Arsenal fans are not best pleased after finding out that Jarred Gillett will take charge of their Premier League match against Leeds United at the Emirates on Saturday.
The Gunners got their Premier League season underway with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Manchester United, thanks to Riccardo Calafiori’s first-half header.
On Saturday, Arsenal will face newly promoted Leeds, fresh off the back of a 1-0 victory against Everton on Monday night.
And before the game has even begun, Gunners fans are not pleased that Gillett will take charge of the fixture.
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Gillett will be accompanied by assistants Wade Smith and Scott Ledger, fourth official Darren England and a VAR team of Craig Pawson and Neil Davies.
Gillett was VAR during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium last October, during which William Saliba was sent off for tugging Evanilson as the forward tried to stride away from him and was deemed to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Designated VAR for the match Gillett recommended that referee Rob Jones upgrade his original yellow to a red card.
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And Arsenal fans have taken to social media after learning that Gillett will take charge of their upcoming match against Leeds.
One said: “Liverpool fan Jarred Gillett has been appointed referee for our next game against Leeds United. Guess who we play that week after? Who's your money on getting sent off then? He was the referee against Bournemouth the week before we played Liverpool last season.”
Another added: “Once again, Arsenal have a referee who is a known Liverpool fan the week before they play Liverpool.”
A third claimed: “Jarred Gillett, a Liverpool fan, is refereeing our game against Leeds on Saturday. If he’s not allowed to referee Liverpool games due to bias, why is he allowed to impact which players can face Liverpool? Second time this has happened in consecutive seasons.”
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Australia-born Gillett has previously been reported to be a Liverpool fan, with FOX Sports commentator Brenton Speed all but confirming this during a podcast appearance, relayed by Liverpool.com.
"He [Gillett] had to fill out a document when he agreed to join the referees’ board over there and you have to fill in the team you supported as a boy/man and he said it was Liverpool,” said Speed.
“So that means you’re taken off all their games, home or away.”
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Due to his supposed support, he is essentially not allowed to officiate Liverpool or their city rivals, Everton, but can take charge of Man United and Arsenal games.
Topics: Arsenal, Leeds United, Premier League, Football
Luke Davies