Referee Darren England handed Brighton v Man City fixture

Referee Darren England orders a VAR check after Eberechi Eze's free-kick <i>(Image: PA)</i>
Referee Darren England orders a VAR check after Eberechi Eze's free-kick (Image: PA)
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Darren England will be keeping a keen eye on defensive walls when Albion face Manchester City.

The official from Doncaster will referee his second Premier League fixture of the season when he walks out at the Amex on Sunday.

His previous Prem appointment this term saw him rule out a Crystal Palace goal at Chelsea.

Eberechi Eze fired a free-kick past the defensive wall and home goalkeeper Rob Sanchez.

But Marc Guehi was standing within one metre of the wall as he eased Moises Caicedo to one side.

Whether or not that contact was a foul was immaterial as attacking players are not allowed to stand so close to a wall of three defenders or more.

England ruled out the goal in conjunction with his VAR, James Bell.

While that law is, of course, applied by all officials, it is one which will no doubt be in England's mind at any dangerous free-kicks.

He has refereed three games in total so far this season, most recently Wolves’ 3-2 win over West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

 

His 12 yellow cards in those matches match his four-per-game average from last term, when he showed 120 in 30 fixtures.

Albion fans last saw England when he took charge of Albion’s 3-2 home win over West Ham towards the end of last season.

The full officiating team for Albion v Manchester City is as follows.

Referee: Darren England. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Akil Howson. Fourth official: Simon Hooper. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Nick Greenhalgh.

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