has refereed five games this season, with his only Premier League fixture seeing Chelsea and Hull draw 2-2 on Saturday.
He showed yellow six times in that match, taking his season’s tally to 17.
Last season, Hallam refereed 34 games, including just four in the Prem, and showed yellow 111 times.
That means he has not sent a player off in any of his last 59 fixtures.
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Hallam refereed the FA Trophy final between Southend and Wealdstone at the end of last season as well as Arsenal’s celebratory Prem match at Crystal Palace.
He has refereed Albion under-21s, including a 2-2 draw away to Crawley’s senior squad in the EFL Trophy a little more than two years ago.
Amario Cozier-Duberry and Malick Yalcouye were among the young Seagulls’ starting XI that night – with the latter missing the decisive penalty as Reds claimed the extra point.
Hallam has never refereed Manchester United.
He will be assisted from the touchlines by Craig Taylor and Conor Brown. The fourth official is Lewis Smith.