Michael Oliver to referee Leeds United vs Brighton as officials named | OneFootball

Michael Oliver will referee Leeds United’s final Premier League home match of the season against Brighton at Elland Road on Sunday.

The Premier League confirmed Oliver’s appointment, with Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring as assistants, Sam Allison fourth official and Stuart Attwell on VAR at Stockley Park.

Leeds have already secured safety and head into their final home outing playing for pride and a higher finish. They were safe before Monday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur, yet came from behind to take a point. Brighton are seventh, two points off Bournemouth in sixth, which could mean Champions League qualification this season.

Oliver has already overseen three Leeds matches this season, including November’s reverse fixture, a 3-0 defeat at the Amex. He also took February’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa and a 2-2 home stalemate with Bournemouth in September.

The FIFA referee averages 22.81 fouls and 3.04 yellow cards per game, placing him among the more lenient officials. Those Leeds fixtures passed without major controversy, but Attwell’s name may still resonate.

Attwell refereed February’s 1-0 home defeat by Sunderland, when a major penalty appeal was rejected after Luke O’Nien grappled Pascal Struijk inside the box. VAR Paul Tierney checked the incident but did not recommend an on-field review. The Key Match Incidents panel later ruled unanimously that the non-award was wrong, noting O’Nien was not playing the ball, used his arms around Struijk’s neck and impeded his run towards goal.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk