In the high-stakes world of the Premier League, where every decision is scrutinized under the unforgiving gaze of millions, there's a lesser-known but intriguing aspect: the teams that the referees themselves all promote. To the reader’s amusement, a relatively hidden fact of the sensationalistic articles on bias and favoritism is that none of the top-flight referees […] support teams such as Manchester United or Liverpool. However, in this climate of whistle blows and controverted VAR decisions, there exist some interesting relationships and narratives to be told.
Which teams do the Premier League referees support?
While some of them prefer to remain anonymous for their affiliation they hold with the premier league bodies, this could be due to the fact that the official receives a lot of pressure while performing their duties.
On the other hand, numerous referees do not hide that they are fans of certain teams, and sometimes even advocate for them. Among the population of the referees in the Premier League, these professionals demonstrate the loyalty to the teams of all leagues, including those playing in the lower divisions and in other leagues. Some are die hard fans who have to grab any opportunity to watch the match especially if they are on duty.
The Premier League officials for the 2024-25 season and their respective club affiliations are detailed below:
| Referee | Club |
|---|---|
| Anthony Taylor | Altrincham |
| John Brooks | Leicester City |
| Michael Oliver | Newcastle |
| Andy Madley | Huddersfield Town |
| Robert Jones | Unknown |
| Simon Hooper | Swindon |
| Tim Robinson | Unknown |
| Peter Bankes | Unknown |
| Paul Tierney | Wigan |
| Chris Kavanagh | Unknown |
| Craig Pawson | Sheffield United |
| Stuart Attwell | Luton Town |
| Jarred Gillett | Unknown |
| Samuel Barrott | Unknown |
| Michael Salisbury | Unknown |
| David Coote | Unknown |
| Thomas Bramall | Unknown |
| Josh Smith | Unknown |
| Darren England | Barnsley |
| Graham Scott | Swindon |
| Darren Bond | Unknown |
| Bobby Madley | Unknown |
| Tony Harrington | Hartlepool |